Bobcat Spikers Down Bengals in Opening-Round of Big Sky Tourney
11/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
“I really like our energy, and when we got our back against the wall we did a great job fighting,” said MSU head coach Miya Malauulu. “It’s always nice to see a freshman step up during conference tournament time. It’s not the norm, so we have something special in her.”
Montana State (15-14) held an 18-17 lead in the opening game, and held on for the victory on a Megan Zanto kill. In the second stanza, Idaho State (11-18) held a 26-22 advantage before the Bobcats pulled to within 26-25 on a Meggie Malyurek winner. ISU answered with a 4-0 run to win the game.
“We were hitting well, but knew if we could steady out in serve-receive we would be fine,” Malauulu. “Our setters were doing a good job, if they got a decent ball.”
In the third game, MSU held a 25-20 lead, but the quickly evaporated as the Bengals went on a 6-1 run to tie the score at 26-all. A Kim Stonehouse kill gave the Bobcats a one point lead, but ISU went on a 4-0 run go up 2-1.
The Bengals jumped out early in the fourth set, taking a 12-9 lead and held the margin until the Bobcats tied the score at 22-all. MSU went on a 7-2 to take a 29-24 advantage following a Viren kill, and tied the match on a Zanto winner.
“I was happy with our will to win, we had a whole lot of fight,” Malauulu said. “There was no tomorrow if we didn’t get win game four. The kids dug down and found another speed.”
The momentum of game four carried over in the final set as MSU stormed out to a 7-4 advantage following an Angela Wiebe block. A Brittni Sesler ace pushed the margin to 9-5, and back-to-back kills by Viren gave the Bobcats a comfortable 14-8 lead. MSU won the match following an ISU hitting error.
Also contributing to the Bobcat attack was Stonehouse with 15 kills, while Zanto and Malyurek added 14 and 13 winners, respectively. For the game, MSU out-hit Idaho State .263 to .180.
Defensively, Montana State had five players in double-figure digs, led by Kandice Kelly 24, Viren 23, Stonehouse 16, Malyurek 15 and Kami Buettner 12. Zanto paced MSU at the net with nine blocks, while Viren and Wiebe added eight and six, respectively.
Buettner dished out 51 assists, while Sesler added seven assists and three digs.
ISU was led by Felice Yocopis with 22 kills and 20 digs.
MSU will play #1 Sacramento State at 8:30 p.m. (MST), Friday night. Portland State will face Eastern Washington in the other semifinal match. The Eagles defeated Weber State 3-1 on Thursday night.
Montana State (15-14) held an 18-17 lead in the opening game, and held on for the victory on a Megan Zanto kill. In the second stanza, Idaho State (11-18) held a 26-22 advantage before the Bobcats pulled to within 26-25 on a Meggie Malyurek winner. ISU answered with a 4-0 run to win the game.
“We were hitting well, but knew if we could steady out in serve-receive we would be fine,” Malauulu. “Our setters were doing a good job, if they got a decent ball.”
In the third game, MSU held a 25-20 lead, but the quickly evaporated as the Bengals went on a 6-1 run to tie the score at 26-all. A Kim Stonehouse kill gave the Bobcats a one point lead, but ISU went on a 4-0 run go up 2-1.
The Bengals jumped out early in the fourth set, taking a 12-9 lead and held the margin until the Bobcats tied the score at 22-all. MSU went on a 7-2 to take a 29-24 advantage following a Viren kill, and tied the match on a Zanto winner.
“I was happy with our will to win, we had a whole lot of fight,” Malauulu said. “There was no tomorrow if we didn’t get win game four. The kids dug down and found another speed.”
The momentum of game four carried over in the final set as MSU stormed out to a 7-4 advantage following an Angela Wiebe block. A Brittni Sesler ace pushed the margin to 9-5, and back-to-back kills by Viren gave the Bobcats a comfortable 14-8 lead. MSU won the match following an ISU hitting error.
Also contributing to the Bobcat attack was Stonehouse with 15 kills, while Zanto and Malyurek added 14 and 13 winners, respectively. For the game, MSU out-hit Idaho State .263 to .180.
Defensively, Montana State had five players in double-figure digs, led by Kandice Kelly 24, Viren 23, Stonehouse 16, Malyurek 15 and Kami Buettner 12. Zanto paced MSU at the net with nine blocks, while Viren and Wiebe added eight and six, respectively.
Buettner dished out 51 assists, while Sesler added seven assists and three digs.
ISU was led by Felice Yocopis with 22 kills and 20 digs.
MSU will play #1 Sacramento State at 8:30 p.m. (MST), Friday night. Portland State will face Eastern Washington in the other semifinal match. The Eagles defeated Weber State 3-1 on Thursday night.
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