Bobcat Spikers Open 2005 Campaign
8/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
THE SEASON OPENER: The Montana State volleyball team will open its 2005 season at the University of Washington Husky Challenge, August 26-27 in Seattle. The Bobcats will open the tournament against Wyoming, Friday, August 26 at 5 p.m. (MST) in Bank of America Arena. MSU will continue play on Saturday, meeting Gardner-Webb University at 11 a.m., followed by #2 Washington at 8 p.m.
PAST HISTORY: The Bobcats will look to win their third straight season opener when they face Wyoming on Friday evening. Last year, MSU defeated Gonzaga 3-0 to start the season. Montana State’s last loss on opening day was August 29, 2002 against then ranked No. 21 Missouri. The Bobcats are 14-11 all-time in season-openers.
THE SCOUTING REPORT: The University of Wyoming returns seven letterwinners, including three starters from last year’s squad that posted a 13-14 overall mark and a 6-8 ledger in Mountain West Conference action. The Cowgirls will be paced by sophomore Rachel Smith, who was MWC Co-Freshman of the Year in 2004, after averaging 3.35 kills and 2.18 digs. Montana State won the last meeting between the interstate rivals 3-0 on Sept. 19, 2003...Gardner-Webb University returns seven letterwinners and four starters from last season’s squad that notched a 5-26 overall mark and a 0-10 record in Atlantic Sun play. The Bulldogs will be paced by Deshay Duddy, a 5-foot-11 middle blocker from Foley, Alabama. Saturday’s meeting with MSU will be the first encounter between the two schools...The University of Washington enters the weekend ranked No. 2 in the preseason CSTV/AVCA poll. Last year, the Huskies posted a 28-3 overall mark and won the Pacific-10 title with a 16-2 league record. For the first time in school history, UW advanced to the NCAA Final Four. This season, Washington returns 11 letterwinners and five starters. In addition, the Huskies return an impressive four All-Americans; including, Sanja Tomasevic, Christal Morrison, Courtney Thompson and libero Candice Lee.
THE CRYSTAL BALL: The Bobcats were picked to finish third in the Big Sky Conference preseason coaches poll. MSU garnered 36 votes. Defending league-champion Sacramento State was tabbed first with 49 points, including seven first-place votes. The Hornets are followed by Eastern Washington 43, MSU 36, Portland State 29, Montana 22, Northern Arizona 22, Weber State 12, and Idaho State 11.
‘CAT SCRATCHES: Senior middle blocker Megan Zanto will look to record her fourth consecutive season ranked among the top blockers at the NCAA Division I level. The Helena native was listed 24th last season, after averaging 1.49 blocks per game...Zanto is the only returning middle blocker named to the Big Sky Conference first-team...Senior Meggie Malyurek and junior Kim Stonehouse garnered honorable-mention all-Big Sky honors last fall...Libero Kandice Kelly was the only player in the Big Sky over five dpg.
PAST HISTORY: The Bobcats will look to win their third straight season opener when they face Wyoming on Friday evening. Last year, MSU defeated Gonzaga 3-0 to start the season. Montana State’s last loss on opening day was August 29, 2002 against then ranked No. 21 Missouri. The Bobcats are 14-11 all-time in season-openers.
THE SCOUTING REPORT: The University of Wyoming returns seven letterwinners, including three starters from last year’s squad that posted a 13-14 overall mark and a 6-8 ledger in Mountain West Conference action. The Cowgirls will be paced by sophomore Rachel Smith, who was MWC Co-Freshman of the Year in 2004, after averaging 3.35 kills and 2.18 digs. Montana State won the last meeting between the interstate rivals 3-0 on Sept. 19, 2003...Gardner-Webb University returns seven letterwinners and four starters from last season’s squad that notched a 5-26 overall mark and a 0-10 record in Atlantic Sun play. The Bulldogs will be paced by Deshay Duddy, a 5-foot-11 middle blocker from Foley, Alabama. Saturday’s meeting with MSU will be the first encounter between the two schools...The University of Washington enters the weekend ranked No. 2 in the preseason CSTV/AVCA poll. Last year, the Huskies posted a 28-3 overall mark and won the Pacific-10 title with a 16-2 league record. For the first time in school history, UW advanced to the NCAA Final Four. This season, Washington returns 11 letterwinners and five starters. In addition, the Huskies return an impressive four All-Americans; including, Sanja Tomasevic, Christal Morrison, Courtney Thompson and libero Candice Lee.
THE CRYSTAL BALL: The Bobcats were picked to finish third in the Big Sky Conference preseason coaches poll. MSU garnered 36 votes. Defending league-champion Sacramento State was tabbed first with 49 points, including seven first-place votes. The Hornets are followed by Eastern Washington 43, MSU 36, Portland State 29, Montana 22, Northern Arizona 22, Weber State 12, and Idaho State 11.
‘CAT SCRATCHES: Senior middle blocker Megan Zanto will look to record her fourth consecutive season ranked among the top blockers at the NCAA Division I level. The Helena native was listed 24th last season, after averaging 1.49 blocks per game...Zanto is the only returning middle blocker named to the Big Sky Conference first-team...Senior Meggie Malyurek and junior Kim Stonehouse garnered honorable-mention all-Big Sky honors last fall...Libero Kandice Kelly was the only player in the Big Sky over five dpg.
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Friday, March 27
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