Bobcat Spikers Hosts Weber State in Big Sky Home Opener
9/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE HOME OPENER:
The Montana State volleyball team will open its Big Sky Conference home schedule when it hosts Weber State and Idaho State this week in Shroyer Gym. The Bobcats will meet Weber State, Thursday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m., and will close out the weekend with Idaho State, Saturday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m., as well. The Bobcats have not played at home since August 26.
ENTERING THE HALL:
Michelle Usitalo-Stickney (1981-84) will become the fourth Bobcat volleyball player to be inducted into the Wendy’s of Montana-Montana State University Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 22 in the Strand Union. Usitalo is ninth on the all-time MSU kills chart; seventh in total attacks; and third in service aces. As a player, Usitalo garnered All-Mountain West Conference honors on two occasions; was a two-year team captain; and was the MSU-Northwestern National Life Athlete of the Year. Usitalo joins Diane Terrall, Barbara Moe and Maggie Koughan as volleyball players in the Hall of Fame.
REWRAPPING THE WEEK:
Montana State dropped its Big Sky Conference opener at Montana on Friday in a 30-19, 30-23, 28-30, 30-27 decision. Kim Stonehouse paced the Bobcats with 15 kills and 14 digs for her second double-double of the season. Junior Patti Anderson also contributed with a career-high 13 kills and 11 digs. Junior setter Sarah Allen dished out 37 assists, while Anderson, Raelene Purnell and Angela Wiebe all recorded three blocks. For the match, Montana out-hit Montana State .215 to .101.
THE SCOUTING REPORT:
Weber State enters Thursday’s match with a 4-12 overall record and a 0-2 Big Sky Conference slate. The Wildcats have dropped their last seven consecutive matches. Last weekend, WSU lost a 3-1 decision to Portland State and a 3-0 contest at Sacramento State. The Wildcats are paced this season by Leah Burmeister, who is averaging 3.21 kills and 3.04 digs per game. One of the top blocking teams in the Big Sky, the Wildcats are led at the net by Brittney Bisaillon, who averages 1.64 blocks per outing. Idaho State, who plays at Montana on Thursday night, is currently 5-9 overall and 1-1 in Big Sky action. Last weekend, the Bengals knocked-off Eastern Washington 3-1, before dropping a 3-1 decision to league up-start Northern Colorado. ISU is led this season by senior Nikki Havens and Zoe Beltz. Havens is averaging 3.16 kills, while Beltz is chipping in 2.74 kills, a .291 attack mark and .74 blocks per game. As a team, Idaho State is hitting .174 from the floor and is averaging 13.82 kills and 17.51 digs per game.
TOP ‘CAT:
Patti Anderson, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter from Deer Lodge, has been named Montana State’s Player of the Week for her performance at the University of Montana on Friday night. Anderson recorded a career-high 13 kills, while hitting .184 from the field. In addition, she added 11 digs to notch her first double-double of the season. Anderson also chipped in three blocks and two service aces. On the season, Anderson is averaging 1.38 kills and 2.92 digs per game.
FROM THE PINE-- (56-40/4YRS, 24-19 BIG SKY):
Miya Malauulu became Montana State’s seventh head coach at the conclusion of the 2002 season. Since then, she has put her own fingerprint on a Bobcat program that has produced four 20-win seasons in the last eight years. Prior to being named head coach, the 1998 graduate of Oregon State University, served as an assistant under Dave Gantt for five seasons. Malauulu came to Bozeman after a successful stint playing for the Beavers. A native of Carson, Calif., she played at OSU from 1994-97. She still holds numerous records at Oregon State and currently ranks fourth all-time in PAC-10 history with 5,368 assists. A two-time OSU most valuable player and an unprecendented four-time Beaver captain, she prepped at Bishop Montgomery High School and played for national club power NIKE-Ichiban, where she garnered USVBA Player of the Year kudos. Malauulu is joined on the bench this season by assistant coaches Lisa Mimick and Erin Naipo. Mimick, a former All-Big XII first-team selection at Kansas State, begins her third season at MSU. She previously served as an assistant coach at SW Minnesota State in Marshall. Naipo, a 2002 graduate of Dartmouth College, was a four-year letterwinner and team captain for the Big Green. She is in her second year at MSU and previously served as assistant coach at Spokane Community College.
2005: A YEAR IN REVIEW:
The Bobcats finished 15-15 overall and 7-7 in Big Sky Conference action. MSU played its toughest schedule in school history, going up against eight teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament, including eventual national champion Washington. The Bobcats also hosted Missouri and Wisconsin- two squads that advanced to the Elite Eight. Seniors Megan Zanto and Meggie Malyurek concluded their careers, each going over the 1,000 kill plateau. Junior Kandice Kelly became MSU’s all-time digs leader.
CAT TRACKS:
The Bobcats return eight letterwinners from last season, including four starters: Kim Stonehouse, Angela Wiebe, Laura Viren and Kami Buettner...Stonehouse recorded 371 kills and was ranked among the top ten in the Big Sky Conference...Stonehouse was a second-team All-Big Sky pick last season...MSU finished 25th in the nation in attendance, averaging 1,260 fans per game...The Bobcats have been ranked among the nation’s top 40 squads in blocking for six consecutive seasons.
SHE’S A STONEHOUSE:
Senior Kim Stonehouse leads the Bobcats offensively. The 6-foot outside hitter from Medicine Hat, Alberta, is averaging 3.05 kills per game, while hitting .187 from the field. Last season, Stonehouse was a second-team All-Big Sky Conference selection, after averaging 3.40 kills with a .190 attack mark. Stonehouse tied a career-high in Montana State’s four-game win over Lipscomb with 24 kills. Last Friday at Montana, Stonehouse paced the Bobcats with 15 kills and 14 digs to record her second double-double of the season. In addition, she added two aces and a solo block.
DIGGIN’ IT:
Senior Kandice Kelly continued her assault on the all-time Montana State career digs chart last Friday, posting 17 saves in MSU’s 3-1 loss at Montana. Kelly’s 1432 career digs are first at MSU and rank among the top 15 all-time in Big Sky Conference history, as well. Earlier this season, she posted a career and Big Sky Conference-best 38 digs in the Bobcats’ win over Bradley. On the season, the 5-foot-6 native of Roundup, is averaging a team-best 4.54 digs per game, which is also fourth best in the conference. Kelly’s career 4.25 digs per game average currently ranks fifth in Big Sky Conference history.
PURNELL POWER:
Junior Raelene Purnell has been one of Montana State’s go-to players this season. After playing behind Megan Zanto and Angela Wiebe the last two seasons, the 6-foot-1 middle blocker from Red Deer, Alberta, leads the team in hitting percentage and service aces; is second in blocking and third in kills per game. Twice this season, Purnell has recorded a career-high 14 kills. Two weeks ago, she had her best match as a Bobcat, notching 14 kills, a .433 attack mark and eight blocks in MSU’s victory over Bradley. Purnell has been in double-digit kills on four ocassions and has posted three matches hitting over .300 from the field. Last Friday night in Missoula, she recorded nine kills and a team-high three blocks.
WHEN YOU THINK OF LAURA:
Sophomore Laura Viren struggled on Friday night against Montana. The 6-foot outside hitter from Prior Lake, Minn., recorded only one kill to go along with three digs in two games. On the season, she is averaging 2.48 kills per game and 3.09 digs per contest. Her 102 total digs is third best on the squad, as are her nine service aces. Viren, who was named to the All-Big Sky Conference Tournament team last season as a freshman, is hitting .124 from the field and has posted two double-doubles this season, including 14 kills and 15 digs in MSU’s victory over Rice at the Arizona-Sheraton Four Points Classic.
WIEBE BE BLOCKIN’:
Senior middle blocker Angela Wiebe has been a solid performer for the Bobcats during the early part of the season. The 6-foot-1 native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, is averaging 1.84 kills and 1.03 blocks per game, while posting a .188 hitting percentage. Wiebe’s 1.03 blocks per game are currently seventh best in the Big Sky Conference. She recorded a season-high ten kills in MSU’s season-opening win over Florida Atlantic and a season-best seven blocks versus Rice. Against Montana, Wiebe tallied six kills, a .182 attack mark and a team-best three blocks.
PATTI LOU:
Junior right-side hitter Patti Anderson has played in all 37 games for the Bobcats this season. The 5-foot-11 native of Deer Lodge, who struggled during the early portion of the season, has righted the ship the last few weekends. Over the course of Montana State’s three matches at the Arizona-Sheraton FourPoints Classic, Anderson recorded 18 kills (1.50 kpg) and 43 digs (3.58 dpg), including a career-high 25 saves in MSU’s five-game victory over Rice. In addition, she posted a .139 attack mark and chipped in six blocks and four aces. Last Friday in Missoula, she recorded a career-high 13 kills to go along with 11 digs.
DISHIN’ THE ROCK:
Junior setter Sarah Allen has started the past two matches for the Bobcats at the setting position. The transfer from Whatcomm Community College dished out a career-high 54 assists (13.5 apg) against the Bradley two weeks ago. On the season, Allen is averaging 6.12 assists per game. In her last two matches, Allen is averaging 11.38 assists per game. On Friday against Montana, she dished out 37 assists and added four digs and a block.
THE SPECIALIST:
Freshman walk on Allyce Bebensee has played in 31 of MSU’s 37 games this season and is averaging 2.13 digs per game. Her total of 66 digs is fourth best on the squad. The 5-foot-7 native of Thornton, Colo., posted a season-best 14 digs in MSU’s 3-1 victory over Bradley at the Arizona-Sheraton Four Points Classic. In addition, Bebensee has recorded five aces, including three winners against Florida Atlantic to spark the Bobcats to the win over the Owls. At Montana on Friday night she posted eight digs.
IN-N-OUT BURGER:
Sophomore Kaytlin Van Burger is starting to receive more playing time as the season progresses. The 5-foot-11 native of Bend, Ore., is averaging 1.56 kills per game. Her .205 attack mark is second best on the squad. Van Burger recorded a career-high ten kills and four blocks in MSU’s win over Brdley. Last Friday night at Montana she tallied six kills, a .130 attack mark and a block.
GET A GRIP:
Redshirt freshman Nicole Grypiuk has played in 23 games this fall, and is averaging .65 kills per game. Coming off the bench, the 6-foot-1 outside hitter from Shellbrook, Saskatchewan, recorded a season and career-best three kills against Arizona. Grypiuk also posted a season and career-high two blocks versus Bradley. Against Montana on Friday night she notched one kill in five attempts.
BITS ON BUETTNER:
Senior setter Kami Buettner has played in 31 of MSU’s 37 games on the season and is averaging 6.90 assists and 1.71 digs per game. The 5-foot-9 native of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, posted a season-high 38 assists in MSU’s 3-1 loss to Nevada at the 12th Annual Holiday Inn Classic. Buettner has posted three double-doubles this fall to pace the Bobcat squad. She registered a season-best 12 digs against Wichita State. At Montana on Friday night she posted six assists and a dig.
OH HENDRY:
Redshirt freshman Kyla Hendry has been hampered with an injury this season and has seen limited action. The 6-foot-1 middle blocker from Lanigan, Saskatchewan, has played in three matches, including two games against Bradley.
A SHIRT OF A DIFFERENT COLOR:
Three true freshmen are redshirting this season. The trio includes Meghan Albiston, a 5-foot-5 libero from Idaho Falls, Idaho; Wendy Doutre, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter from Sparks, Nevada; and Maria Peterson, a 5-foot-10 setter from Corvallis, Mont.
For this week's complete volleyball release, click on the 'PDF Version Available' link at the top of this page.
The Montana State volleyball team will open its Big Sky Conference home schedule when it hosts Weber State and Idaho State this week in Shroyer Gym. The Bobcats will meet Weber State, Thursday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m., and will close out the weekend with Idaho State, Saturday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m., as well. The Bobcats have not played at home since August 26.
ENTERING THE HALL:
Michelle Usitalo-Stickney (1981-84) will become the fourth Bobcat volleyball player to be inducted into the Wendy’s of Montana-Montana State University Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 22 in the Strand Union. Usitalo is ninth on the all-time MSU kills chart; seventh in total attacks; and third in service aces. As a player, Usitalo garnered All-Mountain West Conference honors on two occasions; was a two-year team captain; and was the MSU-Northwestern National Life Athlete of the Year. Usitalo joins Diane Terrall, Barbara Moe and Maggie Koughan as volleyball players in the Hall of Fame.
REWRAPPING THE WEEK:
Montana State dropped its Big Sky Conference opener at Montana on Friday in a 30-19, 30-23, 28-30, 30-27 decision. Kim Stonehouse paced the Bobcats with 15 kills and 14 digs for her second double-double of the season. Junior Patti Anderson also contributed with a career-high 13 kills and 11 digs. Junior setter Sarah Allen dished out 37 assists, while Anderson, Raelene Purnell and Angela Wiebe all recorded three blocks. For the match, Montana out-hit Montana State .215 to .101.
THE SCOUTING REPORT:
Weber State enters Thursday’s match with a 4-12 overall record and a 0-2 Big Sky Conference slate. The Wildcats have dropped their last seven consecutive matches. Last weekend, WSU lost a 3-1 decision to Portland State and a 3-0 contest at Sacramento State. The Wildcats are paced this season by Leah Burmeister, who is averaging 3.21 kills and 3.04 digs per game. One of the top blocking teams in the Big Sky, the Wildcats are led at the net by Brittney Bisaillon, who averages 1.64 blocks per outing. Idaho State, who plays at Montana on Thursday night, is currently 5-9 overall and 1-1 in Big Sky action. Last weekend, the Bengals knocked-off Eastern Washington 3-1, before dropping a 3-1 decision to league up-start Northern Colorado. ISU is led this season by senior Nikki Havens and Zoe Beltz. Havens is averaging 3.16 kills, while Beltz is chipping in 2.74 kills, a .291 attack mark and .74 blocks per game. As a team, Idaho State is hitting .174 from the floor and is averaging 13.82 kills and 17.51 digs per game.
TOP ‘CAT:
Patti Anderson, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter from Deer Lodge, has been named Montana State’s Player of the Week for her performance at the University of Montana on Friday night. Anderson recorded a career-high 13 kills, while hitting .184 from the field. In addition, she added 11 digs to notch her first double-double of the season. Anderson also chipped in three blocks and two service aces. On the season, Anderson is averaging 1.38 kills and 2.92 digs per game.
FROM THE PINE-- (56-40/4YRS, 24-19 BIG SKY):
Miya Malauulu became Montana State’s seventh head coach at the conclusion of the 2002 season. Since then, she has put her own fingerprint on a Bobcat program that has produced four 20-win seasons in the last eight years. Prior to being named head coach, the 1998 graduate of Oregon State University, served as an assistant under Dave Gantt for five seasons. Malauulu came to Bozeman after a successful stint playing for the Beavers. A native of Carson, Calif., she played at OSU from 1994-97. She still holds numerous records at Oregon State and currently ranks fourth all-time in PAC-10 history with 5,368 assists. A two-time OSU most valuable player and an unprecendented four-time Beaver captain, she prepped at Bishop Montgomery High School and played for national club power NIKE-Ichiban, where she garnered USVBA Player of the Year kudos. Malauulu is joined on the bench this season by assistant coaches Lisa Mimick and Erin Naipo. Mimick, a former All-Big XII first-team selection at Kansas State, begins her third season at MSU. She previously served as an assistant coach at SW Minnesota State in Marshall. Naipo, a 2002 graduate of Dartmouth College, was a four-year letterwinner and team captain for the Big Green. She is in her second year at MSU and previously served as assistant coach at Spokane Community College.
2005: A YEAR IN REVIEW:
The Bobcats finished 15-15 overall and 7-7 in Big Sky Conference action. MSU played its toughest schedule in school history, going up against eight teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament, including eventual national champion Washington. The Bobcats also hosted Missouri and Wisconsin- two squads that advanced to the Elite Eight. Seniors Megan Zanto and Meggie Malyurek concluded their careers, each going over the 1,000 kill plateau. Junior Kandice Kelly became MSU’s all-time digs leader.
CAT TRACKS:
The Bobcats return eight letterwinners from last season, including four starters: Kim Stonehouse, Angela Wiebe, Laura Viren and Kami Buettner...Stonehouse recorded 371 kills and was ranked among the top ten in the Big Sky Conference...Stonehouse was a second-team All-Big Sky pick last season...MSU finished 25th in the nation in attendance, averaging 1,260 fans per game...The Bobcats have been ranked among the nation’s top 40 squads in blocking for six consecutive seasons.
SHE’S A STONEHOUSE:
Senior Kim Stonehouse leads the Bobcats offensively. The 6-foot outside hitter from Medicine Hat, Alberta, is averaging 3.05 kills per game, while hitting .187 from the field. Last season, Stonehouse was a second-team All-Big Sky Conference selection, after averaging 3.40 kills with a .190 attack mark. Stonehouse tied a career-high in Montana State’s four-game win over Lipscomb with 24 kills. Last Friday at Montana, Stonehouse paced the Bobcats with 15 kills and 14 digs to record her second double-double of the season. In addition, she added two aces and a solo block.
DIGGIN’ IT:
Senior Kandice Kelly continued her assault on the all-time Montana State career digs chart last Friday, posting 17 saves in MSU’s 3-1 loss at Montana. Kelly’s 1432 career digs are first at MSU and rank among the top 15 all-time in Big Sky Conference history, as well. Earlier this season, she posted a career and Big Sky Conference-best 38 digs in the Bobcats’ win over Bradley. On the season, the 5-foot-6 native of Roundup, is averaging a team-best 4.54 digs per game, which is also fourth best in the conference. Kelly’s career 4.25 digs per game average currently ranks fifth in Big Sky Conference history.
PURNELL POWER:
Junior Raelene Purnell has been one of Montana State’s go-to players this season. After playing behind Megan Zanto and Angela Wiebe the last two seasons, the 6-foot-1 middle blocker from Red Deer, Alberta, leads the team in hitting percentage and service aces; is second in blocking and third in kills per game. Twice this season, Purnell has recorded a career-high 14 kills. Two weeks ago, she had her best match as a Bobcat, notching 14 kills, a .433 attack mark and eight blocks in MSU’s victory over Bradley. Purnell has been in double-digit kills on four ocassions and has posted three matches hitting over .300 from the field. Last Friday night in Missoula, she recorded nine kills and a team-high three blocks.
WHEN YOU THINK OF LAURA:
Sophomore Laura Viren struggled on Friday night against Montana. The 6-foot outside hitter from Prior Lake, Minn., recorded only one kill to go along with three digs in two games. On the season, she is averaging 2.48 kills per game and 3.09 digs per contest. Her 102 total digs is third best on the squad, as are her nine service aces. Viren, who was named to the All-Big Sky Conference Tournament team last season as a freshman, is hitting .124 from the field and has posted two double-doubles this season, including 14 kills and 15 digs in MSU’s victory over Rice at the Arizona-Sheraton Four Points Classic.
WIEBE BE BLOCKIN’:
Senior middle blocker Angela Wiebe has been a solid performer for the Bobcats during the early part of the season. The 6-foot-1 native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, is averaging 1.84 kills and 1.03 blocks per game, while posting a .188 hitting percentage. Wiebe’s 1.03 blocks per game are currently seventh best in the Big Sky Conference. She recorded a season-high ten kills in MSU’s season-opening win over Florida Atlantic and a season-best seven blocks versus Rice. Against Montana, Wiebe tallied six kills, a .182 attack mark and a team-best three blocks.
PATTI LOU:
Junior right-side hitter Patti Anderson has played in all 37 games for the Bobcats this season. The 5-foot-11 native of Deer Lodge, who struggled during the early portion of the season, has righted the ship the last few weekends. Over the course of Montana State’s three matches at the Arizona-Sheraton FourPoints Classic, Anderson recorded 18 kills (1.50 kpg) and 43 digs (3.58 dpg), including a career-high 25 saves in MSU’s five-game victory over Rice. In addition, she posted a .139 attack mark and chipped in six blocks and four aces. Last Friday in Missoula, she recorded a career-high 13 kills to go along with 11 digs.
DISHIN’ THE ROCK:
Junior setter Sarah Allen has started the past two matches for the Bobcats at the setting position. The transfer from Whatcomm Community College dished out a career-high 54 assists (13.5 apg) against the Bradley two weeks ago. On the season, Allen is averaging 6.12 assists per game. In her last two matches, Allen is averaging 11.38 assists per game. On Friday against Montana, she dished out 37 assists and added four digs and a block.
THE SPECIALIST:
Freshman walk on Allyce Bebensee has played in 31 of MSU’s 37 games this season and is averaging 2.13 digs per game. Her total of 66 digs is fourth best on the squad. The 5-foot-7 native of Thornton, Colo., posted a season-best 14 digs in MSU’s 3-1 victory over Bradley at the Arizona-Sheraton Four Points Classic. In addition, Bebensee has recorded five aces, including three winners against Florida Atlantic to spark the Bobcats to the win over the Owls. At Montana on Friday night she posted eight digs.
IN-N-OUT BURGER:
Sophomore Kaytlin Van Burger is starting to receive more playing time as the season progresses. The 5-foot-11 native of Bend, Ore., is averaging 1.56 kills per game. Her .205 attack mark is second best on the squad. Van Burger recorded a career-high ten kills and four blocks in MSU’s win over Brdley. Last Friday night at Montana she tallied six kills, a .130 attack mark and a block.
GET A GRIP:
Redshirt freshman Nicole Grypiuk has played in 23 games this fall, and is averaging .65 kills per game. Coming off the bench, the 6-foot-1 outside hitter from Shellbrook, Saskatchewan, recorded a season and career-best three kills against Arizona. Grypiuk also posted a season and career-high two blocks versus Bradley. Against Montana on Friday night she notched one kill in five attempts.
BITS ON BUETTNER:
Senior setter Kami Buettner has played in 31 of MSU’s 37 games on the season and is averaging 6.90 assists and 1.71 digs per game. The 5-foot-9 native of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, posted a season-high 38 assists in MSU’s 3-1 loss to Nevada at the 12th Annual Holiday Inn Classic. Buettner has posted three double-doubles this fall to pace the Bobcat squad. She registered a season-best 12 digs against Wichita State. At Montana on Friday night she posted six assists and a dig.
OH HENDRY:
Redshirt freshman Kyla Hendry has been hampered with an injury this season and has seen limited action. The 6-foot-1 middle blocker from Lanigan, Saskatchewan, has played in three matches, including two games against Bradley.
A SHIRT OF A DIFFERENT COLOR:
Three true freshmen are redshirting this season. The trio includes Meghan Albiston, a 5-foot-5 libero from Idaho Falls, Idaho; Wendy Doutre, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter from Sparks, Nevada; and Maria Peterson, a 5-foot-10 setter from Corvallis, Mont.
For this week's complete volleyball release, click on the 'PDF Version Available' link at the top of this page.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
