Bobcat Spikers Head to Pacific Northwest
10/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Next Up:
The Montana State volleyball team will go in search of its first Big Sky Conference victory this week in the Pacific Northwest. The Bobcats open weekend play at Portland State on Thursday evening in the Stott Center. PSU is currently 15-6 overall and 8-2 in Big Sky action- good for second place. Earlier this fall, the Vikings handed the Bobcats a 30-22, 30-20, 30-23 setback in Bozeman. On the season, Portland State is paced by Michelle Segun, who averages 3.18 kills and 1.76 blocks, while hitting .275 from the field. Setter Dominique Fradella is dishing out 11.30 assists, while adding 1.22 kills and hitting a team-best .377 from the field. Eastern Washington is 8-13 overall and 7-3 in league action- good for third place. The Eagles will face Montana on Thursday, before meeting the Bobcats. In its earlier encounter with the Montana State, EWU posted a 34-32, 30-19, 30-23 victory in Shroyer Gym. Hayley Hills paces Eastern Washington, averaging 4.17 kills and 2.38 digs per contest.
From The Pine:
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 nine 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 Erin Naipo and Steve Huntingdale. Naipo, a 2002 graduate of Dartmouth College, was a four-year letterwinner and team captain for the Big Green. She is in her third year at MSU and previously served as assistant coach at Spokane Community College. Huntingdale is in his first season at Montana State, after serving as a volunteer assistant, last fall. Huntingdale is a former Colorado High School Volleyball Coach of the Year (2002, 2003).
Cat Tracks:
Despite a 1-20 overall record and a 0-10 home slate, the Bobcats have had over 1,000 in attendance in its last four matches. On the season, the Bobcats are averaging 821 spectators, including a season-high 1,297 fans for the annual ‘Cat-Griz clash…Freshman libero Meghan Albiston needs just 43 more digs to break into MSU’s single-season top 10…Laura Viren posted 12 kills and 12 digs against Northern Colorado for her eighth double-double of the season and 15th for her career…The Bobcats had all five freshmen on the court against Northern Arizona. They combined for four kills, four assists, 19 digs and three blocks.
Player of the Week:
Redshirt-freshman Meghan Albiston was named Montana State’s Player of the Week for her efforts against Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona. The Idaho Falls, Idaho native posted 31 digs on the weekend, including 20 saves against UNC. Her 5.00 digs per game against the Bears was the best for an MSU player. Albiston currently leads the Bobcats, averaging 3.97 digs on the season.
The Week That Was:
The Bobcats dropped a pair of Big Sky Conference home matches in Shroyer Gym, last weekend. On Friday evening, Northern Colorado handed the Bobcats a 30-21, 27-30, 30-13, 30-24 setback. MSU struggled from the field, hitting .058 to UNC’s .230. However, the Bobcats had a shot in the fourth game leading 17-10, before the Bears stormed back with seven unanswered points. Laura Viren paced the Bobcats with 12 kills and 12 digs, while Nicole Grypiuk chipped in 11 kills, six blocks and three digs. Setter Sarah Allen dished out 40 assists and added seven digs, while libero Meghan Albiston racked-up 20 saves, averaging 5.00 digs per game. On Saturday night, Northern Arizona defeated Montana State 30-26, 30-13, 30-17 in front of 1,060 spectators. The Bobcats hit .009 from the field- its third lowest total of the season. Kaytlin Van Burger guided the Bobcats with seven kills and a .357 attack mark.
Seeing Double:
Senior Patti Anderson and junior Laura Viren have been doubling-up at a consistent clip this season. Anderson has posted 11 matches in double-digit digs, including nine of the last 13 starts. On the year, the Deer Lodge native has tallied six double-doubles. Viren, an outside hitter from Prior Lake, Minn., leads the team with eight double-doubles. In addition, she has notched ten double-digit kill matches and 11 in double-figure digs. She has been in double-digit digs in 10 of the last 14 outings.
Gotta Dig It:
Montana State is averaging 15.66 digs per game. The Bobcats are led this season by freshman libero Meghan Albiston, who is averaging 3.97 saves per game. Last weekend, the Idaho Falls native posted 31 saves against Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona. Also helping the ‘Cats have been Patti Anderson (3.01 dpg), Laura Viren (2.91 dpg) and Sarah Allen (2.11 dpg).
Hard Block Cafe’:
As a team, MSU is averaging 2.05 blocks per game. On the season, MSU is paced by Nicole Grypiuk, Kaytlin Van Burger and Demi Dlouhy at .79, .71 and .63 blocks, respectively. Van Burger, a junior middle blocker from Bend, Ore., ranks first on the team in Big Sky Conference matches, averaging .91 blocks per game. Last weekend, Montana State was paced at the net by Grypiuk with nine total blocks and a 1.29 blocks average.
Serving Notice:
As a team, the Bobcats are averaging 1.22 aces per game, while their opponents are converting at 1.78 per contest. MSU has four players in double-digit aces on the year, led by Laura Viren and Patti Anderson with 20 and 19, respectively. Viren, a junior from Prior Lake, Minn., has posted 14 aces in Big Sky Conference play, which ranks third overall at .40 winners per game. She notched a career-high three aces against Northern Arizona, last Saturday night in Shroyer Gym.
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 go in search of its first Big Sky Conference victory this week in the Pacific Northwest. The Bobcats open weekend play at Portland State on Thursday evening in the Stott Center. PSU is currently 15-6 overall and 8-2 in Big Sky action- good for second place. Earlier this fall, the Vikings handed the Bobcats a 30-22, 30-20, 30-23 setback in Bozeman. On the season, Portland State is paced by Michelle Segun, who averages 3.18 kills and 1.76 blocks, while hitting .275 from the field. Setter Dominique Fradella is dishing out 11.30 assists, while adding 1.22 kills and hitting a team-best .377 from the field. Eastern Washington is 8-13 overall and 7-3 in league action- good for third place. The Eagles will face Montana on Thursday, before meeting the Bobcats. In its earlier encounter with the Montana State, EWU posted a 34-32, 30-19, 30-23 victory in Shroyer Gym. Hayley Hills paces Eastern Washington, averaging 4.17 kills and 2.38 digs per contest.
From The Pine:
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 nine 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 Erin Naipo and Steve Huntingdale. Naipo, a 2002 graduate of Dartmouth College, was a four-year letterwinner and team captain for the Big Green. She is in her third year at MSU and previously served as assistant coach at Spokane Community College. Huntingdale is in his first season at Montana State, after serving as a volunteer assistant, last fall. Huntingdale is a former Colorado High School Volleyball Coach of the Year (2002, 2003).
Cat Tracks:
Despite a 1-20 overall record and a 0-10 home slate, the Bobcats have had over 1,000 in attendance in its last four matches. On the season, the Bobcats are averaging 821 spectators, including a season-high 1,297 fans for the annual ‘Cat-Griz clash…Freshman libero Meghan Albiston needs just 43 more digs to break into MSU’s single-season top 10…Laura Viren posted 12 kills and 12 digs against Northern Colorado for her eighth double-double of the season and 15th for her career…The Bobcats had all five freshmen on the court against Northern Arizona. They combined for four kills, four assists, 19 digs and three blocks.
Player of the Week:
Redshirt-freshman Meghan Albiston was named Montana State’s Player of the Week for her efforts against Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona. The Idaho Falls, Idaho native posted 31 digs on the weekend, including 20 saves against UNC. Her 5.00 digs per game against the Bears was the best for an MSU player. Albiston currently leads the Bobcats, averaging 3.97 digs on the season.
The Week That Was:
The Bobcats dropped a pair of Big Sky Conference home matches in Shroyer Gym, last weekend. On Friday evening, Northern Colorado handed the Bobcats a 30-21, 27-30, 30-13, 30-24 setback. MSU struggled from the field, hitting .058 to UNC’s .230. However, the Bobcats had a shot in the fourth game leading 17-10, before the Bears stormed back with seven unanswered points. Laura Viren paced the Bobcats with 12 kills and 12 digs, while Nicole Grypiuk chipped in 11 kills, six blocks and three digs. Setter Sarah Allen dished out 40 assists and added seven digs, while libero Meghan Albiston racked-up 20 saves, averaging 5.00 digs per game. On Saturday night, Northern Arizona defeated Montana State 30-26, 30-13, 30-17 in front of 1,060 spectators. The Bobcats hit .009 from the field- its third lowest total of the season. Kaytlin Van Burger guided the Bobcats with seven kills and a .357 attack mark.
Seeing Double:
Senior Patti Anderson and junior Laura Viren have been doubling-up at a consistent clip this season. Anderson has posted 11 matches in double-digit digs, including nine of the last 13 starts. On the year, the Deer Lodge native has tallied six double-doubles. Viren, an outside hitter from Prior Lake, Minn., leads the team with eight double-doubles. In addition, she has notched ten double-digit kill matches and 11 in double-figure digs. She has been in double-digit digs in 10 of the last 14 outings.
Gotta Dig It:
Montana State is averaging 15.66 digs per game. The Bobcats are led this season by freshman libero Meghan Albiston, who is averaging 3.97 saves per game. Last weekend, the Idaho Falls native posted 31 saves against Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona. Also helping the ‘Cats have been Patti Anderson (3.01 dpg), Laura Viren (2.91 dpg) and Sarah Allen (2.11 dpg).
Hard Block Cafe’:
As a team, MSU is averaging 2.05 blocks per game. On the season, MSU is paced by Nicole Grypiuk, Kaytlin Van Burger and Demi Dlouhy at .79, .71 and .63 blocks, respectively. Van Burger, a junior middle blocker from Bend, Ore., ranks first on the team in Big Sky Conference matches, averaging .91 blocks per game. Last weekend, Montana State was paced at the net by Grypiuk with nine total blocks and a 1.29 blocks average.
Serving Notice:
As a team, the Bobcats are averaging 1.22 aces per game, while their opponents are converting at 1.78 per contest. MSU has four players in double-digit aces on the year, led by Laura Viren and Patti Anderson with 20 and 19, respectively. Viren, a junior from Prior Lake, Minn., has posted 14 aces in Big Sky Conference play, which ranks third overall at .40 winners per game. She notched a career-high three aces against Northern Arizona, last Saturday night in Shroyer Gym.
For this week's complete volleyball release, click on the 'PDF Version Available' link at the top of this page.
Thursday, August 27
Monday, August 24
Monday, August 24
Wednesday, June 10
