Bobat Spikers Host 13th Annual Holiday Inn Classic
8/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Holiday Inn Classic (Bozeman, MT - Shroyer Gym)
Friday, Aug. 31
Utah St. vs. Texas A&M-- 4:30 pm
Washington St. vs. Montana St.-- 7 pm
Saturday, Sept. 1
Washington St. vs. Texas A&M-- 10 am
Utah St. vs. Montana St.-- noon
Utah St. Washington St.-- 4:30 pm
Texas A&M vs. Montana St.-- 7 pm
Next Up:
The Classic has a long history of hosting some of the nation’s top programs, including the 2005 HIC that featured #9 Wisconsin and #14 Missouri. Other nationally-prominent programs that have played in Shroyer Gym include former national champion Washington, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Alabama and Kansas State. Texas A&M enters this weekend 3-0, after downing Texas A&M CC, Centenary and Prairie View A&M last weekend. The Aggies are paced by Sarah Ammerman, a 6-2 outside hitter, who is averaging 4.83 kills per game. A familiar face on the A&M squad is setter Kristen Schevikhoven, who played at Northern Colorado last fall. Utah State is 1-2 overall, with its lone win coming against Eastern Washington (3-1). USU is led by Amamda Nielson, a 6-0 outside hitter, who is averaging 4.30 kills. Washington State is 4-0 and plays at Gonzaga, before traveling to Bozeman. Tara West averages 4.00 kills per game for the Cougars.
From The Pine (59-58/5Yrs., 27-31 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 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:
The Bobcats struggled from the floor last weekend, hitting just .096 from the field...MSU’s best hitting night (.166) came against Stephen F. Austin...The Bobcats hit the 100 dig plateau against SFA. As a team, MSU didn’t reach 100 saves in a match, last fall...Montana State made a strong defensive showing in the opening weekend, averaging 17.46 digs per game. The total ranks second in the Big Sky Conference behind Sacramento State’s 18.75 saves per outing, after the first week of the season...MSU’s four losses have come against squads that posted an impressive combined mark of 101-35, last season. Two of the squads advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
The Week That Was:
The Bobcats opened their 2007 schedule with a 30-24, 30-14, 30-27 setback against Middle Tennessee State, a program ranked 33rd in this week’s USA Today/AVCA Coaches poll. MSU was led in the match by Patti Anderson with nine kills, while true-freshman Demi Douhy entered her first collegiate match in game three and exploded for seven kills and a .700 attack mark. Freshman libero Meghan Albiston record a match-high 20 digs. In its second match at the Bluejay Invitational in Omaha, MSU dropped a 20-30, 30-19, 30-18, 30-27 decision to Stephen F. Austin. The ‘Cats were paced by Laura Viren with 15 kills and 17 digs. Senior setter Sarah Allen dished out 45 assists and added 14 saves, while Albiston posted a career-high 32 digs. Montana State was out-played in its third match, losing a 30-16, 30-18, 30-15 decision to Creighton. The Bluejays held a sizeable 60-15 advantage in kills, and the ‘Cats hit a season-low -.044 from the floor. MSU played a single match at South Dakota State on Monday and were swept 30-23, 30-18, 30-27 by the Jackrabbits. The Bobcats were guided by Viren with 10 kills and eight digs.
Getting On Track:
The Bobcat offense will look to get on track this weekend, after hitting only .096 from the field in the opening four matches. Redshirt-freshman Wendy Doutre is currently leading Montana State with a .148 attack mark. MSU’s best hitting performance (.166) came against Stephen F. Austin, last Friday.
Gotta Dig It:
Montana State had an impressive opening weekend on the defensive side of the net. As a team, the Bobcats averaged 17.46 digs per game, which currently ranks second in the Big Sky Conference. Freshman libero Meghan Albiston has taken the reins from MSU record setter Kandice Kelly in the position. The Idaho Falls native is averaging a Big Sky Conference high 6.08 saves per game, including 32 digs against Stephen F. Austin. Albiston finished just six digs shy of Kelly’s match record 38 digs set last season against Bradley. Aside from Kelly, three other Bobcats are averaging over 2.00 digs per outing, and include Laura Viren (2.77), Sarah Allen (2.69) and Patti Anderson (2.38)
Fab Five:
The Bobcats five freshmen played a major role for MSU last weekend, with some significant performances. Redshirt freshman Wendy Doutre leads the Bobcats in hitting percentage; redshirt freshman Meghan Albiston leads in digs; and true-freshman Demi Dlouhy guides the squad in blocks per game True-freshman Rachelle Allen averaged .78 kills and 1.33 digs in the opening week. Redshirt freshman Maria Peterson is averaging 1.00 assists.
Coming Up Short:
The Bobcats came up short in the service column. MSU was out-aced over the weekend 22-9. Only Nicole Grypiuk has more than an ace (2) on the season.
For this week's complete Bobcat volleyball release click on the 'PDF Available' link at the top of this page.
Friday, Aug. 31
Utah St. vs. Texas A&M-- 4:30 pm
Washington St. vs. Montana St.-- 7 pm
Saturday, Sept. 1
Washington St. vs. Texas A&M-- 10 am
Utah St. vs. Montana St.-- noon
Utah St. Washington St.-- 4:30 pm
Texas A&M vs. Montana St.-- 7 pm
Next Up:
The Classic has a long history of hosting some of the nation’s top programs, including the 2005 HIC that featured #9 Wisconsin and #14 Missouri. Other nationally-prominent programs that have played in Shroyer Gym include former national champion Washington, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Alabama and Kansas State. Texas A&M enters this weekend 3-0, after downing Texas A&M CC, Centenary and Prairie View A&M last weekend. The Aggies are paced by Sarah Ammerman, a 6-2 outside hitter, who is averaging 4.83 kills per game. A familiar face on the A&M squad is setter Kristen Schevikhoven, who played at Northern Colorado last fall. Utah State is 1-2 overall, with its lone win coming against Eastern Washington (3-1). USU is led by Amamda Nielson, a 6-0 outside hitter, who is averaging 4.30 kills. Washington State is 4-0 and plays at Gonzaga, before traveling to Bozeman. Tara West averages 4.00 kills per game for the Cougars.
From The Pine (59-58/5Yrs., 27-31 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 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:
The Bobcats struggled from the floor last weekend, hitting just .096 from the field...MSU’s best hitting night (.166) came against Stephen F. Austin...The Bobcats hit the 100 dig plateau against SFA. As a team, MSU didn’t reach 100 saves in a match, last fall...Montana State made a strong defensive showing in the opening weekend, averaging 17.46 digs per game. The total ranks second in the Big Sky Conference behind Sacramento State’s 18.75 saves per outing, after the first week of the season...MSU’s four losses have come against squads that posted an impressive combined mark of 101-35, last season. Two of the squads advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
The Week That Was:
The Bobcats opened their 2007 schedule with a 30-24, 30-14, 30-27 setback against Middle Tennessee State, a program ranked 33rd in this week’s USA Today/AVCA Coaches poll. MSU was led in the match by Patti Anderson with nine kills, while true-freshman Demi Douhy entered her first collegiate match in game three and exploded for seven kills and a .700 attack mark. Freshman libero Meghan Albiston record a match-high 20 digs. In its second match at the Bluejay Invitational in Omaha, MSU dropped a 20-30, 30-19, 30-18, 30-27 decision to Stephen F. Austin. The ‘Cats were paced by Laura Viren with 15 kills and 17 digs. Senior setter Sarah Allen dished out 45 assists and added 14 saves, while Albiston posted a career-high 32 digs. Montana State was out-played in its third match, losing a 30-16, 30-18, 30-15 decision to Creighton. The Bluejays held a sizeable 60-15 advantage in kills, and the ‘Cats hit a season-low -.044 from the floor. MSU played a single match at South Dakota State on Monday and were swept 30-23, 30-18, 30-27 by the Jackrabbits. The Bobcats were guided by Viren with 10 kills and eight digs.
Getting On Track:
The Bobcat offense will look to get on track this weekend, after hitting only .096 from the field in the opening four matches. Redshirt-freshman Wendy Doutre is currently leading Montana State with a .148 attack mark. MSU’s best hitting performance (.166) came against Stephen F. Austin, last Friday.
Gotta Dig It:
Montana State had an impressive opening weekend on the defensive side of the net. As a team, the Bobcats averaged 17.46 digs per game, which currently ranks second in the Big Sky Conference. Freshman libero Meghan Albiston has taken the reins from MSU record setter Kandice Kelly in the position. The Idaho Falls native is averaging a Big Sky Conference high 6.08 saves per game, including 32 digs against Stephen F. Austin. Albiston finished just six digs shy of Kelly’s match record 38 digs set last season against Bradley. Aside from Kelly, three other Bobcats are averaging over 2.00 digs per outing, and include Laura Viren (2.77), Sarah Allen (2.69) and Patti Anderson (2.38)
Fab Five:
The Bobcats five freshmen played a major role for MSU last weekend, with some significant performances. Redshirt freshman Wendy Doutre leads the Bobcats in hitting percentage; redshirt freshman Meghan Albiston leads in digs; and true-freshman Demi Dlouhy guides the squad in blocks per game True-freshman Rachelle Allen averaged .78 kills and 1.33 digs in the opening week. Redshirt freshman Maria Peterson is averaging 1.00 assists.
Coming Up Short:
The Bobcats came up short in the service column. MSU was out-aced over the weekend 22-9. Only Nicole Grypiuk has more than an ace (2) on the season.
For this week's complete Bobcat volleyball release click on the 'PDF Available' link at the top of this page.
Wednesday, August 19
Wednesday, June 10
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
