Bobcat Spikers Host Three Matches in Five Days
9/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
This Week in Bobcat Volleyball:
Eastern Washington- (Bozeman, Mont. - Shroyer Gym)
Thursday, Sept. 20- MSU vs. Eastern Washington- 7 p.m. (MST)
Portland State- (Bozeman, Mont. - Shroyer Gym)
Saturday, Sept. 22- MSU vs. Portland State- 7 p.m. (MST)
Utah Valley- (Bozeman, Mont. - Shroyer Gym)
Monday, Sept. 24- MSU vs. Utah Valley- 7 p.m.
Next Up:
The Montana State will host Eastern Washington on Thursday night in Shroyer Gym. The Eagles have a new look as Irene Matlock takes over as interim head coach following the departure of Wade Benson. EWU is currently 2-9 overall and 1-1 in Big Sky Conference action. The Eagles split a pair of league home matches, losing 3-1 to Weber State, before notching a 3-1 win over Idaho State. Last weekend, the Eagles were paced by Hayley Hills. Hills, who recorded 30 kills against ISU. For the week, she averaged 6.13 kills and 1.50 digs per game. Portland State, who is 8-4 overall and 2-0 in Big Sky play, will face Montana on Thursday, before making the trek to Bozeman. Last weekend, the Vikings swept Idaho State and Weber State 3-0. Michelle Segun paced PSU recording 20 kills, a .349 attack and seven blocks. Utah Valley is 5-5 overall and will play Idaho State on Saturday, before coming to Bozeman. The Wolverines are led by Camie Manwill, who averages 4.30 kills.
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:
For only the second time this season, the Bobcats out-hit an opponent. MSU hit .188 from the field against No. Colorado, while holding the Bears to .174…Laura Viren registered her fifth double-double of the season with 13 kills and 20 digs against the Bears. Her 20 saves were a season-high…the Bobcats out-blocked both opponents on the weekend, averaging 2.57 blocks per game…setter Sarah Allen dished out 11.4 assists per game, while adding 12 digs and two blocks…MSU will host Eastern Washington on Thursday night, the Bobcats have dropped its last four outings to the Eagles…EWU interim head coach Irene Matlock is the aunt of Bobcat assistant Erin Naipo.
The Week That Was:
The Bobcats opened Big Sky Conference action at Northern Arizona, last Thursday. The Lumberjacks handed the Bobcats a 30-26, 30-21, 30-16 setback. Junior Laura Viren was the only Bobcat to reach double-digits, recording a team-high 12 kills. Senior Patti Anderson paced MSU defensively with 13 digs, while Srah Allen dished out 31 assists and added four digs. For the match, MSU hit .062 from the field, while NAU posted a .258 attack mark. On Saturday, Northern Colorado defeated Montana State 30-23, 30-27, 25-30, 33-31 in Greeley. Three MSU players registered 13 kills apiece, including Viren, Anderson and Kaytlin Van Burger. Sophomore Nicole Grypiuk posted a career-high 11 kills, while hitting .267 and adding two blocks. For only the second time this fall, the Bobcats out-hit an opponent. MSU hit at a .188 clip, while holding the Bears to .174. The Bobcats also out-blocked their opponents last weekend, averaging nine team blocks per match. Defensively, Laura Viren led MSU against Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado, collecting 29 saves for the two matches.
The In and Out:
Kaytlin Van Burger was named MSU’s Player of the Week after putting together solid back-to-back performances. Van Burger averaged 2.29 kills, while hitting an impressive .347 from the field. She posted a career-high 13 kills against Northern Colorado, hitting .333 from the floor and adding six blocks. Against Northern Arizona, Van Burger tallied seven kills, a .375 attack mark and four blocks. For the weekend, she averaged 1.43 blocks and added three digs and an ace.
Gotta Dig It:
Montana State is averaging 15.50 digs per game. The Bobcats are led this season by freshman libero Meghan Albiston, who is averaging 4.18 saves per game. Last weekend, the Idaho Falls native averaged 3.29 digs per game. Also helping the ‘Cats defensively are Patti Anderson (2.93 dpg), Laura Viren (2.93 dpg) and Sarah Allen (2.02 dpg).
When You Think of Laura:
Junior Laura Viren is having a solid fall for the Bobats. The native of Prior Lake, Minn., leads the team in kills (140), is second in digs (129) and is third in aces (.24) and blocks (.66). Viren leads the squad with five double-doubles, including a 13-kill 20-dig effort at Northern Colorado. She was also named to all three of MSU’s preseason all-tournament teams.
Hard Block Cafe’:
The Bobcats are currently ranked third in blocking after the first weekend of Big Sky Conference action. MSU, historically, has been one of the top blocking squads in the leauge, and have been ranked among the nation’s best, as well. Five players currently average .50 blocks or higher per game.
Looking Ahead:
Following its Big Sky Conference home opening weekend against Eastern Washington, Portland State and its non-conference tilt with Utah Valley, MSU will host Montana, Friday, Sept. 28 at 5:30 p.m. Please note the time change. The change will help accommodate fans that will also be attending MSU’s Athletic Hall of Fame banquet at 7 p.m., which will induct former ‘Cat volleyball great Kim Steffel.
For this week's complete volleyball release, click on the 'PDF Version Available' link at the top of this page.
Eastern Washington- (Bozeman, Mont. - Shroyer Gym)
Thursday, Sept. 20- MSU vs. Eastern Washington- 7 p.m. (MST)
Portland State- (Bozeman, Mont. - Shroyer Gym)
Saturday, Sept. 22- MSU vs. Portland State- 7 p.m. (MST)
Utah Valley- (Bozeman, Mont. - Shroyer Gym)
Monday, Sept. 24- MSU vs. Utah Valley- 7 p.m.
Next Up:
The Montana State will host Eastern Washington on Thursday night in Shroyer Gym. The Eagles have a new look as Irene Matlock takes over as interim head coach following the departure of Wade Benson. EWU is currently 2-9 overall and 1-1 in Big Sky Conference action. The Eagles split a pair of league home matches, losing 3-1 to Weber State, before notching a 3-1 win over Idaho State. Last weekend, the Eagles were paced by Hayley Hills. Hills, who recorded 30 kills against ISU. For the week, she averaged 6.13 kills and 1.50 digs per game. Portland State, who is 8-4 overall and 2-0 in Big Sky play, will face Montana on Thursday, before making the trek to Bozeman. Last weekend, the Vikings swept Idaho State and Weber State 3-0. Michelle Segun paced PSU recording 20 kills, a .349 attack and seven blocks. Utah Valley is 5-5 overall and will play Idaho State on Saturday, before coming to Bozeman. The Wolverines are led by Camie Manwill, who averages 4.30 kills.
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:
For only the second time this season, the Bobcats out-hit an opponent. MSU hit .188 from the field against No. Colorado, while holding the Bears to .174…Laura Viren registered her fifth double-double of the season with 13 kills and 20 digs against the Bears. Her 20 saves were a season-high…the Bobcats out-blocked both opponents on the weekend, averaging 2.57 blocks per game…setter Sarah Allen dished out 11.4 assists per game, while adding 12 digs and two blocks…MSU will host Eastern Washington on Thursday night, the Bobcats have dropped its last four outings to the Eagles…EWU interim head coach Irene Matlock is the aunt of Bobcat assistant Erin Naipo.
The Week That Was:
The Bobcats opened Big Sky Conference action at Northern Arizona, last Thursday. The Lumberjacks handed the Bobcats a 30-26, 30-21, 30-16 setback. Junior Laura Viren was the only Bobcat to reach double-digits, recording a team-high 12 kills. Senior Patti Anderson paced MSU defensively with 13 digs, while Srah Allen dished out 31 assists and added four digs. For the match, MSU hit .062 from the field, while NAU posted a .258 attack mark. On Saturday, Northern Colorado defeated Montana State 30-23, 30-27, 25-30, 33-31 in Greeley. Three MSU players registered 13 kills apiece, including Viren, Anderson and Kaytlin Van Burger. Sophomore Nicole Grypiuk posted a career-high 11 kills, while hitting .267 and adding two blocks. For only the second time this fall, the Bobcats out-hit an opponent. MSU hit at a .188 clip, while holding the Bears to .174. The Bobcats also out-blocked their opponents last weekend, averaging nine team blocks per match. Defensively, Laura Viren led MSU against Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado, collecting 29 saves for the two matches.
The In and Out:
Kaytlin Van Burger was named MSU’s Player of the Week after putting together solid back-to-back performances. Van Burger averaged 2.29 kills, while hitting an impressive .347 from the field. She posted a career-high 13 kills against Northern Colorado, hitting .333 from the floor and adding six blocks. Against Northern Arizona, Van Burger tallied seven kills, a .375 attack mark and four blocks. For the weekend, she averaged 1.43 blocks and added three digs and an ace.
Gotta Dig It:
Montana State is averaging 15.50 digs per game. The Bobcats are led this season by freshman libero Meghan Albiston, who is averaging 4.18 saves per game. Last weekend, the Idaho Falls native averaged 3.29 digs per game. Also helping the ‘Cats defensively are Patti Anderson (2.93 dpg), Laura Viren (2.93 dpg) and Sarah Allen (2.02 dpg).
When You Think of Laura:
Junior Laura Viren is having a solid fall for the Bobats. The native of Prior Lake, Minn., leads the team in kills (140), is second in digs (129) and is third in aces (.24) and blocks (.66). Viren leads the squad with five double-doubles, including a 13-kill 20-dig effort at Northern Colorado. She was also named to all three of MSU’s preseason all-tournament teams.
Hard Block Cafe’:
The Bobcats are currently ranked third in blocking after the first weekend of Big Sky Conference action. MSU, historically, has been one of the top blocking squads in the leauge, and have been ranked among the nation’s best, as well. Five players currently average .50 blocks or higher per game.
Looking Ahead:
Following its Big Sky Conference home opening weekend against Eastern Washington, Portland State and its non-conference tilt with Utah Valley, MSU will host Montana, Friday, Sept. 28 at 5:30 p.m. Please note the time change. The change will help accommodate fans that will also be attending MSU’s Athletic Hall of Fame banquet at 7 p.m., which will induct former ‘Cat volleyball great Kim Steffel.
For this week's complete volleyball release, click on the 'PDF Version Available' link at the top of this page.
Wednesday, August 19
Wednesday, June 10
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
