Bobcat Spikers Open with 14th Holiday Inn Classic
8/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Season Opener:
Last season, the Bobcats recorded a 1-27 overall mark, winning its lone match against North Florida in early September. Returning to the MSU rotation are seniors Kaytlin Van Burger and Laura Viren, along with junior Nicole Grypiuk and libero Meghan Albiston. Transfers Taylor Faught and Jodeen Rademacher will help shore-up the Bobcat offense. Portland is also under the direction of a new coach with the appointment of Joe Houck. The Pilots posted a 7-21 record last season, and finished eighth in the West Coast Conference. UP returns ten letterwinners, including five starters. The University of Washington is ranked No. 9 in the AVCA preseason coaches poll, after notching a 27-4 record last fall. The Huskies were the 1996 Holiday Inn Classic champions.
Holiday Inn Classic Schedule:
Friday, Aug. 29 -- Portland vs. Montana State, 12 noon
Friday, Aug. 29 -- #9 Washington vs. Montana State, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 30 -- Portland vs. #9 Washington, 10 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 30 -- Portland vs. Montana State, 7 p.m.
The 14th Holiday Inn Classic:
The Bobcats will host its 14th Annual Holiday Inn Classic this weekend in Shroyer Gym. MSU, along with the University of Portland and No. 9 Washington will comprise the field. The Bobcats will face the Pilots, twice, while meeting the Huskies on Friday at 5:30 p.m. In its thirteen-year history, Montana State has captured five Classic titles, the last coming in 2004. Texas A&M won the 2007 HIC championship going undefeated. Both Portland and Washington return to the Holiday Inn Classic. The Huskies won the 1996 title with help from current assistant Leslie Tuiasosopo- who was named to the all-tournament team. The Pilots participated in the 2004 tournament- led by Shayna Surplus.
The Killer V’s:
Montana State will be led this season by seniors Kaytlin Van Burger and Laura Viren. The duo combined for 359 kills, 311 digs and 109 total blocks, last fall. Van Burger, a native of Bend, Ore., posted a career-high 13 kills at Northern Colorado and seven blocks against Idaho State, last season. Viren, who has been an off and on starter over the past four seasons, had her best match last fall in MSU’s lone win of the season over North Florida. In the match, the Prior Lake, Minn., native pounded down 18 kills, while hitting .500 from the field.
Gotta Dig It:
Meghan Albiston broke the Montana State freshman mark for digs in a season, surpassing the record held by Kandice Kelly -MSU’s all-time dig leader. The Idaho Falls native, posted 380 digs, averaging 3.96 per game. She is on pace to break Kelly’s career mark of 1,720 saves. Albiston’s 380 digs were the fourth best ever recorded in a single-season at MSU.
Getta A Grip:
Junior Nicole Grypiuk will help pace the Bobcats this season on offense. Last fall, she averaged 1.97 kills per game, including three matches with a career-high 15 kills. Off the court, she was MSU’s lone representative on the Big Sky Conference All-Academic squad. The Shellbrook, Saskatchewan native earned over a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average and played in 91 games. It was her second straight all-league academic honor.
Stand Up and Cheer:
Despite its 1-27 overall record and 0-12 home slate, the Bobcats averaged 840 fans per game, which was the best in the Big Sky Conference. MSU drew a season-best 1,287 for the annual ‘Cat-Griz match.
In With the New:
Two transfers will play a big role in Montana State’s season. Junior Taylor Faught and sophomore Jodeen Rademacher will see significant playing time. Faught is MSU’s only full-time setter, after transferring from sister school MSU-Billings in the offseason. The 5-8 native of Billings sat out last year due to injury. Rademacher, a native of Adams, Neb., brings in impressive credentials from Iowa Western Community College. The 6-0 outside hitter helped the Reivers to a 58-5 overall ledger and a seventh place finish at the 2007 NJCCA National Tournament. On the year, she posted 360 kills.
For this week's complete release, click on the 'PDF Version Available' link at the top of this page.
Last season, the Bobcats recorded a 1-27 overall mark, winning its lone match against North Florida in early September. Returning to the MSU rotation are seniors Kaytlin Van Burger and Laura Viren, along with junior Nicole Grypiuk and libero Meghan Albiston. Transfers Taylor Faught and Jodeen Rademacher will help shore-up the Bobcat offense. Portland is also under the direction of a new coach with the appointment of Joe Houck. The Pilots posted a 7-21 record last season, and finished eighth in the West Coast Conference. UP returns ten letterwinners, including five starters. The University of Washington is ranked No. 9 in the AVCA preseason coaches poll, after notching a 27-4 record last fall. The Huskies were the 1996 Holiday Inn Classic champions.
Holiday Inn Classic Schedule:
Friday, Aug. 29 -- Portland vs. Montana State, 12 noon
Friday, Aug. 29 -- #9 Washington vs. Montana State, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 30 -- Portland vs. #9 Washington, 10 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 30 -- Portland vs. Montana State, 7 p.m.
The 14th Holiday Inn Classic:
The Bobcats will host its 14th Annual Holiday Inn Classic this weekend in Shroyer Gym. MSU, along with the University of Portland and No. 9 Washington will comprise the field. The Bobcats will face the Pilots, twice, while meeting the Huskies on Friday at 5:30 p.m. In its thirteen-year history, Montana State has captured five Classic titles, the last coming in 2004. Texas A&M won the 2007 HIC championship going undefeated. Both Portland and Washington return to the Holiday Inn Classic. The Huskies won the 1996 title with help from current assistant Leslie Tuiasosopo- who was named to the all-tournament team. The Pilots participated in the 2004 tournament- led by Shayna Surplus.
The Killer V’s:
Montana State will be led this season by seniors Kaytlin Van Burger and Laura Viren. The duo combined for 359 kills, 311 digs and 109 total blocks, last fall. Van Burger, a native of Bend, Ore., posted a career-high 13 kills at Northern Colorado and seven blocks against Idaho State, last season. Viren, who has been an off and on starter over the past four seasons, had her best match last fall in MSU’s lone win of the season over North Florida. In the match, the Prior Lake, Minn., native pounded down 18 kills, while hitting .500 from the field.
Gotta Dig It:
Meghan Albiston broke the Montana State freshman mark for digs in a season, surpassing the record held by Kandice Kelly -MSU’s all-time dig leader. The Idaho Falls native, posted 380 digs, averaging 3.96 per game. She is on pace to break Kelly’s career mark of 1,720 saves. Albiston’s 380 digs were the fourth best ever recorded in a single-season at MSU.
Getta A Grip:
Junior Nicole Grypiuk will help pace the Bobcats this season on offense. Last fall, she averaged 1.97 kills per game, including three matches with a career-high 15 kills. Off the court, she was MSU’s lone representative on the Big Sky Conference All-Academic squad. The Shellbrook, Saskatchewan native earned over a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average and played in 91 games. It was her second straight all-league academic honor.
Stand Up and Cheer:
Despite its 1-27 overall record and 0-12 home slate, the Bobcats averaged 840 fans per game, which was the best in the Big Sky Conference. MSU drew a season-best 1,287 for the annual ‘Cat-Griz match.
In With the New:
Two transfers will play a big role in Montana State’s season. Junior Taylor Faught and sophomore Jodeen Rademacher will see significant playing time. Faught is MSU’s only full-time setter, after transferring from sister school MSU-Billings in the offseason. The 5-8 native of Billings sat out last year due to injury. Rademacher, a native of Adams, Neb., brings in impressive credentials from Iowa Western Community College. The 6-0 outside hitter helped the Reivers to a 58-5 overall ledger and a seventh place finish at the 2007 NJCCA National Tournament. On the year, she posted 360 kills.
For this week's complete release, click on the 'PDF Version Available' link at the top of this page.
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