Montana State University
NORTHERN COLORADO
Bobcats Fall to Bears
10/21/2011 9:29:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Volleyball starts strong but falls in four to UNC
The Bobcat Volleyball team fell to Northern Colorado in Shroyer Gymnasium in four sets (26-24, 19-25, 23-25, 16-25) on Friday. Northern Colorado improves to 7-2 in the Big Sky Conference and 13-7 overall. Montana State is 2-7 in the league and 3-17 on the season. (Box Score)
The Bears and Bobcats traded points back and forth for much of the first set, with either team going on no more than a three-point run. Montana State took a two-point lead before a Northern Colorado timeout at 15-13. Following the break, despite a series of exchanging points, five ties and three match point attempts, the Bobcats held on for a 26-24 win in the opening stanza.
In set two, MSU struck first going on a 3-0 run before Northern Colorado got on the board and took the next three points to tie it up. The Bears continued a run of their own to go up, 6-4 early in the set. The Bears and Bobcats, much like the in first, exchanged points back and forth with no one taking more than a two-point lead. The Bears were able to push to an 18-15 lead before going on to the largest lead of the set and going on to win 25-19.
In set three, in keeping with the theme of the night, both teams kept it close within a few points of each other. MSU tied it up at 12 apiece but wasn't able to formulate a run without Northern Colorado responding with points of their own and a 16-14 lead. Following a timeout, UNC capitalized on the run to go up, 20-14. MSU responded with three straight points to cut the lead to three, and rallied to tie it up at 22-22 but the Bears preserved their lead to go up two sets to one with a 25-23 win.
With neither team being able to string together a major run, the fourth set was also close. Northern Colorado took a 12-8 lead, and the Bobcats were able to cut that lead in half, capitalize on two Bear miscues. UNC responded to make it, 17-12. Northern Colorado's offense took off and challenged the Bobcat defense which struggled with the Bears' hitters, gaining a seven-point lead, the largest margin of the match.
Montana State was led by Chelsea Oemcke on the attack. The San Diego native finished with 13 kills (.393). Defensively, three Bobcats finished in double-digits for digs. Nicole Baker had 17, Rachelle Allen had 11 and Kasey Schlatter amassed 10. As a team, the Bobcats tallied 55 digs to Northern Colorado's 80.
Northern Colorado's high-powered offense finished with 60 kills and was led by Kelley Arnold with an impressive 24 kills (.347). Amanda Arterburn had a match-high 20 digs over four sets.
“Northern Colorado is the top team in the conference,” said head coach Sara Schaub. “We competed well and had a strong offense tonight, hitting over .215. We just need to trust our defense and know that we can make those vital digs.”
Montana State closes out their four-match homestand tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 22, when they host Northern Arizona at 7:00 p.m. Click here for Live Stats or watch the match live on Big Sky TV.
