Montana State University
NORTHERN ARIZONA
Chopped by the Lumberjacks
10/22/2011 9:35:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Bobcats fall in four for the second day in a row
The Bobcat Volleyball team fell in four sets to Northern Arizona (25-18, 20-25, 27-29, 18-25) on Saturday night in Shroyer Gymnasium. With the loss, MSU falls to 3-18 overall and 2-8 in the Big Sky Conference. Northern Arizona is not 5-5 in the Big Sky and 14-5 overall. (Box Score)
In the first set, the Bobcats and Lumberjacks struggled to put together any sort of momentum-swinging run, keeping the score close throughout. MSU built a 9-7 lead early in the set and kept up a strong front line increasing their lead to 13-7 following a Lumberjack timeout. NAU knocked door several times, getting as close as one point, but MSU held on to preserve the opening stanza win, 25-18, including a four-point run to close out the set.
The second set started a little slower for Montana State as the Lumberjacks were able to capitalize on a few Bobcat mistakes and fire some kills of their own. Neither team could put together any string of points, keeping the score within one or two of one another throughout the first part of the set. A Chelsea Oemcke kill made it 8-8, followed by another kill from the San Diego native to keep it tied up at nine. NAU still kept the edge, fighting off the Bobcat rally after 6 ties. MSU took the lead at 14-13, only to have NAU find the equalizer and regain the lead on the next two points. MSU got within one at 19-18, in favor of the Lumberjacks, but Northern Arizona went on to win the set, 25-20.
In a match-changing third set, both teams exchanged points back and forth for a majority of the set until Northern Arizona took an 18-16 lead and never looked back. The Bobcats notched several key defensive plays and got within two of the NAU and off an Alex Penewell kill, tied it up at 24-24. Sarah Horton made a stealth left-side kill to be in position for set point only to have NAU answer back and make it 25-all. In what can only be called a nail-biter of a home stretch of the third set, Northern Arizona came out on top at 29-27.
In the final set of the night, the Lumberjack rode the momentum of the third set, taking an early 8-5 lead. Montana State counterattacked to tie it back up at 9-9 when both teams, again, went back and forth exchanging points. NAU retook the lead, 14-12 only to have MSU to continue to push to close the gap and fight to get ahead. The Bobcat offense had trouble getting a rhythm which allowed NAU to hold a steady to a two-point lead and eventually the overall victory in Shroyer.
On the stat sheet, MSU's attack was led by Oemcke who finished with 15 kills (.294) and five block assists. Sarah Horton also produced a double-doubl with 10 kills and 17 digs on the night. Nicole Baker tallied a match-high 30 digs.
Northern Arizona had four Lumberjacks with kills in the double digits with Libby Sullivan leading with 14. An impressive five players from NAU finished with over 10 digs. Anna Gott finished with the most for NAU with 27.
“We talked tonight about playing really well but not producing when we really need it,” said head coach Sara Schaub. ”We're doing so many good things and we need to make sure we're doing those things not just in the beginning and middle of the set but, most importantly, at the end.”
The Bobcats will hit the road for their next six matches, beginning Friday, Oct. 28 when they travel to Portland to take on the Vikings at 7:00 p.m. Their six-game road trip includes stops at Eastern Washington, Montana, Sacramento State and CSU-Bakersfield.
