Friday, October 28
Portland, OR
7:00 PM
Montana State University
at
PORTLAND STATE
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcat Spikers Have Next Six Matches on the Road
10/26/2011 3:03:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The MSU volleyball team will play its next six matches away from the friendly confines of Shroeyr Gym, beginning with Portland State on Friday night.
Click here for this week's complete release (pdf)
SEE YA LATER:
After enjoying a four-match homestand, the Montana State volleyball squad will play its next six matches on the road away from the friendly confines of Shroyer Gym. MSU will open the weekend at Portland State, Friday, Oct. 28, and will conclude play on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Eastern Washington in Cheney. Both matches are slated for 8 p.m. (MST). To watch the matches live via the world wide web go to www.b2TV.com.
THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS:
The Bobcat volleyball team fell in four sets to Northern Arizona 25-18, 20-25, 27-29, 18-25 on Saturday night in Shroyer Gym. On the stat sheet, MSU's attack was led by senior Chelsea Oemcke, who finished with 15 kills, a .294 attack mark and five block assists. Sarah Horton produced MSU's only double-double with 10 kills and 17 digs on the night. Nicole Baker tallied a match-high 30 digs. The Bobcats dropped a 26-24, 19-25, 23-25, 16-25 decision on Friday to league-leading Northern Colorado. Montana State was led by Oemcke, a San Diego native, who finished with 13 kills and a .393 hitting percentage. Defensively, three Bobcats finished in double-digits for digs. Nicole Baker had 17, Rachelle Allen 11 and Kasey Schlatter 10.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
* Chelsea Oemcke, 6-0, Sr., Middle Blocker, San Diego, California
Oemcke continued her red-hot October in MSU's two matches last weekend...averaged 3.50 kills and 1.00 blocks, while hitting .339 from the field...notched a career-high 15 kills against Northern Arizona...also added five blocks against the Lumberjacks...for the month is averaging 2.58 kps with a .306 attack mark.
* Lauren Curtis, 6-2, Sr., Outside Hitter, Redmond, Washington
Curtis returned to the MSU rotation after missing two matches and averaged 2.13 kills per set against Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona...for the weekend posted a .275 attack mark...registered 12 kills and three blocks against the Lumberjacks...logged five kills with no errors against Northern Colorado.
THE SCOUTING REPORT:
Portland State (11-11, 7-3) ran its winning streak to three matches after sweeping Weber State and getting a five-set victory at Idaho State. Megan Ellis led the way against the Wildcats with 15 kills and a career-high .481 hitting percentage, while Tineke Bierma chipped in a career-high nine kills. On Saturday, Aubrey Mitchell had career-highs of 18 kills and 10 blocks, and also hit .577, Ellis had 17 kills and 16 digs, and Katie O'Brien tallied a Big Sky high 13 blocks. After three-straight weekends on the road, Eastern Washington (10-11, 6-4) returns to the comfort of Reese Court for a pair of Big Sky matches against Montana and Montana State. With a pair of victories on the road last weekend against Idaho State and Weber State, the Eagles sit in fourth place in the Big Sky standings.
QUICK SETS:
Montana State libero Nicole Baker is currently ranked third overall in the Big Sky averaging 4.67 digs per set...Baker's 23 saves against Sacramento State is the highest total in the Big Sky for a three-set match and her 30 saves vs. NAU last Saturday are the highest for a four-set match...in addition, Baker is the top sophomore in the Big Sky in digs...the Bobcats snapped its 24-match losing streak and a 13-match Big Sky Conference slide with a 3-2 win at Idaho State on Oct. 7...Montana State's last Big Sky home victory came on Oct. 15, 2010 with a 3-0 sweep of Sacramento St...Chelsea Oemcke is currently ranked 6th in the league with a .264 attack mark...setter Jennifer Lundquist is currently listed fifth in the Big Sky averaging 9.26 assists per set...outside hitter Sarah Horton broke into the Big Sky's top ten at No. 10 averaging 2.53 kills per set...as a team, the Bobcats highest rank in the stat column is 6th in blocking at 2.00 bps.
HITHER AND YON:
With stops in Georgia, Illinois, Missouri and California in non-conference action, the Bobcats will add over 11,000 miles to its Frequent Flyer card.
WE LIKE IT HERE:
Shroyer Gym, Home of the Bobcats, is one of the toughest venues west of the Mississippi. Over the past few decades, Shroyer Gym and the Bobcat faithful has made Montana State one of the top 30 venues in the nation in term of attendance. The annual 'Shake Shroyer' match has consistently drawn one of the top crowds in the Pacific Northwest and Big Sky Conference. Over 1,500 fans attended MSU's match vs. intra-state rival Montana on Sept. 30. MSU's largest attendance in Shroyer Gym occurred as 2,371 spectators witnessed the Bobcats defeat Northern Arizona on Nov. 1, 2003, 3-0. The largest crowd in the State of Montana and Big Sky Conference history also belongs to the Bobcats as 6,378 fans jammed Worthington Arena on Nov. 15, 2002.
ALL-TIME SERIES:
Portland State holds the all-time advantage in its series with Montana State at 31-19 going back to the 1979 season. The Vikings have won 13 straight over the Bobcats. MSU's last win over Portland State was a 3-0 sweep of the Viks on Nov. 12, 2004 in Shroyer Gym. Montana State's last win in the Stott Center was Oct. 16, 2004. Eastern Washington holds a 44-20 lead in its all-time series with the Bobcats. MSU's last win over EWU came last season with a 3-1 win. Montana State's last win at Reese Court was a 3-2 decision on Sept. 22, 2001.
GOLD DIGGER:
Montana State sophomore libero Nicole Baker has been in double-digit digs in 20 of MSU's 21 matches this season. She is averaging 4.67 digs per set, which ranks third in the Big Sky. Her 23 digs in MSU's loss to Sacramento State on Oct. 15 is the highest recorded this season by any league player in a three-set match and her 30 digs against Northern Arizona are the highest for a four-set contest. Baker is currently tied for 8th on MSU's all-time single-season list with 378 saves. The all-time single-season digs mark at MSU is 495 set by Kandice Kelly in 2005.
DIGGING MACHINES:
The one statistical area that has seen improvement this season for the Bobcats is on defense. As a team, Montana State is averaging 14.69 digs per set. In all, five Bobcats have posted 115 or more digs so far this fall. Libero Nicole Baker has notched 378 saves and is followed by Rachelle Allen (198), Kasey Schlatter (167), Sarah Horton (165) and Jennifer Lundquist (115).
CO-CAPTAINS:
Seniors Rachelle Allen and Alex Penewell are co-captains for the 2011 season. Allen, who was an All Big Sky Conference Honorable Mention pick last fall, is averaging 2.46 kills and 2.68 digs per set, while Penewell, who was the Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year last season, is chipping in 1.35 kills and has posted 36 total blocks.
SPREADING THE LOVE:
Eight Bobcats are currently averaging anywhere from 1.26 - 2.53 kills per set. The balanced attack is led by Sarah Horton, who is averaging a team-best 2.53 kps. Rachelle Allen is also over the 2.00 kill plateau at 2.46 per stanza.
SEE YA LATER:
After enjoying a four-match homestand, the Montana State volleyball squad will play its next six matches on the road away from the friendly confines of Shroyer Gym. MSU will open the weekend at Portland State, Friday, Oct. 28, and will conclude play on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Eastern Washington in Cheney. Both matches are slated for 8 p.m. (MST). To watch the matches live via the world wide web go to www.b2TV.com.
THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS:
The Bobcat volleyball team fell in four sets to Northern Arizona 25-18, 20-25, 27-29, 18-25 on Saturday night in Shroyer Gym. On the stat sheet, MSU's attack was led by senior Chelsea Oemcke, who finished with 15 kills, a .294 attack mark and five block assists. Sarah Horton produced MSU's only double-double with 10 kills and 17 digs on the night. Nicole Baker tallied a match-high 30 digs. The Bobcats dropped a 26-24, 19-25, 23-25, 16-25 decision on Friday to league-leading Northern Colorado. Montana State was led by Oemcke, a San Diego native, who finished with 13 kills and a .393 hitting percentage. Defensively, three Bobcats finished in double-digits for digs. Nicole Baker had 17, Rachelle Allen 11 and Kasey Schlatter 10.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
* Chelsea Oemcke, 6-0, Sr., Middle Blocker, San Diego, California
Oemcke continued her red-hot October in MSU's two matches last weekend...averaged 3.50 kills and 1.00 blocks, while hitting .339 from the field...notched a career-high 15 kills against Northern Arizona...also added five blocks against the Lumberjacks...for the month is averaging 2.58 kps with a .306 attack mark.
* Lauren Curtis, 6-2, Sr., Outside Hitter, Redmond, Washington
Curtis returned to the MSU rotation after missing two matches and averaged 2.13 kills per set against Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona...for the weekend posted a .275 attack mark...registered 12 kills and three blocks against the Lumberjacks...logged five kills with no errors against Northern Colorado.
THE SCOUTING REPORT:
Portland State (11-11, 7-3) ran its winning streak to three matches after sweeping Weber State and getting a five-set victory at Idaho State. Megan Ellis led the way against the Wildcats with 15 kills and a career-high .481 hitting percentage, while Tineke Bierma chipped in a career-high nine kills. On Saturday, Aubrey Mitchell had career-highs of 18 kills and 10 blocks, and also hit .577, Ellis had 17 kills and 16 digs, and Katie O'Brien tallied a Big Sky high 13 blocks. After three-straight weekends on the road, Eastern Washington (10-11, 6-4) returns to the comfort of Reese Court for a pair of Big Sky matches against Montana and Montana State. With a pair of victories on the road last weekend against Idaho State and Weber State, the Eagles sit in fourth place in the Big Sky standings.
QUICK SETS:
Montana State libero Nicole Baker is currently ranked third overall in the Big Sky averaging 4.67 digs per set...Baker's 23 saves against Sacramento State is the highest total in the Big Sky for a three-set match and her 30 saves vs. NAU last Saturday are the highest for a four-set match...in addition, Baker is the top sophomore in the Big Sky in digs...the Bobcats snapped its 24-match losing streak and a 13-match Big Sky Conference slide with a 3-2 win at Idaho State on Oct. 7...Montana State's last Big Sky home victory came on Oct. 15, 2010 with a 3-0 sweep of Sacramento St...Chelsea Oemcke is currently ranked 6th in the league with a .264 attack mark...setter Jennifer Lundquist is currently listed fifth in the Big Sky averaging 9.26 assists per set...outside hitter Sarah Horton broke into the Big Sky's top ten at No. 10 averaging 2.53 kills per set...as a team, the Bobcats highest rank in the stat column is 6th in blocking at 2.00 bps.
HITHER AND YON:
With stops in Georgia, Illinois, Missouri and California in non-conference action, the Bobcats will add over 11,000 miles to its Frequent Flyer card.
WE LIKE IT HERE:
Shroyer Gym, Home of the Bobcats, is one of the toughest venues west of the Mississippi. Over the past few decades, Shroyer Gym and the Bobcat faithful has made Montana State one of the top 30 venues in the nation in term of attendance. The annual 'Shake Shroyer' match has consistently drawn one of the top crowds in the Pacific Northwest and Big Sky Conference. Over 1,500 fans attended MSU's match vs. intra-state rival Montana on Sept. 30. MSU's largest attendance in Shroyer Gym occurred as 2,371 spectators witnessed the Bobcats defeat Northern Arizona on Nov. 1, 2003, 3-0. The largest crowd in the State of Montana and Big Sky Conference history also belongs to the Bobcats as 6,378 fans jammed Worthington Arena on Nov. 15, 2002.
ALL-TIME SERIES:
Portland State holds the all-time advantage in its series with Montana State at 31-19 going back to the 1979 season. The Vikings have won 13 straight over the Bobcats. MSU's last win over Portland State was a 3-0 sweep of the Viks on Nov. 12, 2004 in Shroyer Gym. Montana State's last win in the Stott Center was Oct. 16, 2004. Eastern Washington holds a 44-20 lead in its all-time series with the Bobcats. MSU's last win over EWU came last season with a 3-1 win. Montana State's last win at Reese Court was a 3-2 decision on Sept. 22, 2001.
GOLD DIGGER:
Montana State sophomore libero Nicole Baker has been in double-digit digs in 20 of MSU's 21 matches this season. She is averaging 4.67 digs per set, which ranks third in the Big Sky. Her 23 digs in MSU's loss to Sacramento State on Oct. 15 is the highest recorded this season by any league player in a three-set match and her 30 digs against Northern Arizona are the highest for a four-set contest. Baker is currently tied for 8th on MSU's all-time single-season list with 378 saves. The all-time single-season digs mark at MSU is 495 set by Kandice Kelly in 2005.
DIGGING MACHINES:
The one statistical area that has seen improvement this season for the Bobcats is on defense. As a team, Montana State is averaging 14.69 digs per set. In all, five Bobcats have posted 115 or more digs so far this fall. Libero Nicole Baker has notched 378 saves and is followed by Rachelle Allen (198), Kasey Schlatter (167), Sarah Horton (165) and Jennifer Lundquist (115).
CO-CAPTAINS:
Seniors Rachelle Allen and Alex Penewell are co-captains for the 2011 season. Allen, who was an All Big Sky Conference Honorable Mention pick last fall, is averaging 2.46 kills and 2.68 digs per set, while Penewell, who was the Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year last season, is chipping in 1.35 kills and has posted 36 total blocks.
SPREADING THE LOVE:
Eight Bobcats are currently averaging anywhere from 1.26 - 2.53 kills per set. The balanced attack is led by Sarah Horton, who is averaging a team-best 2.53 kps. Rachelle Allen is also over the 2.00 kill plateau at 2.46 per stanza.
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