Bobcat Spikers Close Out Season with Third Straight Win

Saturday, November 19

Bozeman

7:00 PM

Montana State University

IDAHO STATE

Sophomore Sarah Horton knocked down a career-high 19 kills as the Bobcats defeated Idaho State 3-0 to close out its 2011 season with three consecutive victories.

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

11/19/2011 10:32:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

By: Tom Schulz

The Montana State volleyball team got a career-high 19 kills from sophomore Sarah Horton, while Alex Penewell added 11 as the Bobcats defeated Idaho State 25-21, 26-24, 23-25, 25-18, Saturday night to close out its season with three consecutive victories.

“I'd love for the season to continue,” said MSU head coach Sara Schaub. “We are playing are best ball of the year. Everyone is contributing and our seniors did an outstanding job leading this team over the past two weeks.”

On Senior Night it was a second-year player that sparked Montana State (6-23, 4-12). Horton, a 6-foot outside hitter from Fresno, Calif., hit .447 for the match and added nine digs, three blocks and two service aces.

MSU's seniors also didn't disappoint. The foursome of Rachelle Allen, Chelsea Oemcke, Lauren Curtis and Penewell combined for 32 kills, 22 digs and eight blocks.

“Our seniors played extremely well this weekend and it's nice for them to go out on a winning note,” Schaub said. “I felt Rachelle (Allen) really set the tone with her steady and consistent play.”

For the match, MSU outhit Idaho State (14-14, 7-9) .264 to .201. The Bobcats also held advantages in kills, assists, aces, digs and blocks.

Bobcat libero Nicole Baker recorded a team-high 24 digs and established a new MSU single-season record with 514 saves. The old mark of 495 was set by Kandice Kelly in 2005.

Junior setter Jennifer Lundquist had another solid, all-around performance dishing out 48 assists, while chipping in five kills, 11 digs, four blocks and a service ace.

Also posting double-digit digs for MSU were Allen 14 and Kasey Schlatter 13.

Oemcke ended her MSU career with nine kills, a .500 attack mark and four blocks. Curtis finished with three kills.

Idaho State was paced in the loss by Breanne Van Every with 17 kills and 10 digs.