Friday, September 23
Bozeman
7:00 PM
Montana State University
vs
EASTERN WASHINGTON
Bobcat Spikers Open Home Season
9/22/2011 10:12:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Montana State volleyball team will make its first appearance in Shroyer Gym when it hosts Eastern Washington on Friday night.
Click Here for This Week's Bobcat Volleyball Release (pdf)
THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE OPENER:
After four consecutive weeks playing away from the friendly confines of Shroyer Gym, the Montana State volleyball team will open its home slate on Friday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. against Eastern Washington. The Bobcats will complete weekend action against Portland State on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. Both matches will be video-streamed live by America ONE and have live stats, as well. Go to www.msubobcats.com for more information.
THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS:
For the Montana State volleyball team the difference between being undefeated and looking for its first win of the season is a mere five points. MSU dropped the first set but rallied to push Northern Colorado to the limit, falling 25-9, 25-23, 25-23. In three of its six sets this weekend, MSU was the first team to 20 points. Chelsea Oemcke paced the Bobcats with a team-high eight kills, while hitting .500 from the field and adding three blocks. Kasey Schlatter dished out 20 assists and Nicole Baker added 14 digs. MSU opened its Big Sky schedule against Northern Arizona losing a 25-20, 25-22, 25-12 decision to the Lumberjacks, Thursday night. Sarah Horton paced the Bobcats with 11 kills, a .304 attack mark and six digs.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
* Chelsea Oemcke - 6-0, Sr., Middle Blocker, San Diego, California
Oemcke's play last weekend was the silver-lining to MSU's 0-2 start...the senior middle blocker led the Bobcats hitting .323 from the field, while averaging 2.33 kills and 1.00 blocks per set...had her best match of the weekend at Northern Colorado with eight kills, a .500 attack mark and three blocks.
* Nicole Baker - 5-7, So., Libero, Pleasanton, California
Baker continues to be one of the Big Sky Conference's top liberos...is currently ranked third in the Big Sky averaging 4.34 digs per set...has been in double-digit digs in all but one match this season...totaled 25 saves last weekend, averaging 4.17 dps...had weekend-high 14 digs at Northern Colorado.
THE SCOUTING REPORT:
For the fourth time this season, Eastern Washington (6-6, 2-0) dug deep to win a marathon match, this time against Big Sky foe Idaho State. The Eagles prevailed in five sets 25-16, 11-25, 25-20, 25-27, 15-12 on Saturday. EWU also defeated Weber State 3-0. Outside hitter Cora Kellerman was selected as the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week after averaging 3.75 kills per set on a .310 attack percentage. Portland State (5-9, 1-1) went 1-2 last week, splitting a pair of league matches. PSU lost 3-1 to Idaho State on Friday, despite winning the opening set, before picking up a sweep over Weber State on Saturday. The win over Weber State snapped an eight-match losing streak. With the graduation of Big Sky MVP Whitney Phillips, the Vikings came into the 2011 season knowing they needed to find a new weapon on the outside. So far it appears that junior OH Megan Ellis is that person. Ellis ranks second in the Big Sky in kills and fourth in points per set. She has led the team in kills in 12 of 14 matches and has recorded five double-doubles.
QUICK SETS:
Montana State libero Nicole Baker is currently ranked third in the Big Sky averaging 4.34 digs per set...MSU has been away from Shroyer Gym for four straight weekends and 12 consecutive matches...the Bobcats will look to snap a 21- match losing streak and a 10-match Big Sky Conference slide when it hosts Eastern Washington...Montana State's last victory came on Oct. 15 with a 3-0 sweep of Sacramento State in Shroyer Gym...Bobcat senior Chelsea Oemcke was the only Bobcat hitting over .100 last weekend. She hit .323 from the floor.
SISTER ACT:
Saturday night's match with Portland State will pit a pair of sisters against each other. MSU's Kasey Schlatter will face-off against older sister Garyn Schlatter. Kasey, a true-freshman, has played in 43 of 44 sets for the Bobcats this fall. The past three weeks she has moved into the starting setting spot following the concussion to Jennifer Lundquist. Schlatter is averaging 5.77 assists and 2.05 digs per set. Garyn Schlatter, who was the Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year and a first-team all-conference honoree last fall, returns for her sophomore campaign as Portland State's starting setter. She is currently averaging 7.42 assists, 2.14 digs and 1.54 kills per set.
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 13.78 digs per set. In all, four Bobcats have posted 80 or more digs so far this fall. Libero Nicole Baker has notched 191 saves and is followed by Rachelle Allen (98), Kasey Schlatter (88) and Sarah Horton (81).
CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR:
In 13 of Montana State's sets this season the Bobcats have been the first to 20-points. Unfortunately, it's a 25-point game. MSU has gone on to win eight of the 13 sets in which they had the lead at 20-points. Last weekend, the Bobcats reached 20 first against both Northern Arizona (2) and Northern Colorado (1), only to be swept in the final stages of each set.
CO-CAPTAINS:
Seniors Rachelle Allen and Alex Penewell have been named co-captains for the 2011 season. Allen, who was an All Big Sky Conference Honorable Mention pick last fall, is averaging 2.51 kills and 2.65 digs per set, while Penewell, who was the Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year last season, is chipping in 1.30 kills and has posted 27 total blocks.
SPREADING THE LOVE:
Eight Bobcats are currently averaging anywhere from 1.12 - 2.67 kills per set. The balanced attack is led by Sarah Horton, who is averaging a team-best 2.67 kps. Rachelle Allen is also over the 2.00 kill plateau at 2.51 per stanza.
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