Friday, September 30
Bozeman
7:00 PM
Montana State University
vs
MONTANA
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcat Spikers Host Griz on Friday
9/29/2011 3:17:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Montana State volleyball team will host intra-state rival Montana on Friday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. in Shroyer Gym. The first 1,000 fans through the door will receive a free 'Shake Shroyer' t-shirt.
Click here for this week's Montana State volleyball release (pdf)
HOMECOMING:
The Montana State volleyball team will kick-off MSU's homecoming activities on Friday, Sept. 30 when it hosts intra-state rival Montana at 7 p.m. in Shroyer Gym. The first 1,000 through the door will receive a free 'Shake Shroyer' t-shirt. Last fall, over 1,600 attended the annual Cat-Griz clash. The match will also 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:
The Bobcats opened its home schedule with a pair of Big Sky Conference matches, and in search of its first victory of the season. Despite a valiant effort, Montana State came up short by identical 3-2 decisions. The Bobcats opened the weekend with a 25-22, 20-25, 25-20, 17-25, 15-7 loss to Eastern Washington. Two MSU players hit double-figure kills as Sarah Horton knocked down 11 and Rachelle Allen 10. Jennifer Lundquist returned to the starting rotation after missing three weeks with a concussion. Lundquist chipped in 36 assists, nine kills and eight digs. MSU ended the weekend with a 25-23, 25-21, 16-25, 21-25, 15-11 setback to Portland State. Chelsea Oemcke led MSU with 14 kills and a .500 attack mark.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
* Chelsea Oemcke - 6-0, Sr., Middle Blocker, San Diego, California
Oemcke continued her outstanding play for the second consecutive week racking up 25 total points...ended weekend averaging 2.10 kills, while hitting .356 from the field...has best night against Portland State with career-high 14 kills, while hitting .500 and adding four blocks, two digs and a service ace.
* Jennifer Lundquist - 5-10, Jr., Setter, Surrey, B.C., Canada
Lundquist returned to the Montana State starting rotation after missing three weeks due to a concussion...averaged 8.10 assists, 2.10 digs and 1.50 kills per game last weekend against Eastern Washington and Portland State...missed a triple-double with nine kills, 36 assists and eight digs vs. Eastern Washington.
THE SCOUTING REPORT:
The Bobcats will host Montana on Friday night in its only match of the weekend. The University of Montana (3-9, 0-4) suffered a similar fate as the Bobcats last weekend, losing to Portland State and Eastern Washington by identical 3-2 decisions. The Grizzlies have dropped seven straight matches with its last victory coming on Sept. 3 against UW Green Bay. Under the direction of sixth-year head coach Jerry Wagner (a former MSU assistant), Montana has been led by sophomore outside hitter Kayla Reno. The 5-foot-11 native of Spanaway, Wash., is averaging a team-best 2.94 kills, while hitting .206 from the field and adding 2.77 digs. Senior middle blocker Brittany Quick leads the Grizzlies in hitting (.240) and blocking (.98). Former Bozeman High product Megan Murphey is leading UM with a team-best 3.29 digs per outing.
QUICK SETS:
Montana State libero Nicole Baker is currently ranked fourth in the Big Sky averaging 4.24 digs per set...the Bobcats will look to snap a 23- match losing streak and a 12-match Big Sky Conference slide when it hosts Montana...Montana State's last victory came on Oct. 15 with a 3-0 sweep of Sacramento State in Shroyer Gym...This Friday's match with Montana is the annual 'Shake Shroyer' night and the first 1,000 fans through the door will receive a free t-shirt. The annual match drew over 1,600 last fall...Senior Chelsea Oemcke is currently ranked fifth in the Big Sky Conference in hitting percentage with a .251 overall attack mark...As a team, MSU's highest rank is in hitting percentage as the Bobcats are listed sixth with an overall team attack mark of .163.
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 'Shakedown in Shroyer' match has consistently drawn one of the top crowds in the Pacific Northwest and Big Sky Conference. Over 1,650 fans attended last year's match against intra-state rival Montana on Oct. 22. 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 Montana and Big Sky Conference history also belongs to MSU as 6,378 fans jammed Worthington Arena on Nov. 15, 2002.
ALL-TIME SERIES:
Friday's match against Montana will mark the 92nd meeting in the storied rivalry going back to the 1976 season. The Grizzlies hold a slim 47-44 margin in the all-time series, including a season sweep of the Bobcats last fall. MSU's last win in the series was a 3-2 decision over UM in Missoula during the 2009 campaign. Montana State will look to snap a five match losing streak to the Griz in Shroyer Gym on Friday. MSU's last victory over UM in Shroyer Gym came on Sept. 30, 2005 in a 3-0 decision.
BAKER'S DOZEN:
Montana State sophomore libero Nicole Baker has been in double-digit digs in 13 of MSU's 14 matches this season. She is averaging 4.24 digs per set, which ranks fourth in the Big Sky. Baker needs just 128 more digs to break into Montana State's all-time top 10 for a single-season.
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 14.09 digs per set. In all, four Bobcats have posted 100 or more digs so far this fall. Libero Nicole Baker has notched 229 saves and is followed by Rachelle Allen (132), Kasey Schlatter (108) and Sarah Horton (106).
CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR:
In 18 of Montana State's sets this season the Bobcats have been the first to 20-points. MSU has won 12 of the 18 sets in which they had the lead at 20-points. Last weekend,
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 2.38 kills and 2.81 digs per set, while Penewell, who was the Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year last season, is chipping in 1.23 kills and has posted 27 total blocks.
SPREADING THE LOVE:
Eight Bobcats are currently averaging anywhere from 1.14 - 2.60 kills per set. The balanced attack is led by Sarah Horton, who is averaging a team-best 2.60 kps. Rachelle Allen is also over the 2.00 kill plateau at 2.38 per stanza.
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