Bobcat Spikers Send North Dakota South

Saturday, October 20

Bozeman

7 p.m.

Montana State University

North Dakota

Taylar Barney notched a career-high 17 kills in MSU's 3-2 win over North Dakota on Saturday night.

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

10/20/2012 10:28:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

By: Tom Schulz

Montana State head coach Kyle Weindel implored his team following its tough loss to Northern Colorado on Friday night to not rely on one individual to score points. On Saturday night, the Bobcats had three players in double-figures kills as MSU posted a 25-18, 21-25, 25-15, 22-25, 15-11 win over North Dakota in Shroyer Gym.

Leading the way for Montana State (12-8, 6-6) was senior Taylar Barney, who recorded a career-high 17 kills, while hitting an impressive .727 from the field and adding a match-high seven kills. Also in double-figure kills were Sarah Horton 17 and Eli Svisco 11.

“Taylar is one who had been struggling, but she really did a nice job producing points against UND,” Weindel said. “We had a lot of kids step-up and produce points from multiple positions.”

MSU got off to a quick start in the opening set taking an 11-5 advantage following a North Dakota (11-12, 6-6) hitting error. The Bobcats held a comfortable margin the rest of the set, winning the game on a kill by Svisco.

UND turned the table in the second stanza breaking away from a 10-all tie with three straight points. North Dakota never relinquished its lead winning the set on a kill by Ronni Munkeby.

The third stanza featured a potent Montana State attack, as the Bobcats out-hit UND .400 to .038, winning the set on a Barney service ace.

MSU looked to have things in hand in the fourth set, taking a 21-17 advantage on a Jennifer Lundquist kill. However, UND rallied with an 8-1 run to force a fifth and deciding game.

In the fifth stanza, MSU jumped out to a 7-1 lead and never looked back. UND closed the margin to 8-7 following a kill via Lexi Robinson, but the Bobcats held the lead with five straight points to put the match away. MSU won the game on a Svisco kill.

“We played well all week and I really liked the way we started against North Dakota,” Weindel said. “We had some lulls, but we battled. It's nice to start the second half of the Big Sky season with a win.”

The victory gives the Bobcats, who are currently tied with UND for fifth place, a key tiebreaker over North Dakota as Montana State completed a season sweep over the Big Sky newcomer.

Also contributing to the Bobcat attack was Lundquist, who dished out 45 assists, while adding 11 digs, four aces and two blocks. In all, five MSU players reached double-digit digs led by Nicole Baker 16, Svisco 12, Kasey Schlatter 11 and Horton 10.

MSU will travel to league-leading Portland State on Thursday.