Bobcat Spikers Clip Eagles

Saturday, October 27

Cheney, WA

7 p.m.

Montana State University

Eastern Washington

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

10/27/2012 10:12:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

The Montana State volleyball team found a couple of ways to win, including building big leads and coming from behind to post a 25-22, 29-27, 25-21 sweep of Eastern Washington, Saturday night at Reese Court.

By: Tom Schulz

Boxscore: Montana State 3, Eastern Washington 0 (pdf)

The Montana State volleyball team found a couple of ways to win, including building big leads and coming from behind to post a 25-22, 29-27, 25-21 sweep of Eastern Washington, Saturday night at Reese Court.

Montana State (13-9, 7-7) jumped out to a comfortable 21-14 cushion in the opening set before Eastern Washington (2-23, 2-12) pulled to within 23-22. MSU closed out the set following a EWU service error, coupled with a Sarah Horton kill.

The second stanza was almost a mirror of the first as the Bobcats took a 20-14 advantage. MSU held set point at 24-22, put the Eagles scored two straight to even the contest at 24-all. The score was tied three times down the stretch, before a Horton kill and an Eastern Washington hitting error sent Montana State into intermission with a 2-0 lead.

“We've spent the last week and a half working from 20 points on,” said MSU head coach Kyle Weindel. “I thought we had great balance with our offense and did a heck of a job digging.”

In the final set, EWU stormed out to a 20-13 lead, but MSU slammed the door with a 12-1 run to win the match. MSU's run was sparked by two Horton kills and three team blocks.

“We found a couple of ways to get it done,” Weindel said. “I think it was good for our confidence to keep a lead to win, and then battle from behind. I really think we are in a good spot.”

Horton finished with a match-high 19 kills, while hitting .375 from the field. She also added seven digs and three aces. Senior Macy Page connected for nine kills, while hitting .269. For the match, MSU out-hit EWU .234 to .131.

Contributing to the Bobcat defense were Nicole Baker and Kasey Schlatter with 20 and 11 digs, respectively. Setter Jennifer Lundquist dished out 37 assists in the victory.