Friday, September 20
Bozeman, MT
7 p.m.
Montana State University
vs
North Dakota
Freshman setter Anna Sykora is currently third in the Big Sky Conference averaging 10.29 assists per set.
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcat Spikers Open Big Sky Season at Home on Friday Night
9/19/2013 5:52:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Montana State volleyball team will open its 2013 Big Sky Conference slate when it hosts North Dakota and Northern Colorado this weekend in Shroyer Gym. MSU will face UND, Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m., and close out the weekend against the Bears, Saturday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m.
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BIG SKY OPENER:
The Montana State volleyball team will open its 2013 Big Sky Conference slate when it hosts North Dakota and Northern Colorado this weekend in Shroyer Gym. MSU will face UND, Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m., and close out the weekend against the Bears, Saturday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m.
ABOUT THE BOBCATS:
The Bobcats closed out its non-conference season with a 2-9 overall. MSU went 1-2 at its 15th Bobcat Classic over the weekend. Montana State opened the tournament losing to Gonzaga in a hard-fought 24-26, 25-13, 28-30, 25-18, 15-6 contest. Freshmen Kennadie Clute and Loni Kreun paced the Bobcats with 12 and 11 kills, respectively. The duo also combined for 18 digs, five blocks and five aces. Defensively, senior libero Nicole Baker notched a match-high 24 digs, while sophomore middle blocker Natalee Godfrey registered a team-high nine blocks. The Bobcats recorded its second win of the season, sweeping Akron 25-14, 25-20, 25-18 on Saturday morning. Kruen and Clute again paced MSU with 14 and 12 kills, respectively. MSU hit a season-high .260 from the field, while also adding a season-best 10 aces. Montana State closed out the tournament with a 25-21, 25-17, 25-20 setback to South Dakota. The Bobcats were led by Clute with 14 kills, while Kreun added 11 kills. On the weekend, Baker guided MSU with a team-high 4.27 digs per set, while freshman setter Anna Sykora dished out 9.64 aps. For her efforts, Baker was named all-tournament.
THE SCOUTING REPORT:
North Dakota (4-7) was picked to finish fourth in the Big Sky Preseason Coaches poll. UND won the All State Sugar Bowl Classic last weekend, before dropping a 3-1 decision to South Dakota on Monday night. USD downed MSU 3-0 on Saturday night. North Dakota is led this season by Lexi Robinson and Lisa Parlich, who average 3.17 and 3.12 kills per game. Last year, the Bobcats swept UND in its two-match series by identical 3-2 scores. Northern Colorado, who plays at Montana on Friday night, is 4-5 overall, and paced by four players averaging 2.00 kps or better. UNC went 1-2 last weekend at the Tulsa Invitational.
FAB FROSH, PART I:
Kennadie Clute, a 6-1 outside hitter from Spokane, continues to be Montana State's top offensive threat, racking up 177 points in the first 11 matches of the season. In addition, the graduate of Mt. Spokane High School has been in double-figure kills in all 11 matches and currently ranks second in the Big Sky Conference averaging 3.85 kills per set. The mark is the top by a freshman in the league to date. Clute is also getting the job done defensively, averaging 2.27 digs per set. She is second on the team with 12 service aces, which ranks 6th in the Big Sky.
GOOD GODFREY:
Sophomore Natalee Godfrey put together a solid non-conference for the Bobcats, hitting a team-best .266 from the field, while averaging 1.88 kills and .59 blocks per set. Last weekend, Godfrey recorded a career-best three service aces against Akron. She recorded a season-high 12 kills against Drake on Aug. 30.
FAB FROSH, PART II:
Freshman Anna Sykora also continued her hot-hand. The 5-11 setter from Rapid City, SD, dished out 106 assists last weekend and is averaging 10.29 assists per set. The mark is 3rd best in the Big Sky Conference. Sykora is also averaging 1.88 digs per contest.
THE BUTCHER, THE BAKER, THE DIG-MAKER:
Senior libero Nicole Baker averaged 4.27 digs per set last weekend and ranks 8th in the Big Sky. She is 5th in aces.
FAB FROSH, PART III:
Freshman outside hitter Loni Kreun has posted a strong start to the season. The 6-0 native of Davis, Calif., is averaging 3.24 kills per set, which is 5th in the Big Sky Conference. Kreun is second on the team with 149 points scored. In addition, she is second on the squad, averaging 2.39 digs per set.
BIG SKY OPENER:
The Montana State volleyball team will open its 2013 Big Sky Conference slate when it hosts North Dakota and Northern Colorado this weekend in Shroyer Gym. MSU will face UND, Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m., and close out the weekend against the Bears, Saturday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m.
ABOUT THE BOBCATS:
The Bobcats closed out its non-conference season with a 2-9 overall. MSU went 1-2 at its 15th Bobcat Classic over the weekend. Montana State opened the tournament losing to Gonzaga in a hard-fought 24-26, 25-13, 28-30, 25-18, 15-6 contest. Freshmen Kennadie Clute and Loni Kreun paced the Bobcats with 12 and 11 kills, respectively. The duo also combined for 18 digs, five blocks and five aces. Defensively, senior libero Nicole Baker notched a match-high 24 digs, while sophomore middle blocker Natalee Godfrey registered a team-high nine blocks. The Bobcats recorded its second win of the season, sweeping Akron 25-14, 25-20, 25-18 on Saturday morning. Kruen and Clute again paced MSU with 14 and 12 kills, respectively. MSU hit a season-high .260 from the field, while also adding a season-best 10 aces. Montana State closed out the tournament with a 25-21, 25-17, 25-20 setback to South Dakota. The Bobcats were led by Clute with 14 kills, while Kreun added 11 kills. On the weekend, Baker guided MSU with a team-high 4.27 digs per set, while freshman setter Anna Sykora dished out 9.64 aps. For her efforts, Baker was named all-tournament.
THE SCOUTING REPORT:
North Dakota (4-7) was picked to finish fourth in the Big Sky Preseason Coaches poll. UND won the All State Sugar Bowl Classic last weekend, before dropping a 3-1 decision to South Dakota on Monday night. USD downed MSU 3-0 on Saturday night. North Dakota is led this season by Lexi Robinson and Lisa Parlich, who average 3.17 and 3.12 kills per game. Last year, the Bobcats swept UND in its two-match series by identical 3-2 scores. Northern Colorado, who plays at Montana on Friday night, is 4-5 overall, and paced by four players averaging 2.00 kps or better. UNC went 1-2 last weekend at the Tulsa Invitational.
FAB FROSH, PART I:
Kennadie Clute, a 6-1 outside hitter from Spokane, continues to be Montana State's top offensive threat, racking up 177 points in the first 11 matches of the season. In addition, the graduate of Mt. Spokane High School has been in double-figure kills in all 11 matches and currently ranks second in the Big Sky Conference averaging 3.85 kills per set. The mark is the top by a freshman in the league to date. Clute is also getting the job done defensively, averaging 2.27 digs per set. She is second on the team with 12 service aces, which ranks 6th in the Big Sky.
GOOD GODFREY:
Sophomore Natalee Godfrey put together a solid non-conference for the Bobcats, hitting a team-best .266 from the field, while averaging 1.88 kills and .59 blocks per set. Last weekend, Godfrey recorded a career-best three service aces against Akron. She recorded a season-high 12 kills against Drake on Aug. 30.
FAB FROSH, PART II:
Freshman Anna Sykora also continued her hot-hand. The 5-11 setter from Rapid City, SD, dished out 106 assists last weekend and is averaging 10.29 assists per set. The mark is 3rd best in the Big Sky Conference. Sykora is also averaging 1.88 digs per contest.
THE BUTCHER, THE BAKER, THE DIG-MAKER:
Senior libero Nicole Baker averaged 4.27 digs per set last weekend and ranks 8th in the Big Sky. She is 5th in aces.
FAB FROSH, PART III:
Freshman outside hitter Loni Kreun has posted a strong start to the season. The 6-0 native of Davis, Calif., is averaging 3.24 kills per set, which is 5th in the Big Sky Conference. Kreun is second on the team with 149 points scored. In addition, she is second on the squad, averaging 2.39 digs per set.
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