Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Hot Stove League – Bobcat Volleyball Style
2/6/2014 3:31:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
With Bozeman’s current temp hovering at minus 27 degrees, it seems only fitting to gather around the stove and take a look at what’s cookin’ in the Montana State volleyball program.
The Hot Stove League is an oft used term from the baseball world – in reference to the off-season, when all the 'moving and shaking' happens. It conjures up images of fans sitting around the stove during the brutal winter months with thoughts of warmer times.
With Bozeman's current temp hovering at minus 27 degrees, it seems only fitting to gather around the stove and take a look at what's cookin' in the Montana State volleyball program.
1). Katie Harrington, a 6-foot setter from Millersport, Ohio, has transferred to Montana State from the University of Louisiana-Monroe, where she played both indoor and sand volleyball for the Warhawks. In 2012, as a freshman, Harrington played in 14 sets before suffering a season-ending injury. She took to the sand during the 2013 campaign and played in eight matches. As a prepster at Newark Catholic High School, Harrington was a four-time First-Team Mid-State League selection; a three-time all-district pick; the 2011 Division IV Player of the Year; a 2011 All-Ohio honoree; and a four-time A-Honor Roll student.
Head Coach Kyle Weindel on the addition of Harrington: "It's always comforting to add an experienced setter to a young roster. Katie spent the 2013 season as the starter for a very good Louisiana-Monroe team. She brings some added size to the position, which we lacked last year and already has two years of college volleyball experience to her credit."
Speaking of sand volleyball, former Montana State assistant coach Jason Watson (1996-97), just tweeted a picture of his current team – Arizona State – playing sand volleyball, which is a NCAA sport. Sand volleyball, most likely, will not be added to the Bobcat athletic department anytime soon. Following his two-year stint at Montana State, Watson went on to be an assistant at Arkansas State, Kansas State and BYU. Watson was named head coach at BYU in 2005 and led the Cougars to the Elite Eight in 2007. He then took the Arizona State head job in 2008, and this past season returned the Sun Devils to the NCAA Tournament and a national ranking.
2). Off-season conditioning and individual workouts have started for the Bobcats. With ten returning players, MSU has one its biggest spring rosters in recent memory. Montana State has four spring tournaments slated: March 29 at Utah; April 5 at Idaho State; April 12 at Utah Valley; and April 19 hosting the MSU Invite, which will feature numerous in-state collegiate programs. According to Weindel, this off-season will help get everyone on the same page in regards to fundamentals. With such a large freshmen class coming in last August, the emphasis was on playing and competing. Weindel looks at this spring as a step back to teach some skills, 'kind of like working backwards.'
3). It's never too early to talk about the Bobcat Volleyball Summer Camps. MSU's High School Skills Camp will take place July 14-16, while the Bobcat Middle School Skills Camp will be held July 16-18. The Annual MSU Volleyball Team Camp is slated for July 21-23. All camps will be on the Bozeman campus. If your team can't make it to Bozeman, the program does offer Satellite Camps, which means they'll bring the camp to you. The type of camp can be 2, 3 or 4 days. For all camp information, go to www.msubobcats.com or contact assistant coach Josh Pickard at (406) 994-3066 or josh.pickard@msubobcats.com.
4). The annual Alumni Match and Spring Fundraiser will be held in conjunction with the MSU home tournament on April 19. Following the match, the annual alumni gathering will take place at Shannon (Kemper) Lundgren's Bridger Kitchen. Believe me, this is an event you don't want to miss. The '80s Rock' group will look to defend its Trivia Contest title. The group was comprised of Shannon Kemper, Jen Cook, Katy Steensma and Julia Handwerk – all of which were Big Sky Conference All-Academic honorees. The invitations for this event will be going out in the mail soon. For more information, contact christa.jung@msubobcats.com.
In other alumni news: Brooke (Olsen) Roush and family are currently living in Jakarta, Indonesia. Brooke's three children are enjoying the cultural experience of living overseas…Aimee (Halyk) Unchulenko and family are in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan. She recently helped coach Team Saskatchewan on its trip to China…Ana Schanze is living in Germany and is doing a lot of volleyball photography on the sand circuit…Kandice (Kelly) Gregorak has returned to that other Division I school in Montana as an assistant coach, Kandice recently had her first child, Gabby, in November…Heidi Hahn is living in Brainerd, Minnesota, where she is the assistant director of special education in the public school system. Two years ago, Hahn was inducted into the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Heidi served as president of the MVCA from 2003-06. Hahn is also in her fifth year as a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Each year she attends the NCAA Division I Final Four and works with the top 24 high school players in the nation, who play in the Under Armor All-American match, which is televised by ESPN…former Bobcat standout and assistant coach Cori (Carper) Jones is living in Cranford, New Jersey, with her family and is on a quest to find the best spray tan in the Tri-State area.
5). The annual MSU Volleyball banquet was held Feb.1 in the Strand Union Building. The event honored seniors Nicole Baker and Megan Spofford. In addition, Baker, Loni Kreun and Eli Svisco were applauded for being named to the 2013-14 Big Sky Conference All-Academic team.
Wednesday, January 18
Monday, November 15
Saturday, September 04
Friday, September 03
