Montana State Spikers Split Matches at New Mexico Invitational

Saturday, September 13

Albuquerque, NM

10:30 a.m.

Montana State University

2-6

University of California Irvine

6-3

Montana State

UC Irvine

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

Montana State Spikers Split Matches at New Mexico Invitational

9/13/2014 10:22:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Sophomore Kennadie Clute returned in full to the MSU rotation after being hampered with an ankle injury and recorded a match-high 19 kills. Also hitting double-figure kills for Montana State (3-6) was Loni Kreun with 13 winners.

By: Tom Schulz

The Montana State volleyball team welcomed back its leading scorer from last season for the first time this fall and promptly disposed of Bethune-Cookman 25-18, 22-25, 25-12, 25-21 in its final match at the University of New Mexico Invitational, Saturday night.

Sophomore Kennadie Clute returned in full to the MSU rotation after being hampered with an ankle injury and recorded a match-high 19 kills. Also hitting double-figure kills for Montana State (3-6) was Loni Kreun with 13 winners.

"We put Kennadie in the starting line-up to get her first significant action of the season," MSU head coach Kyle Weindel said. "She responded with 19 kills, which was great. She's still a little rusty, but as she gets working back into the starting line-up and get that setter, hitter connection going, she'll be very successful."

For the match, the Bobcats out-hit the Wildcats .165 to .124 and also held advantages in kills, aces and digs.

"We finally out-killed a team," Weindel said. "We were able to score points. We're also incredibly low error. I'm thrilled with how we finished and to get a win in our last match of the weekend was nice."

Setter Katie Harrington dished out 41 assists, while adding six digs. Defensively, Kasey Schlatter paced the Bobcats with 13 digs, while freshman Kasey Altman added 10 saves. For her efforts over the three matches, Schlatter was named to the UNM all-tournament team.

Freshman Kiana Black chipped in a team-best five blocks, while notching three kills and newcomer Dana Vestman added a match-high three aces.

Earlier in the day, UC Irvine handed MSU a 25-16, 25-12, 25-16 setback. The Bobcats were led in the loss by Jolie Meade with six kills, a .667 attack mark and three blocks.

Montana State will play its fourth consecutive non-conference tournament on the road next weekend at the University of Tennessee Invitational.