Senior-to-be Natalee Godfrey
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Riley Gets First Look at Montana State Spikers in Real-Time Play
3/27/2015 4:14:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
“I’m excited to watch them apply the things we’ve been working on in a competitive environment,” Riley said.
Montana State first-year head volleyball coach JJ Riley will get his first 'real-time' look at the Bobcat squad he took over two months ago, when MSU competes in the University of Utah Spring Invitational on Saturday.
The Bobcats will face Utah State, Utah Valley and the College of Southern Idaho in pool play, before crossing over to play tournament matches against the likes of BYU, Utah, Weber State and Salt Lake Community College.
"This will give us a chance, after training hard the past month, to see how we respond in different situations," Riley said. "We'll use a lot of different line-ups and looks and get a good gauge for where we are, and where we need to go."
Two players Riley will look to in guiding the Bobcats will be senior Natalee Godfrey and junior setter Katie Harrington. "Natalee is a solid presence," Riley said. "Katie is also doing a great job running the offense. Everyone has done a great job during this transition period and has been very open to our way of doing things."
Riley will be familiar with his surroundings this weekend. He served as an assistant at Utah the past three seasons and helped the Utes to back-to-back 20-win campaigns in the Pac-12. "It will be nice to see some old faces," Riley said. "It will also be nice to be on the road with the team and start building relationships."
Riley takes over a Bobcat squad that went 6-25 overall and 4-16 in Big Sky action, last fall. MSU returns eleven letterwinners, including five starters.
"I'm excited to watch them apply the things we've been working on in a competitive environment," Riley said.
The Bobcats will also play in the Great Falls tournament on April 11.
The Bobcats will face Utah State, Utah Valley and the College of Southern Idaho in pool play, before crossing over to play tournament matches against the likes of BYU, Utah, Weber State and Salt Lake Community College.
"This will give us a chance, after training hard the past month, to see how we respond in different situations," Riley said. "We'll use a lot of different line-ups and looks and get a good gauge for where we are, and where we need to go."
Two players Riley will look to in guiding the Bobcats will be senior Natalee Godfrey and junior setter Katie Harrington. "Natalee is a solid presence," Riley said. "Katie is also doing a great job running the offense. Everyone has done a great job during this transition period and has been very open to our way of doing things."
Riley will be familiar with his surroundings this weekend. He served as an assistant at Utah the past three seasons and helped the Utes to back-to-back 20-win campaigns in the Pac-12. "It will be nice to see some old faces," Riley said. "It will also be nice to be on the road with the team and start building relationships."
Riley takes over a Bobcat squad that went 6-25 overall and 4-16 in Big Sky action, last fall. MSU returns eleven letterwinners, including five starters.
"I'm excited to watch them apply the things we've been working on in a competitive environment," Riley said.
The Bobcats will also play in the Great Falls tournament on April 11.
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