Montana State Spikers Split Matches at Bearkat Invitational

Saturday, August 29

2 p.m.

Montana State University

2-1

Prairie View A&M

0-4

Prairie View

Montana State

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

Montana State Spikers Split Matches at Bearkat Invitational

8/29/2015 9:41:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

“The volleyball part will come,” Riley said. “The important thing is what we’re doing mentality and I think we took a big step forward in that area this weekend.”

By: Tom Schulz

The Montana State volleyball team split a pair of matches on the final day of the 27^th Sam Houston State Bearkat Invitational, Saturday afternoon. The Bobcats opened play with a 25-14, 25-22, 25-18 win over Prairie View A&M, before falling in the night cap 25-22, 23-25, 25-16, 25-21 to SHSU.

In its win over Prairie View A&M, MSU was paced by freshman outside hitter Natalie Passeck, who recorded a team-high 11 kills, while adding ten digs for her first collegiate double-double. Also contributing to the Bobcat attack were Kiana Black and Alexandra Rader, who tallied nine and seven kills, respectively.

Rader, a junior outside hitter, recorded a team-high .583 attack mark, while Black was close behind at .533. As a team, the Bobcats out-hit the Panthers .279 to .126. MSU also held advantages in kills, assists, service aces, digs and blocks.

Freshman setter Katie Ireland posted 17 assists and 11 digs for her second double-double of the weekend.

In the final match of the weekend, Montana State played even for the first two sets with Sam Houston State, dropping a 25-22 decision in the first stanza, before rebounding for a 25-23 victory in set two.

"I thought we did some really nice things in the first two sets," said MSU head coach JJ Riley. "We competed hard and started establishing a standard of play we want to be at every day. We started playing loose and were competing hard and I think they really enjoyed what was happening on the court."

The Bearkats dominated the third set, out-hitting MSU .205 to .026. SHS kept the momentum in the final game, and despite a late Bobcat rally, held on for the victory.

"The volleyball part will come," Riley said. "The important thing is what we're doing mentality and I think we took a big step forward in that area this weekend."

Loni Kreun and Natalee Godfrey paced Montana State posting 13 and 11 kills, respectively. The duo also combined for a .323 attack mark, while adding seven digs, five blocks and two aces. Defensively, MSU was led by Kasey Altman with a career-high 24 saves.

For her efforts, Passeck, a product of Parker, Colorado, was named to the all-tournament team. On the weekend, Passeck totaled 28 kills, 35 digs and six blocks, while hitting .189 from the field.

Montana State will take next weekend off, before traveling to Reno, Nevada, where it will face Miami (OH) on Sept. 11.