Thursday, October 20
Flagstaff, AZ
7 p.m.
Montana State University
4-14, 2-7BSC
0
at
3
Northern Arizona
18-4, 8-1BSC
1
2
3
F
Montana State
27
21
20
0
Northern Arizona
29
25
25
3
Cats Drop Hard-Fought Decision to Lumberjacks
10/20/2016 10:41:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Despite playing one of its best road matches of the season, the Montana State volleyball squad dropped a hard-fought 29-27, 25-21, 25-20 decision to Big Sky leading Northern Arizona, Thursday night.
Despite playing one of its best road matches of the season, the Montana State volleyball squad dropped a hard-fought 29-27, 25-21, 25-20 decision to Big Sky leading Northern Arizona, Thursday night. The win extended the Lumberjacks home win streak to 24 matches- tied for the longest in the nation with Minnesota.
Montana State (4-14, 2-7) rallied from an 18-12 deficit in the opening set with a 5-0 run to climb to within one point of Northern Arizona (18-4, 8-1). NAU widened its lead down the stretch to 24-21 before the Bobcats put together three straight points to even the set at 24-all. In all, MSU held off seven set points before losing the on a NAU block.
"I really thought the team was focused and did a really good job with the game plan most of the time," said MSU second-year head coach JJ Riley. "We told them in order to pull these wins out we need to be closer to executing at 100 percent. We just can't afford any lapses even for one play."
The Bobcats started strong in the second stanza taking a 15-13 advantage on an Alexandra Rader kill. The Lumberjacks responded with a 5-0 run and never relinquished the lead. NAU took a 17-13 margin in the final set before the Cats clawed to within 19-18. However, Northern Arizona closed out the match on a 6-2 run.
"We struggled to get kills and unfortunately made some errors at the wrong times," Riley said. "It's one of those things where we need to keep pushing to play at a higher level each and every day so when we get into competition we will be able to sustain that focus a little longer."
Caitlin Lonergan led MSU with nine kills, while Rader and Natalie Passeck added eight and seven kills, respectively. Katie Rutecki paced the Cats with 19 assists, while adding two aces and four digs. Defensively, freshman libero Allyssa Rizzo notched a match-high 24 digs, while Eli Svisco and Kiana Black recorded five and four blocks, apiece.
"I know we didn't get the win but overall our team took some steps in the right direction," Riley commented. "We need to make sure we have a great practice tomorrow after our bus trip to Southern Utah."
NAU was led by Lauren Jacobsen with 13 kills and ten digs.
MSU plays at Southern Utah on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Montana State (4-14, 2-7) rallied from an 18-12 deficit in the opening set with a 5-0 run to climb to within one point of Northern Arizona (18-4, 8-1). NAU widened its lead down the stretch to 24-21 before the Bobcats put together three straight points to even the set at 24-all. In all, MSU held off seven set points before losing the on a NAU block.
"I really thought the team was focused and did a really good job with the game plan most of the time," said MSU second-year head coach JJ Riley. "We told them in order to pull these wins out we need to be closer to executing at 100 percent. We just can't afford any lapses even for one play."
The Bobcats started strong in the second stanza taking a 15-13 advantage on an Alexandra Rader kill. The Lumberjacks responded with a 5-0 run and never relinquished the lead. NAU took a 17-13 margin in the final set before the Cats clawed to within 19-18. However, Northern Arizona closed out the match on a 6-2 run.
"We struggled to get kills and unfortunately made some errors at the wrong times," Riley said. "It's one of those things where we need to keep pushing to play at a higher level each and every day so when we get into competition we will be able to sustain that focus a little longer."
Caitlin Lonergan led MSU with nine kills, while Rader and Natalie Passeck added eight and seven kills, respectively. Katie Rutecki paced the Cats with 19 assists, while adding two aces and four digs. Defensively, freshman libero Allyssa Rizzo notched a match-high 24 digs, while Eli Svisco and Kiana Black recorded five and four blocks, apiece.
"I know we didn't get the win but overall our team took some steps in the right direction," Riley commented. "We need to make sure we have a great practice tomorrow after our bus trip to Southern Utah."
NAU was led by Lauren Jacobsen with 13 kills and ten digs.
MSU plays at Southern Utah on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
MSU
NAU
Kills
35
41
Errors
28
20
Attempts
127
122
Hitting %
.055
.172
Points
46.0
55.0
Assists
34
40
Aces
4
6
Blocks
7.0
8.0
Game Leaders
Kills
9
Aces
2
Blocks
0
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
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