Cats Hang Tough But Clipped by Eagles

Thursday, November 10

Cheney, WA

7 p.m.

Montana State University

5-19, 3-12

Eastern Washington

12-12, 7-8

Montana State

Eastern Washington

Junior Kiana Black

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

11/10/2016 9:52:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Tom Schulz

Montana State head coach JJ Riley got the effort he wanted from his Bobcat team, and despite valiant comebacks in sets three and four, Eastern Washington held on to post a 25-18, 21-25, 25-22, 25-22 win over MSU, Thursday night at Reese Court.

After dropping the opening set, Montana State (5-19, 3-12) put together some of its best volleyball of the season with a 13-6 run midway through the second stanza. The run was sparked as five different Bobcat players recording kills. MSU won the set on a kill via Kiana Black.

Eastern Washington (12-12, 7-8) held a six-point advantage in set 3 before the Bobcats closed to within 24-22 following an Eagle hitting error. EWU won the set on a kill by Ashley Seiler. In the final set, EWU took an early seven-point lead, before Montana State rallied with an 11-4 run to even the set at 16-all following a kill by Evi Wilson. The Eagles quickly answered with four straight points to put the match away.

"In the past two weeks we've faced some adversity with injuries and sicknesses and we had to go to a different line-up," said MSU head coach JJ Riley. "The girls did an amazing job of staying tough and not letting anything get in their heads. They were focused on playing hard and being aggressive."

Sophomore Natalie Passeck led MSU with 11 kills and ten digs, while Black chipped in ten kills and a team-high four blocks. Katie Rutecki dished out 38 assists and added 12 digs for a double-double. Defensively, also posting double-digit digs were Allyssa Rizzo 23 and Eli Svisco 11.

Montana State was officially eliminated from postseason play and will finish its season at Idaho on Saturday afternoon.

"We've got one more chance to solidify what this team is in the future," Riley said. "The team is very unified right now and they're excited for Saturday and showing what this program is going to look like going forward."