Cats Fall in Five

Saturday, November 12

Moscow, ID

5 p.m.

Montana State University

5-20, 3-13

Idaho

11-17, 6-10

Montana State

Idaho

Photo by: Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez

11/12/2016 8:44:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Montana State gave all they had in its season finale` but came up short as Idaho held on for a 25-14, 25-18, 20-25, 20-25, 18-16 win over the Bobcats, Saturday night in Memorial Gym.

By: Tom Schulz

Montana State gave all they had in its season finale` but came up short as Idaho held on for a 25-14, 25-18, 20-25, 20-25, 18-16 win over the Bobcats, Saturday night in Memorial Gym.

Idaho (11-17, 6-10) dominated the first two sets, before Montana State (5-20, 3-13) rallied coming out of intermission out-hitting the Vandals .308 to .159 to even the match at two-all and force a fifth and deciding game.

The Bobcats jumped out to an 8-5 advantage following a Kiana Black service ace, before Idaho responded with three consecutive points in the final set. The two teams traded points and the Cats took an 11-9 lead on a Vandal hitting error. Again, UI had an answer with four straight points. The Bobcats held off five set points down the stretch before the Vandals got back-to-back kills by Torrin Crawford and Becca Mau for the win.

"The team showed such amazing character, strength, resolve and cohesiveness," said MSU second-year head coach JJ Riley. "We are so proud with the way they competed and battled until the end."

MSU had four players in double-figure kills for the first time this season. The Bobcats were paced by Natalie Passeck with 15 kills, while Black and Eli Svisco added 14 and Chase Doughty ten. For the match, MSU hit .250 from the field.

Defensively, Montana State had three players in double-digit digs, led by Allyssa Rizzo 13, Svisco 11 and Passeck ten. Black and Svisco guided MSU at the net with four blocks, apiece. Setter Katie Rutecki dished out a career-high 45 assists, while adding five kills and five digs.

"Eli, Kiana and Passeck had great nights attacking," Riley said. "And Chase also contributed with ten kills. We had great defensive efforts as well from Dana (Vestman) and Rizzo. Dana had some big covers for us and served tough. Overall, a good night for a lot of players."

Idaho was led by Sarah Sharp with 24 kills and four blocks.

MSU finishes its season 5-20 overall and 3-13 in Big Sky play.

"We are definitely disappointed that we couldn't close it out, but this team has made some great growth this year," Riley said. "They have dealt with some challenges remarkably well, and they are hungry to get into the spring season so we can just keep attacking it and getting better."