Friday, September 16
Lincoln, NE
11 a.m.
Montana State University
2-5
0
vs
3
#1 Nebraska
7-0
1
2
3
F
Montana State
15
5
16
0
Nebraska
25
25
25
3
Junior Kiana Black
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcats Show Flashes of Brilliance in Loss to No. 1 Nebraska
9/16/2016 2:04:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Montana State volleyball team ventured into one of the most formidable venues in the country and competed against the top team in the nation, Friday afternoon at the Devaney Center.
The Montana State volleyball team ventured into one of the most formidable venues in the country and competed against the top team in the nation, Friday afternoon at the Devaney Center. And, despite dropping a 25-15, 25-5, 25-16 decision to No. 1 Nebraska, came away with a taste of accomplishment to carry into next week's Big Sky Conference opener.
"Nebraska is a good team, no doubt about it," joked MSU second-year head coach JJ Riley. "Our team got an opportunity of a lifetime to compete against the very best in an arena that was the loudest and most packed that we have seen.
"To compete with a team like Nebraska you really have no room for errors and have to play with a laser-like focus all the time," Riley added. "This is why we came here, to hopefully teach our team what it takes to play at your best."
Montana State (2-5) got on the scoreboard first on a kill by junior middle blocker Kiana Black. MSU traded points with Nebraska (7-0) and trailed the Cornhuskers 11-9 following another Black winner. Midway through the first set the Bobcats maintained a three-point deficit on an Eli Svisco kill, but the Huskers flexed its muscle with an 11-4 run to take a 1-0 advantage.
"The girls were in a great place and mindset to get after it, which was very good and fun to see," Riley commented. "But we still need to look back at things we didn't do so well or execute to keep improving."
Things didn't go as planned in the second stanza, as Nebraska out-hit Montana State .688 to -.250.
"I thought Montana State came out playing really well in the first game and you could see how fast their tempo is," said Nebraska head coach John Cook, during a post-game interview on the Husker Sports Network. "They definitely speeded up from two weeks ago. I'm not sure the ball was getting above the top of the antenna, so it took us awhile to adjust to that. Of course, when you run that offense, if you don't pass, it gets ugly real fast and that's what happened in game two. And, game three, Montana State continued to compete."
In the final set, MSU trailed 14-12 after a Dana Vestman service ace. But again, a combination of Nebraska hitting and Bobcat miscues turned into an 11-4 run giving the Huskers the victory.
Montana State was paced by Svisco with six kills and Black with five kills, a .375 attack mark, two aces and a block. Defensively, the Bobcats were led by freshman libero Allyssa Rizzo with seven digs.
Montana State plays Creighton at 4 p.m. (MT) Friday evening.
"Nebraska is a good team, no doubt about it," joked MSU second-year head coach JJ Riley. "Our team got an opportunity of a lifetime to compete against the very best in an arena that was the loudest and most packed that we have seen.
"To compete with a team like Nebraska you really have no room for errors and have to play with a laser-like focus all the time," Riley added. "This is why we came here, to hopefully teach our team what it takes to play at your best."
Montana State (2-5) got on the scoreboard first on a kill by junior middle blocker Kiana Black. MSU traded points with Nebraska (7-0) and trailed the Cornhuskers 11-9 following another Black winner. Midway through the first set the Bobcats maintained a three-point deficit on an Eli Svisco kill, but the Huskers flexed its muscle with an 11-4 run to take a 1-0 advantage.
"The girls were in a great place and mindset to get after it, which was very good and fun to see," Riley commented. "But we still need to look back at things we didn't do so well or execute to keep improving."
Things didn't go as planned in the second stanza, as Nebraska out-hit Montana State .688 to -.250.
"I thought Montana State came out playing really well in the first game and you could see how fast their tempo is," said Nebraska head coach John Cook, during a post-game interview on the Husker Sports Network. "They definitely speeded up from two weeks ago. I'm not sure the ball was getting above the top of the antenna, so it took us awhile to adjust to that. Of course, when you run that offense, if you don't pass, it gets ugly real fast and that's what happened in game two. And, game three, Montana State continued to compete."
In the final set, MSU trailed 14-12 after a Dana Vestman service ace. But again, a combination of Nebraska hitting and Bobcat miscues turned into an 11-4 run giving the Huskers the victory.
Montana State was paced by Svisco with six kills and Black with five kills, a .375 attack mark, two aces and a block. Defensively, the Bobcats were led by freshman libero Allyssa Rizzo with seven digs.
Montana State plays Creighton at 4 p.m. (MT) Friday evening.
Team Stats
MSU
NEB
Kills
21
42
Errors
14
5
Attempts
71
68
Hitting %
.099
.544
Points
25.0
53.0
Assists
21
40
Aces
3
5
Blocks
1.0
6.0
Game Leaders
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
5
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
3
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
MB
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