Bobcats Open Big Sky Season with Idaho, Thursday Night

Thursday, September 22

BOZEMAN

7 p.m.

Montana State University

Idaho

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

9/21/2016 3:50:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

MSU VOLLEYBALL NOTES

The Montana State volleyball squad will open its 2016 Big Sky Conference season when it hosts the University of Idaho, Thursday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m., in Shroyer Gym. The Bobcats will conclude play on Saturday against Eastern Washington at 7:30 p.m. Please note start time due to Homecoming football game against the University of North Dakota at 2 p.m.

By: Tom Schulz

BIG SKY CONFERENCE OPENER:
The Montana State volleyball squad will open its 2016 Big Sky Conference season when it hosts the University of Idaho, Thursday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m., in Shroyer Gym. The Bobcats will conclude play on Saturday against Eastern Washington at 7:30 p.m. Please note start time due to Homecoming football game against the University of North Dakota at 2 p.m.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:
Here is a closer look at this week's opponents.

                      Opponent:              University of Idaho
                      Nickname:              Vandals
                      Record: 5-7
                      Head Coach:           Debbie Buchanan (249-235)
                      Notable Win:          3-2 over New Mexico, Aug. 27

The Skinny: The Vandals have been led this season by Sarah Sharp, Becca Mau and Kaela Straw. The threesome averaged 2.85, 2.47 and 2.45 kills, respectively. Idaho runs a 6-2 offense as setters Megan Ramseyer and Haylee Mathis dish out 5.23 and 4.38 assists per set, respectively. Defensively, the Vandals are paced by Terra Varney, who averages 4.30 digs per set, and DeVonne Ryter, who is registering a team-best 1.02 blocks per game.

                      Opponent:              Eastern Washington University
                      Nickname:              Eagles
                      Record: 5-4
                      Head Coach:           Michael King (5-4)
                      Notable Win: 3-0 vs. CS Northridge, Sept. 9

The Skinny: The Eagles have won three of its last four outings and are guided this season by three players who average 2.00 kills per set or better. They are Jessica Gilbert (2.71), Ka'iulani Ahuna (2.68), and Katie Mahoney (2.62). MSU and Eastern have one common opponent - Grand Canyon. The Bobcats defeated the Lopes in the season-opener 3-2, while EWU fell to GCU 3-0 on Sept. 3. As a team, the Eagles are hitting .158 from the floor, while averaging 12.39 kps.

THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS:
The Bobcats completed their stay at the Nebraska Ameritas Players Challenge dropping a 25-12, 25-14, 25-20 decision to Gonzaga on Saturday afternoon. GU out-hit MSU .397 to -.049 over the first two sets to take a 2-0 advantage. MSU regrouped in the final set and held a 15-14 lead on an Alexandra Rader kill, but the Zags rattled off four straight points and secured the match. Montana State was led by Chase Doughty with eight kills, while Natalie Passeck added four kills and seven digs. Allyssa Rizzo posted a team-best 11 digs. Montana State hit -.021 from the field, while Creighton converted at a .391 clip, as the Blue Jays posted a 25-12, 25-14, 25-12 win over the Bobcats on Friday night. Passeck and Evi Wilson tallied seven and five kills, respectively. Rizzo guided MSU in the backrow with 13 digs. Up front, Kiana Black and Savannah Laws each posted two blocks. The Bobcats ventured into one of the most formidable venues in the country, 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. Montana State was paced by Eli 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.

RUNNING THE GAUNLET:
This season's edition of Bobcat volleyball has faced a hellacious schedule. And, in particular, a span of four matches from Sept. 3-17 that featured No. 1 Nebraska, No. 20 Loyola Marymount, Creighton, who has received votes in the top 25 poll and Gonzaga, who is currently 7-3 overall. In fact, MSU's schedule is ranked the toughest in the Big Sky Conference (.600) followed by Portland State (.567), Idaho (.556), North Dakota (.535) and Northern Colorado (.529). The three weakest schedules in the Big Sky belong to Northern Arizona (.366), Weber State (.442) and Montana (.442)

700/500 CLUB:
Senior Eli Svisco is a member of Montana State's 700 kills - 500 digs club. The fifth-year player has recorded 741 career kills and 550 career digs. The product of Castle Rock had her best season in the kill category during her freshman campaign when she racked-up 265 kills. Her freshman season also saw her post a career best 312 saves on the year.

HELLO, MY NAME IS ____________:
Second-year head coach JJ Riley has had a total of 13 new players dot the Bobcat roster in his tenure in the Blue and Gold. This season, Riley welcomed eight newcomers to Shroyer Gym, including six freshmen and two junior college transfers.

DIGGING IT:
Freshman libero Allyssa Rizzo has recorded 142 digs on the season, averaging 4.44 digs per set. The mark ranks her third in the Big Sky Conference and No. 86 nationally. For freshmen, the Crestwood, Illinois product has posted the seventh best total in the country for digs per set.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
Montana State has two individuals ranked in this week's Big Sky stats - both are freshman. Bozeman product Caitlin Lonergan is 4th in aces (.39), while Allyssa Rizzo is 3rd in digs at (4.44 dps).