Bobcats Drop Big Sky Opener

Thursday, September 22

BOZEMAN

7 p.m.

Montana State University

2-8, 0-1

Idaho

6-7, 1-0

Idaho

Montana State

Junior Audra Dugan had nine kills and six blocks against Idaho.

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

9/22/2016 10:19:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Idaho used a .252 team attack mark and eight blocks, en route to a 25-23, 25-21, 23-25, 25-19 win over Montana State, Thursday night in the Big Sky Conference opener for both teams

By: Tom Schulz

For Montana State head coach JJ Riley it all came down to the serving game.

"Idaho was a plus one and we were a negative six," Riley said, referencing service aces to service errors.

Idaho also used a .252 team attack mark and eight blocks, en route to a 25-23, 25-21, 23-25, 25-19 win over Montana State, Thursday night in the Big Sky Conference opener for both teams.

"I liked our passion and fight," Riley said. "However, we have to learn how to keep that energy over the course of a match. They have to realize they need to claw for every point."

Leading 16-13 in the opening set, Montana State (2-8, 0-1) gave up an 8-1 run to Idaho (6-7, 1-0) behind Bobcat hitting miscues and ball-handling errors. MSU was able to close to within 24-23 on an Audra Dugan kill, but a MSU service error gave the Vandals the win.

UI scored the first point of the second set and never relinquished the lead, despite the Bobcats out-hitting the Vandals .241 to .200.

Montana State rallied from a 19-14 deficit in the third set with a 10-4 run sparked by unlikely source. Freshman libero Allyssa Rizzo got credit for two kills and a kill by Chase Doughty gave the Bobcats a 24-23 advantage. An Idaho hitting error pulled MSU to within 2-1.

"I really liked how we came back in the third set," Riley said. "That's the intensity we need over the duration of a match. I thought Caitlin (Lonergan) came in and helped slow down (Sarah Sharp)."

The final game featured eight ties and two lead changes. Idaho broke away from 10-all with a 7-2 run and never looked back.

Montana State was led by Doughty with 13 kills and Kiana Black with ten. MSU's middles – Black and Dugan – combined for 19 kills and an impressive .436 attack mark, while adding seven blocks.

Defensively, Rizzo posted a team-best 13 digs, while Passeck added 12. Up front, Dugan recorded a match-high six blocks.

Idaho was paced by 6-4 outside hitter Sarah Sharp with 20 kills.

Montana State will host Eastern Washington on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m., in Shroyer Gym.