Thursday, October 19
BOZEMAN
7 p.m.
Montana State University
6-12, 2-7Big Sky
1
vs
3
Northern Arizona
8-12, 4-5Big Sky
1
2
3
4
F
Northern Arizona
25
21
26
25
3
Montana State
23
25
24
17
1
Katie Rutecki (l) and Kiana Black combine for a Bobcat block.
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Cats Fall to Lumberjacks in Four Sets
10/19/2017 10:19:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
“Our middles did an awesome job,” said MSU head coach Daniel Jones.
Despite having its best hitting night of the Big Sky Conference season, the Montana State volleyball team was unable to hold on as Northern Arizona handed the Bobcats a 25-23, 21-25, 26-24, 25-17 setback, Thursday night in Shroyer Gym.
Montana State (6-12, 2-7) was paced by its middle blockers Kiana Black and Kelsie White. The duo combined for 28 kills, a .478 attack mark and five blocks. Black, a senior from Wenatchee, Wash., finished with a match and season-high 18 kills, while White, a freshman from Layton, Utah, chipped in 10 kills.
"Our middles did an awesome job," said MSU head coach Daniel Jones.
As a team, the Bobcats hit .221 from the floor and matched Northern Arizona (8-12, 4-5) with 61 kills. The Lumberjacks finished the match hitting .264.
"Again, it's just those moments were we're two points out on two sets and if we're able to execute in the critical moments we're going to come away with that," Jones said. "Hats off to Northern Arizona. They played hard and forced us to be at our best.
"We came up slightly short," Jones continued. "I see progress and encouraging numbers. There are signs we're on the right track. We got to keep pushing."
MSU jumped out to an early 10-4 advantage in the opening frame before the Lumberjacks rattled off an 8-1 run to take a 12-11 lead. Twice down the stretch, MSU held a 3-point margin, the last coming at 21-18 following a Black kill. Again, NAU responded with a 5-1 run to take a 23-22 edge. At 23-all, the Lumberjacks recorded two kills for the win.
The Bobcats got out to another good start in the second game taking a 9-4 lead, before the Jacks answered with a 12-5 run. The two teams were tied three times in the waning moments, but MSU was able to take control following a block via White and Hannah Scott and a Scott kill. MSU evened the match on a Black kill.
The third set featured five ties in the early going before the Lumberjacks broke away at 19-18 with a 5-3 run. The Cats fought off three set points behind a Natalie Passeck kills, a Black service ace and a NAU hitting miscue to even the frame at 24-all. The Lumberjacks closed out the set on a MSU hitting error and a kill by Heaven Harris.
NAU cruised to the fourth set and match victory outhitting the Bobcats .371 to .156.
Passeck, a junior from Parker, Colo., was also in double-digits with 14 kills. Defensively, MSU was guided by libero Allyssa Rizzo with 26 digs, while Scott and Katie Rutecki added 17 and 11 saves, respectively.
MSU will host Southern Utah on Saturday night.
Montana State (6-12, 2-7) was paced by its middle blockers Kiana Black and Kelsie White. The duo combined for 28 kills, a .478 attack mark and five blocks. Black, a senior from Wenatchee, Wash., finished with a match and season-high 18 kills, while White, a freshman from Layton, Utah, chipped in 10 kills.
"Our middles did an awesome job," said MSU head coach Daniel Jones.
As a team, the Bobcats hit .221 from the floor and matched Northern Arizona (8-12, 4-5) with 61 kills. The Lumberjacks finished the match hitting .264.
"Again, it's just those moments were we're two points out on two sets and if we're able to execute in the critical moments we're going to come away with that," Jones said. "Hats off to Northern Arizona. They played hard and forced us to be at our best.
"We came up slightly short," Jones continued. "I see progress and encouraging numbers. There are signs we're on the right track. We got to keep pushing."
MSU jumped out to an early 10-4 advantage in the opening frame before the Lumberjacks rattled off an 8-1 run to take a 12-11 lead. Twice down the stretch, MSU held a 3-point margin, the last coming at 21-18 following a Black kill. Again, NAU responded with a 5-1 run to take a 23-22 edge. At 23-all, the Lumberjacks recorded two kills for the win.
The Bobcats got out to another good start in the second game taking a 9-4 lead, before the Jacks answered with a 12-5 run. The two teams were tied three times in the waning moments, but MSU was able to take control following a block via White and Hannah Scott and a Scott kill. MSU evened the match on a Black kill.
The third set featured five ties in the early going before the Lumberjacks broke away at 19-18 with a 5-3 run. The Cats fought off three set points behind a Natalie Passeck kills, a Black service ace and a NAU hitting miscue to even the frame at 24-all. The Lumberjacks closed out the set on a MSU hitting error and a kill by Heaven Harris.
NAU cruised to the fourth set and match victory outhitting the Bobcats .371 to .156.
Passeck, a junior from Parker, Colo., was also in double-digits with 14 kills. Defensively, MSU was guided by libero Allyssa Rizzo with 26 digs, while Scott and Katie Rutecki added 17 and 11 saves, respectively.
MSU will host Southern Utah on Saturday night.
Team Stats
NAU
MSU
Kills
61
61
Errors
18
27
Attempts
163
154
Hitting %
.264
.221
Points
74.0
69.0
Assists
55
57
Aces
4
3
Blocks
9.0
5.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
18
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
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