Passeck’s Career-High Propels Bobcats to Win over Thunderbirds

Saturday, October 21

BOZEMAN

7 p.m.

Montana State University

7-12, 3-7BSC

Southern Utah

6-16, 1-9BSC

Southern Utah

Montana State

Bobcat freshman Hannah Scott.

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

Passeck’s Career-High Propels Bobcats to Win over Thunderbirds

10/21/2017 9:59:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

On Superhero Night in Shroyer Gym, Montana State junior Natalie Passeck gave the Bobcats a herculean efforts with a career-high 22 kills and a .514 attack mark to lift MSU to a 25-14, 18-25, 25-21, 25-17 win over Southern Utah in front of 1,059 spectators.

By: Tom Schulz

On Superhero Night in Shroyer Gym, Montana State junior Natalie Passeck gave the Bobcats a herculean effort with a career-high 22 kills and a .514 attack mark to lift MSU to a 25-14, 18-25, 25-21, 25-17 win over Southern Utah in front of 1,059 spectators.

It wasn't only Passeck that gave Montana State (7-12, 3-7) its best offensive performance of the season. Middle blockers Kiana Black and Kelsie White each notched 11 kills, while Hannah Scott, who was slowed down in the first two sets, rallied with eight kills in the final two frames.

Senior Audra Dugan gave MSU the lift it needed following a dismal second set and finished with a season-high six kills and .625 hitting percentage.

"Natalie had a tremendous match," said MSU head coach Daniel Jones. "The two middles gave us huge production, which is great. I was also really happy for Audra Dugan to go out and do what she did to create some fire out on the court and have a presence. We've known she's been able to do it all year and to do it on the right side is really special for her."

MSU broke away midway through the opening set as a Katie Rutecki tip gave the Cats a 16-11 advantage. Montana State took the opening set on a Rutecki service ace.
Southern Utah (6-16, 1-9) slowed the Bobcats in the second game, out-hitting MSU .323 to .129 to even the match entering intermission.

The Thunderbirds held the momentum coming out of the locker room taking a commanding 7-1 lead. MSU chipped away at the margin and eventually took a 16-15 lead on a Scott winner. The Bobcats held the lead down the stretch and won the set on a Lexie Goroski ace.

In the final frame, it was MSU's freshmen that took control. White and Scott combined for nine kills and a .539 attack rate to propel the Bobcats to its seventh win of the season, two more than the 2016 campaign. Montana State won the match on a tip by Black.

"I was really impressed with the way that Rutecki made some nice choices putting our hitters in situations where they could excel," Jones said. "I was happy that Hannah Scott was able to come out there and dig herself out of a hole. It was good the see the fight come out of her.

"We came out and executed a nice game plan," Jones continued. "We managed to get great production out of our kids."

Defensively, the Bobcats were guided by libero Allyssa Rizzo with a match-high 21 digs, while Passeck added 16 saves for her second double-double of the season. Goroski averaged 2.50 digs and 1.5 aces over the last two sets.

"We've been talking to the whole team that when your name is called you got to be ready to go," Jones said. "I thought Goroski really did a nice job with that and Audra did a nice job with that as well. It was great to see those girls step-up when they got their opportunity. It was really gratifying as a coaching staff because we work with all the players equally hard and want them all to be able to have their opportunity; so it was great to see them get good results for their efforts."

MSU will play at Northern Colorado on Thursday, Oct. 26 in Greeley.