Thursday, October 26
Greeley, CO
7 p.m.
Montana State University
at
Northern Colorado
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Cats Travel to Northern Colorado, North Dakota This Weekend
10/25/2017 2:40:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Montana State volleyball team will begin the most difficult portion of its Big Sky Conference schedule as the play the next four matches away from the friendly confines of Shroyer Gym.
MSU VB NOTES l UNC VB NOTES l UND VB NOTES l WATCH LIVE l UNC LIVE STATS l UND LIVE STATS
FOUR ON THE ROAD:
The Montana State volleyball team will begin the most difficult portion of its Big Sky Conference schedule as the play the next four matches away from the friendly confines of Shroyer Gym. MSU will play at Northern Colorado, Thursday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. in Greeley. The Bobcats will complete this weekend's road swing at North Dakota, Saturday, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. (MT) in Grand Forks. The following week the Cats will travel to Sacramento State and Montana.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:
Here is a closer look at this week's opponents.
Opponent: Northern Colorado
Nickname: Bears
Head Coach: Lyndsey Oates (224-166 // 12 Years)
2017 Record: 11-12 overall; 4-6 Big Sky
Opponent: North Dakota
Nickname: Fighting Hawks
Head Coach: Mark Pryor (96-36 // 4 Years)
2017 Record: 23-4 overall; 8-2 Big Sky
CATCH THE CATS:
Pluto TV – Pluto TV is the leading free Internet-based TV service that is available on almost any device such as Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, PlayStation, Xbox, and smart TVs like Sony, Samsung, Vizio and more. Pluto TV is also available through a free app on mobile and table devices (i.e. iOS and Android), as well as traditional PCs. All content on Pluto TV is free, including its Video on Demand.
For Montana State match at Northern Colorado - Pluto TV Channel 241
For Montana State match at North Dakota - Pluto TV Channel 240
Live Video Stream:
Also available at WatchBigSky.com
Live Stats:
For Montana State match at UNC - sidearmstats.com/unco/wvball
For Montana State match at UND - undsports.com
ON POINT WITH THE CATS:
*No. Colorado leads the all-time series 23-2 with MSU dating back to 1981
*The Bears have won 23 straight matches over the Bobcats
*MSU's last win over No. Colorado (3-1) was Sept. 10, 2005 in Bozeman
*UNC lost two home matches last weekend to Weber St (3-1) & Idaho St (3-0)
*North Dakota holds a 10-2 lead in the all-time series with MSU back to 2009
*The Fighting Hawks have won nine straight matches over the Bobcats
*MSU's last win over North Dakota (3-2) came on Oct. 20, 2012 in Bozeman
*North Dakota swept Idaho State & Weber State last weekend in Grand Forks
*MSU snapped a four-match losing streak defeating So. Utah on Saturday
*Junior Natalie Passeck tallied a career-high 22 kills vs. Southern Utah
*Montana State is celebrating its 125th birthday during the 2017-18 season
THE SCOUTING REPORT:
Northern Colorado (11-12, 4-6): The Bears took a pair of losses last week to
Weber State and Idaho State. Outside hitter Alex Kloehn led Northern Colorado's offense with 27 kills. North Dakota (23-4, 8-2): North Dakota enjoyed some home cooking last week as they swept both Idaho State and Weber State to extend its home winning streak to 19-straight matches. UND has also won an incredible 38-straight sets at home. Faith Dooley inches closer to the career Big Sky total block record as she needs just 34 blocks to jump from third to first on that list. The Fighting Hawks continue to stifle opposing offenses, allowing conference foes to hit just .145.
THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS:
On Superhero Night in Shroyer Gym on Saturday, 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 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. 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. Freshman defensive specialist Lexie Goroski averaged 2.50 digs and 1.5 aces over the last two sets. 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. MSU 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. Passeck was also in double-digits with 14 kills. Defensively, MSU was guided by Rizzo with 26 digs, while Scott and Katie Rutecki added 17 and 11 saves, respectively.
SERVING NOTICE:
The Bobcats have done an outstanding job serving the ball in this season. MSU has served-up 94 aces in 19 matches, averaging 1.25 per set. The mark is the sixth best in the Big Sky Conference and ranks 170th in the nation. Individually, senior middle blocker Kiana Black's .33 aces per game is seventh in the Big Sky and 148th in the nation. Freshman Lexie Goroski is eighth in the Big Sky, averaging .32 aces per set. Last weekend, the Phoenix native posted three service aces.
BLOCK PARTY:
Montana State averaged a whopping 3.31 blocks per game en route to winning the Utah State Tournament in early September and have continued its impressive effort averaging 2.07 bps, which is eighth in the Big Sky and ranks 151st in the nation. MSU's best block party of the season came in its win over Pacific on Sept. 2 as the Cats out-blocked the Tigers 20-6. Freshman Kelsie White posted a school-record and career-best 14 block assists, and finished the match with 15 total blocks. Sophomore Evi Wilson also enjoyed a career performance with seven blocks, while Kiana Black chipped in five block assists against the Tigers. White's 1.15 blocks per set ranks sixth in the Big Sky and is 94th in the nation. The Layton, Utah product has notched the tenth highest blocks per set average in the nation for freshmen. In addition, White's 15 total blocks against Pacific are the highest total in the nation for a five-set match this season.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ____________:
Thirteen of MSU's 16 players on its roster have been in the program for two years or less. This season, the Bobcats welcomed six freshmen. Only three players (Kiana Black, Natalie Passeck and Chase Doughty) remain on the roster from the 2015 campaign, which was the first under then head coach JJ Riley and top assistant (now head) coach Daniel Jones.
DIGGING IT:
Sophomore libero Allyssa Rizzo, along with defensive specialists and freshmen Lexie Goroski, Libby Christensen and Allie Lynch have accounted for about half of MSU's digs this season. The foursome has averaged an impressive 7.24 saves per game over the last 19 matches. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed as both Rizzo and Goroski were named to the Utah State All-Tournament team. Rizzo paces MSU in the back row averaging 4.47 digs, while Goroski chips in 1.72, Lynch 1.38 dps and Christensen 1.31. Rizzo's 4.47 digs per set is the fourth best mark in the Big Sky Conference this fall.
BLACK AND WHITE:
Montana State middle blockers senior Kiana Black and freshman Kelsie White have been outstanding for the Bobcats this season. The duo has combined for 262 kills (3.49 kps) and 140 blocks (1.87 bps), while hitting .226 from the field. Black, a native of Wenatchee, Wash., also added 25 service aces, including a career-high five aces against Air Force. She had her best hitting outing of the season with 18 kills and a .438 attack mark in MSU's loss to Northern Arizona on Thursday night. White, a product of Layton, Utah, has guided MSU defensively, averaging 1.15 blocks per set. Against Pacific, she registered 14 blocks assists, establishing a new MSU school-record. White broke the mark of 13 block assists previously held by Karen Weyler ('94) and Mindy Nowak ('98). Offensively, White is averaging 1.61 kills per set, while hitting .239. The 6-4 true-freshman posted a season-best 13 kills in Montana State's win over Weber State on Oct. 5 in Ogden, Utah.
SETTING STANDARDS:
Senior Katie Rutecki and sophomore Sydney Mathison have shared the setting position this season. Rutecki, a native of Burbank, Calif., received her first start of the year against Eastern Washington on Sept. 23. She has started the last four matches for the Bocbats and has averaged 10.93 assists per set over that span. Rutecki dished out a career-high 59 assists in MSU win over Southern Utah on Saturday. Mathison, a product of Phoenix, Arizona as played in 56 sets and is averaging 7.62 assists per set, which is the ninth highest total in the Big Sky Conference. Mathison registered a career-high 55 assists in MSU's 3-2 win over Weber State and averaged 10.0 assists per set on Oct. 5.
PINTEREST:
For most of the season to date, juniors Natalie Passeck and Chase Doughty, along with sophomores Evi Wilson, Savannah Laws and freshman Hannah Scott have manned the pins for the Bobcats. Passeck has led all MSU outside hitters averaging 3.12 kills per set, while Doughty has chipped in 2.22, Scott 2.19, Wilson 1.50 and Laws 1.42 kills per contest. In Montana State's win over Southern Utah on Thursday, Passeck paced the Cats with a career-high 22 kills. It was the 11th time this season the Parker, Colorado product has been in double-digits in kills. Doughty and Wilson each notched a career-high 14 kills against Gonzaga on Aug. 26. Doughty matched her career-high with 14 kills in MSU's win over UCSB, as well. Wilson, a native of Vancouver, Wash., tallied her first career double-double against Gonzaga posting 14 kills and 11 digs. Doughty, a product of Pleasant View, Utah, has also found success at the net for MSU, logging a career-best seven block assists versus Gonzaga. Laws recorded a season-best ten kills at Eastern Washington, while Scott's best offensive performance came in MSU's win over Weber State on Oct. 5 with a team-high 18 kills. For the match, she hit .357 (18-3-42) from the floor.
FOUR ON THE ROAD:
The Montana State volleyball team will begin the most difficult portion of its Big Sky Conference schedule as the play the next four matches away from the friendly confines of Shroyer Gym. MSU will play at Northern Colorado, Thursday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. in Greeley. The Bobcats will complete this weekend's road swing at North Dakota, Saturday, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. (MT) in Grand Forks. The following week the Cats will travel to Sacramento State and Montana.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:
Here is a closer look at this week's opponents.
Opponent: Northern Colorado
Nickname: Bears
Head Coach: Lyndsey Oates (224-166 // 12 Years)
2017 Record: 11-12 overall; 4-6 Big Sky
Opponent: North Dakota
Nickname: Fighting Hawks
Head Coach: Mark Pryor (96-36 // 4 Years)
2017 Record: 23-4 overall; 8-2 Big Sky
CATCH THE CATS:
Pluto TV – Pluto TV is the leading free Internet-based TV service that is available on almost any device such as Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, PlayStation, Xbox, and smart TVs like Sony, Samsung, Vizio and more. Pluto TV is also available through a free app on mobile and table devices (i.e. iOS and Android), as well as traditional PCs. All content on Pluto TV is free, including its Video on Demand.
For Montana State match at Northern Colorado - Pluto TV Channel 241
For Montana State match at North Dakota - Pluto TV Channel 240
Live Video Stream:
Also available at WatchBigSky.com
Live Stats:
For Montana State match at UNC - sidearmstats.com/unco/wvball
For Montana State match at UND - undsports.com
ON POINT WITH THE CATS:
*No. Colorado leads the all-time series 23-2 with MSU dating back to 1981
*The Bears have won 23 straight matches over the Bobcats
*MSU's last win over No. Colorado (3-1) was Sept. 10, 2005 in Bozeman
*UNC lost two home matches last weekend to Weber St (3-1) & Idaho St (3-0)
*North Dakota holds a 10-2 lead in the all-time series with MSU back to 2009
*The Fighting Hawks have won nine straight matches over the Bobcats
*MSU's last win over North Dakota (3-2) came on Oct. 20, 2012 in Bozeman
*North Dakota swept Idaho State & Weber State last weekend in Grand Forks
*MSU snapped a four-match losing streak defeating So. Utah on Saturday
*Junior Natalie Passeck tallied a career-high 22 kills vs. Southern Utah
*Montana State is celebrating its 125th birthday during the 2017-18 season
THE SCOUTING REPORT:
Northern Colorado (11-12, 4-6): The Bears took a pair of losses last week to
Weber State and Idaho State. Outside hitter Alex Kloehn led Northern Colorado's offense with 27 kills. North Dakota (23-4, 8-2): North Dakota enjoyed some home cooking last week as they swept both Idaho State and Weber State to extend its home winning streak to 19-straight matches. UND has also won an incredible 38-straight sets at home. Faith Dooley inches closer to the career Big Sky total block record as she needs just 34 blocks to jump from third to first on that list. The Fighting Hawks continue to stifle opposing offenses, allowing conference foes to hit just .145.
THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS:
On Superhero Night in Shroyer Gym on Saturday, 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 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. 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. Freshman defensive specialist Lexie Goroski averaged 2.50 digs and 1.5 aces over the last two sets. 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. MSU 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. Passeck was also in double-digits with 14 kills. Defensively, MSU was guided by Rizzo with 26 digs, while Scott and Katie Rutecki added 17 and 11 saves, respectively.
SERVING NOTICE:
The Bobcats have done an outstanding job serving the ball in this season. MSU has served-up 94 aces in 19 matches, averaging 1.25 per set. The mark is the sixth best in the Big Sky Conference and ranks 170th in the nation. Individually, senior middle blocker Kiana Black's .33 aces per game is seventh in the Big Sky and 148th in the nation. Freshman Lexie Goroski is eighth in the Big Sky, averaging .32 aces per set. Last weekend, the Phoenix native posted three service aces.
BLOCK PARTY:
Montana State averaged a whopping 3.31 blocks per game en route to winning the Utah State Tournament in early September and have continued its impressive effort averaging 2.07 bps, which is eighth in the Big Sky and ranks 151st in the nation. MSU's best block party of the season came in its win over Pacific on Sept. 2 as the Cats out-blocked the Tigers 20-6. Freshman Kelsie White posted a school-record and career-best 14 block assists, and finished the match with 15 total blocks. Sophomore Evi Wilson also enjoyed a career performance with seven blocks, while Kiana Black chipped in five block assists against the Tigers. White's 1.15 blocks per set ranks sixth in the Big Sky and is 94th in the nation. The Layton, Utah product has notched the tenth highest blocks per set average in the nation for freshmen. In addition, White's 15 total blocks against Pacific are the highest total in the nation for a five-set match this season.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ____________:
Thirteen of MSU's 16 players on its roster have been in the program for two years or less. This season, the Bobcats welcomed six freshmen. Only three players (Kiana Black, Natalie Passeck and Chase Doughty) remain on the roster from the 2015 campaign, which was the first under then head coach JJ Riley and top assistant (now head) coach Daniel Jones.
DIGGING IT:
Sophomore libero Allyssa Rizzo, along with defensive specialists and freshmen Lexie Goroski, Libby Christensen and Allie Lynch have accounted for about half of MSU's digs this season. The foursome has averaged an impressive 7.24 saves per game over the last 19 matches. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed as both Rizzo and Goroski were named to the Utah State All-Tournament team. Rizzo paces MSU in the back row averaging 4.47 digs, while Goroski chips in 1.72, Lynch 1.38 dps and Christensen 1.31. Rizzo's 4.47 digs per set is the fourth best mark in the Big Sky Conference this fall.
BLACK AND WHITE:
Montana State middle blockers senior Kiana Black and freshman Kelsie White have been outstanding for the Bobcats this season. The duo has combined for 262 kills (3.49 kps) and 140 blocks (1.87 bps), while hitting .226 from the field. Black, a native of Wenatchee, Wash., also added 25 service aces, including a career-high five aces against Air Force. She had her best hitting outing of the season with 18 kills and a .438 attack mark in MSU's loss to Northern Arizona on Thursday night. White, a product of Layton, Utah, has guided MSU defensively, averaging 1.15 blocks per set. Against Pacific, she registered 14 blocks assists, establishing a new MSU school-record. White broke the mark of 13 block assists previously held by Karen Weyler ('94) and Mindy Nowak ('98). Offensively, White is averaging 1.61 kills per set, while hitting .239. The 6-4 true-freshman posted a season-best 13 kills in Montana State's win over Weber State on Oct. 5 in Ogden, Utah.
SETTING STANDARDS:
Senior Katie Rutecki and sophomore Sydney Mathison have shared the setting position this season. Rutecki, a native of Burbank, Calif., received her first start of the year against Eastern Washington on Sept. 23. She has started the last four matches for the Bocbats and has averaged 10.93 assists per set over that span. Rutecki dished out a career-high 59 assists in MSU win over Southern Utah on Saturday. Mathison, a product of Phoenix, Arizona as played in 56 sets and is averaging 7.62 assists per set, which is the ninth highest total in the Big Sky Conference. Mathison registered a career-high 55 assists in MSU's 3-2 win over Weber State and averaged 10.0 assists per set on Oct. 5.
PINTEREST:
For most of the season to date, juniors Natalie Passeck and Chase Doughty, along with sophomores Evi Wilson, Savannah Laws and freshman Hannah Scott have manned the pins for the Bobcats. Passeck has led all MSU outside hitters averaging 3.12 kills per set, while Doughty has chipped in 2.22, Scott 2.19, Wilson 1.50 and Laws 1.42 kills per contest. In Montana State's win over Southern Utah on Thursday, Passeck paced the Cats with a career-high 22 kills. It was the 11th time this season the Parker, Colorado product has been in double-digits in kills. Doughty and Wilson each notched a career-high 14 kills against Gonzaga on Aug. 26. Doughty matched her career-high with 14 kills in MSU's win over UCSB, as well. Wilson, a native of Vancouver, Wash., tallied her first career double-double against Gonzaga posting 14 kills and 11 digs. Doughty, a product of Pleasant View, Utah, has also found success at the net for MSU, logging a career-best seven block assists versus Gonzaga. Laws recorded a season-best ten kills at Eastern Washington, while Scott's best offensive performance came in MSU's win over Weber State on Oct. 5 with a team-high 18 kills. For the match, she hit .357 (18-3-42) from the floor.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
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