Thursday, October 5
Ogden, UT
7 p.m.
Montana State University
at
Weber State
Freshman Kelsie White stuffs a Grizzly attacker.
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Bobcats Hit the I-15 Corridor
10/4/2017 2:59:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Montana State volleyball team will take to the air and road this weekend as they face Big Sky Conference foes Weber State and Idaho State, Thursday and Saturday, respectively.
Match Notes l Watch Live l Live Stats vs. Weber State l Live Stats vs. Idaho State
HITTING THE I-15 CORRIDOR:
The Montana State volleyball team will take to the air and road this weekend as they face Big Sky Conference foes Weber State and Idaho State, Thursday and Saturday, respectively. MSU will begin the weekend at Weber State, Oct. 5 in Ogden, Utah. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Swenson Gym. The Bobcats will make the trek north on I-15 on Friday and will face Idaho State on Saturday, Oct. 7, in Pocatello. Match will begin at 7 p.m. in Reed Gym.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:
Here is a closer look at this week's opponents.
Opponent: Weber State
Nickname: Wildcats
Head Coach: Jaremiah Larsen (9-27 / 3rd Year)
2017 Record: 4-12 overall; 2-2 Big Sky
Opponent: Idaho State
Nickname: Bengals
Head Coach: Rick Reynolds (24-12 / 3rd Year)
2017 Record: 4-13 overall; 1-3 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 at Weber State match - Pluto TV Channel 235
For Montana State at Idaho State match - Pluto TV Channel 243
Live Video Stream:
Also available at WatchBigSky.com
Live Stats –
For Montana State at Weber State match - weberstatesports.com
For Montana State at Idaho State match - isubengals.com
ON POINT WITH THE CATS:
* MSU holds a 37-36 edge vs. Weber State in its all-time series back to 1979
* Montana State's last win over WSU (3-2) was Oct. 6, 2016 in Bozeman
* The Bobcats' last victory (3-0) in Ogden, Utah came on Oct. 5, 2013
* The Wildcats are on a two-match winning streak, winning both last weekend
* Idaho State leads the all-time series 39-33 dating back to the 1978 season
* Idaho State is on a six-match winning streak over MSU going back to 9/28/12
* Idaho State is paced this season by senior Chloe Hirst at 3.40 kills per set
* Montana State's last win (3-2) in Pocatello was on Oct. 7, 2011
* Junior Natalie Passeck returned to rotation and led MSU with 10 kills vs. UM
* MSU snapped its six-match losing streak on Saturday to Montana (3-0)
* The attendance for last week's Montana match was a sold-out, SRO crowd of 1,500 fans
* Montana State is celebrating its 125th birthday during the 2017-18 season
SERVING NOTICE:
The Bobcats have done an outstanding job serving the ball in the early season. MSU has served-up 71 aces in 13 matches, averaging 1.39 per set. The mark is the third best in the Big Sky Conference and ranks 105th in the nation. Individually, senior middle blocker Kiana Black's .45 aces per game is tops in the Big Sky and 34th in the nation. In all, Black's 23 service aces are second highest in the conference and ranks 72nd in the nation at the NCAA Division I level. Freshman Lexie Goroski also ranks among the Big Sky top 10 at No. 9, averaging .33 aces per set.
BLOCK PARTY:
Montana State averaged a whopping 3.31 blocks per game en route to winning the Utah State Tournament a month ago, and posted 2.33 blocks per set last weekend in Big Sky action. The Bobcats current average of 2.12 bps is seventh in the Big Sky and ranks 127th in the nation. MSU's best block party of the season came in its win over Pacific 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 1.22 blocks per set ranks sixth in the Big Sky and is 66th in the nation. The Layton, Utah product has notched the sixth 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. Illinois, who left the Bobcat Classic with a perfect 3-0 record, is one of the nation's top blocking teams, paced by the nation's best blocker Ali Bastianelli at 1.92 bps.
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 Alexis Goroski, Libby Christensen and Allie Lynch have accounted for over half of MSU's digs this season. The foursome has averaged an impressive 6.9 saves per game over the last thirteen 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 3.78 digs, while Goroski chips in 1.67, Christensen 1.64 saves and Lynch 1.38 dps. Rizzo's 3.78 digs per set is tenth best in the Big Sky Conference.
BLACK AND WHITE:
Montana State middle blockers senior Kiana Black and freshman Kelsie White have been outstanding in the early season for the Bobcats. The duo has combined for 155 kills (3.04 kps) and 98 blocks (1.92 bps), while hitting .195 from the field. Black, a native of Wenatchee, Wash., also added 23 service aces, including a career-high five aces against Air Force. She had her best hitting outing of the season with 13 kills in MSU's five-set loss to Long Beach State. White, a product of Layton, Utah, has guided MSU defensively, averaging 1.22 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 1.40 kills per set, while hitting .184. The 6-4 true-freshman posted a season-best nine kills in Montana State's win over Utah State on Sept. 2.
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 and promptly dished out 46 assists. She is averaging 5.46 apg in 26 sets played. Mathison, a product of Phoenix, Arizona as played in 43 sets and is averaging 7.30 assists per set, which is the tenth highest total in the Big Sky Conference. Mathison registered a career-high 50 assists in MSU's 3-2 win over Gonzaga on Aug. 26.
PINTEREST:
For most of the early season, 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 2.78 kills per set, while Doughty has chipped in 2.34, Scott 2.10, Wilson 1.61 and Laws 1.55 kills per contest. In Montana State's win over Gonzaga on Aug. 26, Passeck paced the Cats with 17 kills. She followed that effort with 17 in MSU's victory over UC Santa Barbara. Doughty and Wilson each notched a career-high 14 kills against the Zags. 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. Against Pacific, Wilson recorded a career-high seven block assists. 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 also came at EWU with a career-high 16 kills against the Eagles.
HITTING THE I-15 CORRIDOR:
The Montana State volleyball team will take to the air and road this weekend as they face Big Sky Conference foes Weber State and Idaho State, Thursday and Saturday, respectively. MSU will begin the weekend at Weber State, Oct. 5 in Ogden, Utah. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Swenson Gym. The Bobcats will make the trek north on I-15 on Friday and will face Idaho State on Saturday, Oct. 7, in Pocatello. Match will begin at 7 p.m. in Reed Gym.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:
Here is a closer look at this week's opponents.
Opponent: Weber State
Nickname: Wildcats
Head Coach: Jaremiah Larsen (9-27 / 3rd Year)
2017 Record: 4-12 overall; 2-2 Big Sky
Opponent: Idaho State
Nickname: Bengals
Head Coach: Rick Reynolds (24-12 / 3rd Year)
2017 Record: 4-13 overall; 1-3 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 at Weber State match - Pluto TV Channel 235
For Montana State at Idaho State match - Pluto TV Channel 243
Live Video Stream:
Also available at WatchBigSky.com
Live Stats –
For Montana State at Weber State match - weberstatesports.com
For Montana State at Idaho State match - isubengals.com
ON POINT WITH THE CATS:
* MSU holds a 37-36 edge vs. Weber State in its all-time series back to 1979
* Montana State's last win over WSU (3-2) was Oct. 6, 2016 in Bozeman
* The Bobcats' last victory (3-0) in Ogden, Utah came on Oct. 5, 2013
* The Wildcats are on a two-match winning streak, winning both last weekend
* Idaho State leads the all-time series 39-33 dating back to the 1978 season
* Idaho State is on a six-match winning streak over MSU going back to 9/28/12
* Idaho State is paced this season by senior Chloe Hirst at 3.40 kills per set
* Montana State's last win (3-2) in Pocatello was on Oct. 7, 2011
* Junior Natalie Passeck returned to rotation and led MSU with 10 kills vs. UM
* MSU snapped its six-match losing streak on Saturday to Montana (3-0)
* The attendance for last week's Montana match was a sold-out, SRO crowd of 1,500 fans
* Montana State is celebrating its 125th birthday during the 2017-18 season
SERVING NOTICE:
The Bobcats have done an outstanding job serving the ball in the early season. MSU has served-up 71 aces in 13 matches, averaging 1.39 per set. The mark is the third best in the Big Sky Conference and ranks 105th in the nation. Individually, senior middle blocker Kiana Black's .45 aces per game is tops in the Big Sky and 34th in the nation. In all, Black's 23 service aces are second highest in the conference and ranks 72nd in the nation at the NCAA Division I level. Freshman Lexie Goroski also ranks among the Big Sky top 10 at No. 9, averaging .33 aces per set.
BLOCK PARTY:
Montana State averaged a whopping 3.31 blocks per game en route to winning the Utah State Tournament a month ago, and posted 2.33 blocks per set last weekend in Big Sky action. The Bobcats current average of 2.12 bps is seventh in the Big Sky and ranks 127th in the nation. MSU's best block party of the season came in its win over Pacific 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 1.22 blocks per set ranks sixth in the Big Sky and is 66th in the nation. The Layton, Utah product has notched the sixth 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. Illinois, who left the Bobcat Classic with a perfect 3-0 record, is one of the nation's top blocking teams, paced by the nation's best blocker Ali Bastianelli at 1.92 bps.
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 Alexis Goroski, Libby Christensen and Allie Lynch have accounted for over half of MSU's digs this season. The foursome has averaged an impressive 6.9 saves per game over the last thirteen 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 3.78 digs, while Goroski chips in 1.67, Christensen 1.64 saves and Lynch 1.38 dps. Rizzo's 3.78 digs per set is tenth best in the Big Sky Conference.
BLACK AND WHITE:
Montana State middle blockers senior Kiana Black and freshman Kelsie White have been outstanding in the early season for the Bobcats. The duo has combined for 155 kills (3.04 kps) and 98 blocks (1.92 bps), while hitting .195 from the field. Black, a native of Wenatchee, Wash., also added 23 service aces, including a career-high five aces against Air Force. She had her best hitting outing of the season with 13 kills in MSU's five-set loss to Long Beach State. White, a product of Layton, Utah, has guided MSU defensively, averaging 1.22 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 1.40 kills per set, while hitting .184. The 6-4 true-freshman posted a season-best nine kills in Montana State's win over Utah State on Sept. 2.
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 and promptly dished out 46 assists. She is averaging 5.46 apg in 26 sets played. Mathison, a product of Phoenix, Arizona as played in 43 sets and is averaging 7.30 assists per set, which is the tenth highest total in the Big Sky Conference. Mathison registered a career-high 50 assists in MSU's 3-2 win over Gonzaga on Aug. 26.
PINTEREST:
For most of the early season, 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 2.78 kills per set, while Doughty has chipped in 2.34, Scott 2.10, Wilson 1.61 and Laws 1.55 kills per contest. In Montana State's win over Gonzaga on Aug. 26, Passeck paced the Cats with 17 kills. She followed that effort with 17 in MSU's victory over UC Santa Barbara. Doughty and Wilson each notched a career-high 14 kills against the Zags. 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. Against Pacific, Wilson recorded a career-high seven block assists. 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 also came at EWU with a career-high 16 kills against the Eagles.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
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