Cats Sweep Season Series Beating Griz in Five-Set Thriller

Sunday, November 5

Missoula, MT

1 p.m.

Montana State University

9-14, 5-9BSC

Montana

7-20, 2-12BSC

Montana State

Montana

Natalie Passeck paced the Bobcats past the Griz on Sunday afternoon.

Photo by: Andrew Pedersen

Cats Sweep Season Series Beating Griz in Five-Set Thriller

11/5/2017 4:08:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

“It was a classic Cat-Griz rivalry match,” said MSU head coach Daniel Jones. “We executed in key moments and when we had a lead we were able to keep pushing. I thought both Natalie and Evi had huge matches. We adjusted well to what they were doing and started to get some touches on their attacks, which gave us an opportunity to transition and attack.”

By: Tom Schulz

– Behind Natalie Passeck's 20-kill output and a career-high 17 kills from sophomore Evi Wilson the Montana State volleyball team swept the season series from rival Montana 22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 15-10 on Sunday afternoon in Dahlberg Arena.

Despite being out-hit .215 to .214, Montana State (9-14, 5-9) used a 72-61 advantage in kills and a 7-3 edge in aces to notch its fifth Big Sky win of the season.

Also in double-digit kills for MSU were Hannah Scott and Kiana Black with 15 and 10 kills, respectively. Senior Katie Rutecki matched a career-best 60 assists.

Defensively, the Bobcats were paced by libero Allyssa Rizzo with a match-high 23 digs. Rutecki and Passeck posted 17 saves, while Scott added 10. Rutecki and Black also guided MSU at the net with three blocks, apiece.

"It was a classic Cat-Griz rivalry match," said MSU head coach Daniel Jones. "We executed in key moments and when we had a lead we were able to keep pushing. I thought both Natalie and Evi had huge matches. We adjusted well to what they were doing and started to get some touches on their attacks, which gave us an opportunity to transition and attack."

Montana (7-20, 2-12) was led by Mykaela Hammer with 18 kills and 22 digs.

It was Montana State's first season sweep of Montana since 2005.

MSU will wrap-up its regular-season next weekend beginning with Eastern Washington on Thursday night.

Set 1 – Montana 25, Montana State 22

Montana State got out to a 15-12 lead in the opening set following an Evi Wilson kill. Montana answered with a 6-0 run to take an 18-16 advantage. Following a Bobcat timeout, MSU evened the score at 18-all on back-to-back kills by Hannah Scott and Wilson. UM gained a two-point lead after two MSU hitting miscues and pushed the margin to 23-18 before Montana State used its second timeout. The Grizzlies captured set point on the next possession. The Cats fought off two set points, before UM won the game on a Bobcat service error.

Set 2 – Montana State 25, Montana 23

UM opened the second frame on a 7-2 run out-hitting MSU .625 to .000. A Grizzly service error stopped the run at 8-3. Trailing 14-8, MSU gained some momentum with an 8-2 run to even the score at 16-all following a UM attack error. Montana pushed its lead back to 21-18, before the Cats rallied behind a Natalie Passeck block and kill, coupled with a Kiana Black tip to take its first lead at 22-21. Following a UM hitting error, Montana State held set point at 24-23. After fighting off a Montana kill, Bobcat setter Katie Rutecki tipped the ball over on the second contact to even the match at intermission.

Set 3 – Montana State 25, Montana 17

The Bobcats held its momentum coming out of the locker room establishling an 11-6 advantage after a Grizzly ball-handling error. Natalie Passeck took control midway through the set with three kills to give the Bobcats an 18-12 lead. Montana closed to within 19-17, before MSU rattled off the last six points for the win – another Passeck kill. The Parker, Colo., product posted six kills in the third frame.

Set 4 – Montana 25, Montana State 23

Trailing 14-13, MSU sophomore Evi Wilson provided back-to-back kills and a Kelsie White winner gave the Cats a 16-14 lead. Montana State held the advantage at 21-20 on a Natalie Passeck kill, but Montana countered with three straight points. A Passeck block evened the frame at 23-all, but the Grizzlies converted two kills to force a fifth set.

Set 5 – Montana State 15, Montana 10

After falling behind 2-0, the two storied rivals traded punches before a Hannah Scott kill evened the set at six-all. The Bobcats strung together three straight points on a Natalie Passeck kill, a Kiana Black block and a UM hitting error to take a 9-6 cushion. Montana closed to within 9-8 on a block, but the Cats rattled off another 3-0 run to go up 12-8 on another Grizzly hitting miscue. MSU closed out the match on an Evi Wilson winner.