Bobcat Volleyball Team Adds Three Freshmen to Program
4/13/2017 5:02:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Montana State head volleyball coach JJ Riley has added three high school standouts to the Bobcat program.
Montana State head volleyball coach JJ Riley has added three high school standouts to the Bobcat program. All three will be eligible to play for MSU in the fall. Joining the Bobcat roster are Allie Lynch, a 5-10 setter from Bozeman, Hailey Merkes, a 5-10 outside hitter from Montara, Calif., and Libby Christensen, a 5-8 outside hitter from Vacaville, Calif.
Lynch is no stranger to volleyball fans in the Gallatin Valley. As a junior, she guided Bozeman High to its first-ever Montana Class AA state title. As a senior, she captained the Hawks to a 23-5 overall mark and a state tournament appearance. For her efforts, Lynch was the 2016 Class AA Eastern Conference Player of the Year.
"The Bobcat volleyball program is very excited that Allie Lynch has decided to remain in Bozeman and be a Bobcat," Riley said. "It is always special when we can get a local athlete to stay in Bozeman and with Allie we are truly getting a great one. Over the past couple of years, we have been fortunate to get to know Allie and her family, as well as work with her on the court during our volleyball camps."
A two-time first-team all-state and all-conference performer, Lynch also made great strides in the classroom garnering Montana academic all-state accolades on four occasions. During her tenure in the Red and Black, she led the Hawks to an overall 88-20 ledger under head coach Erika Gustavsen. In addition, Lynch lettered four year in track and field.
"With Allie, we are getting an outstanding student as she has the scores and grades to attract the attention of MIT and the Ivy League schools," Riley stated. "She is a great athlete that loves the weight room, lives a healthy lifestyle, takes pride in her work ethic and treats people around her exceptionally well. She has the traits and qualities that our program looks for in our young ladies and she will be a great ambassador for our culture which we are still building.
"Allie has had great success as a Lady Hawk on the volleyball court winning a state championship, in the classroom, and in track and field," Riley commented. "We know she will have great success at this next level and she will push herself and this program on a daily basis to keep getting better. Allie has big goals in life and it is going to be fun to watch her attack them."
She is the daughter of Kathy and Chris Lynch.
Merkes is a senior at Half Moon Bay High School where she helped guide the Cougars to an 18-win season, last fall under the direction of head coach Ryan Havice. A four-time team MVP and captain, she received CIF Central Coast Section First-Team All-League honors on four occasions. During her junior and senior campaigns, Merkes was recognized as a San Mateo County Athlete of the Week. As a junior and senior, she ranked among the top 10 in kills in the state of California.
"The Bobcat volleyball program is adding another athlete that has ties to MSU and that is very exciting," Riley said. "Hailey has wanted to be a Bobcat volleyball player for some time, and for her goal to be realized is just awesome for her and her family. She has a connection with what it means to represent MSU and she understands what a special opportunity this is.
"Hailey is a dynamic athlete which means she jumps well and is explosive," Riley commented. "Besides being physical, she understands the game and has well-rounded skills that will help make our gym better. While recruiting Hailey we were impressed with her maturity and drive to be her best. Some of the things that stood out while watching her play are she communicates great on the court, she plays with passion, she has a great intensity about her, and she loves to compete."
Merkes played club ball with the Red Rock Volleyball Club out of Redwood City, Calif.
"Our focus in building this roster has been to get student-athletes that are competitors that want to achieve, that are great people, and that know the game of volleyball," Riley said. "Hailey checks all of those boxes and we can't wait to get her in the gym here soon."
She is the daughter of Greg and Dawn Merkes, both of which attended Montana State.
Christensen, who is a senior at Vacaville High School, helped the Bulldogs to a 23-4 overall mark last fall and a 77-13 mark during her career under the tutelage of head coach Allison Loera. A two-time team captain, she led Vacaville High to the Monticello Empire League title, including an undefeated season as a senior. For her efforts, Christensen was a three-time MVP and garnered all-league accolades, as well.
"We are very excited that Libby will be joining our program this upcoming fall," Riley said. "It's always wonderful when we have the opportunity to add a great person, a great volleyball player, and someone that loves MSU to our roster. Libby has ties to the Blue and Gold as her father graduated from MSU so it's great when an athlete comes in understanding how special this place really is.
"Libby came to our camp over the summer and instantly we were impressed with how well she plays the whole game," Riley stated. "She comes from some very high level club programs that have taught her how to compete, and how to play the game at a high level. She is very well-rounded in her skills and plays a low-error game which is something that we are working on building in this program."
Christensen's club experience is mainly with the Five Starz Volleyball Club out of Davis, Calif., where she was part of five Girls Junior National Championship qualifying squads, including Gold medalist in the 2015 National Division. Last season, she played with the Northern California Volleyball Club.
"She is the type of person and athlete that we expect to come in and instantly be a great teammate, as well as push the gym to be better as she is flat out a baller," Riley said. "Libby is one that will just put her head down and do the work that needs to be done on a daily basis. We are excited to work with her and get her in the gym soon."
The daughter of Chris and Lisa Christensen, she also lettered twice in track and field and was a four-time scholar-athlete. Her father Chris attended Montana State from 1980-84.
Montana State Incoming Freshman Class:
Libby Christensen OH 5-8 Fr. Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS
Alexis Goroski L/DS 5-3 Fr. Phoenix, AZ/Desert Vista HS
Allie Lynch S 5-10 Fr. Bozeman, MT/Bozeman HS
Hailey Merkes OH 5-10 Fr. Montara, CA/Half Moon Bay HS
Hannah Scott OH 5-11 Fr. Hawthorne, CA/Mira Costa HS
Kelsie White MB 6-4 Fr. Layton, UT/Bountiful HS
Lynch is no stranger to volleyball fans in the Gallatin Valley. As a junior, she guided Bozeman High to its first-ever Montana Class AA state title. As a senior, she captained the Hawks to a 23-5 overall mark and a state tournament appearance. For her efforts, Lynch was the 2016 Class AA Eastern Conference Player of the Year.
"The Bobcat volleyball program is very excited that Allie Lynch has decided to remain in Bozeman and be a Bobcat," Riley said. "It is always special when we can get a local athlete to stay in Bozeman and with Allie we are truly getting a great one. Over the past couple of years, we have been fortunate to get to know Allie and her family, as well as work with her on the court during our volleyball camps."
A two-time first-team all-state and all-conference performer, Lynch also made great strides in the classroom garnering Montana academic all-state accolades on four occasions. During her tenure in the Red and Black, she led the Hawks to an overall 88-20 ledger under head coach Erika Gustavsen. In addition, Lynch lettered four year in track and field.
"With Allie, we are getting an outstanding student as she has the scores and grades to attract the attention of MIT and the Ivy League schools," Riley stated. "She is a great athlete that loves the weight room, lives a healthy lifestyle, takes pride in her work ethic and treats people around her exceptionally well. She has the traits and qualities that our program looks for in our young ladies and she will be a great ambassador for our culture which we are still building.
"Allie has had great success as a Lady Hawk on the volleyball court winning a state championship, in the classroom, and in track and field," Riley commented. "We know she will have great success at this next level and she will push herself and this program on a daily basis to keep getting better. Allie has big goals in life and it is going to be fun to watch her attack them."
She is the daughter of Kathy and Chris Lynch.
Merkes is a senior at Half Moon Bay High School where she helped guide the Cougars to an 18-win season, last fall under the direction of head coach Ryan Havice. A four-time team MVP and captain, she received CIF Central Coast Section First-Team All-League honors on four occasions. During her junior and senior campaigns, Merkes was recognized as a San Mateo County Athlete of the Week. As a junior and senior, she ranked among the top 10 in kills in the state of California.
"The Bobcat volleyball program is adding another athlete that has ties to MSU and that is very exciting," Riley said. "Hailey has wanted to be a Bobcat volleyball player for some time, and for her goal to be realized is just awesome for her and her family. She has a connection with what it means to represent MSU and she understands what a special opportunity this is.
"Hailey is a dynamic athlete which means she jumps well and is explosive," Riley commented. "Besides being physical, she understands the game and has well-rounded skills that will help make our gym better. While recruiting Hailey we were impressed with her maturity and drive to be her best. Some of the things that stood out while watching her play are she communicates great on the court, she plays with passion, she has a great intensity about her, and she loves to compete."
Merkes played club ball with the Red Rock Volleyball Club out of Redwood City, Calif.
"Our focus in building this roster has been to get student-athletes that are competitors that want to achieve, that are great people, and that know the game of volleyball," Riley said. "Hailey checks all of those boxes and we can't wait to get her in the gym here soon."
She is the daughter of Greg and Dawn Merkes, both of which attended Montana State.
Christensen, who is a senior at Vacaville High School, helped the Bulldogs to a 23-4 overall mark last fall and a 77-13 mark during her career under the tutelage of head coach Allison Loera. A two-time team captain, she led Vacaville High to the Monticello Empire League title, including an undefeated season as a senior. For her efforts, Christensen was a three-time MVP and garnered all-league accolades, as well.
"We are very excited that Libby will be joining our program this upcoming fall," Riley said. "It's always wonderful when we have the opportunity to add a great person, a great volleyball player, and someone that loves MSU to our roster. Libby has ties to the Blue and Gold as her father graduated from MSU so it's great when an athlete comes in understanding how special this place really is.
"Libby came to our camp over the summer and instantly we were impressed with how well she plays the whole game," Riley stated. "She comes from some very high level club programs that have taught her how to compete, and how to play the game at a high level. She is very well-rounded in her skills and plays a low-error game which is something that we are working on building in this program."
Christensen's club experience is mainly with the Five Starz Volleyball Club out of Davis, Calif., where she was part of five Girls Junior National Championship qualifying squads, including Gold medalist in the 2015 National Division. Last season, she played with the Northern California Volleyball Club.
"She is the type of person and athlete that we expect to come in and instantly be a great teammate, as well as push the gym to be better as she is flat out a baller," Riley said. "Libby is one that will just put her head down and do the work that needs to be done on a daily basis. We are excited to work with her and get her in the gym soon."
The daughter of Chris and Lisa Christensen, she also lettered twice in track and field and was a four-time scholar-athlete. Her father Chris attended Montana State from 1980-84.
Montana State Incoming Freshman Class:
Libby Christensen OH 5-8 Fr. Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS
Alexis Goroski L/DS 5-3 Fr. Phoenix, AZ/Desert Vista HS
Allie Lynch S 5-10 Fr. Bozeman, MT/Bozeman HS
Hailey Merkes OH 5-10 Fr. Montara, CA/Half Moon Bay HS
Hannah Scott OH 5-11 Fr. Hawthorne, CA/Mira Costa HS
Kelsie White MB 6-4 Fr. Layton, UT/Bountiful HS
Wednesday, January 18
Monday, November 15
Saturday, September 04
Friday, September 03
