Cats Bite Dawgs in Bobcat Classic Finale`

Saturday, August 26

BOZEMAN

7 p.m.

Montana State University

1-2

Gonzaga

0-3

Gonzaga

Montana State

Natalie Passeck was named to the Bobcat Classic All-Tournament Team, Saturday night.

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

8/26/2017 10:50:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

“It was a total team effort, and that includes an engaged bench,” Jones said. “The kids paid attention to the scouting report. They paid attention to our offensive plan and they executed. However, we know we have lots of work to do, and we talk about getting a little bit better every day.”

By: Tom Schulz

The age old adage of bending but not breaking came to fruition as the Montana State volleyball team held on 21-25, 25-17, 25-19, 24-26, 15-9 for its first victory of the season and its first under the direction of head coach Daniel Jones, Saturday night in the finale` of the Bobcat Classic.

Montana State (1-2) looked to have put the match away in the fourth set with a 22-18 lead following an Evi Wilson kill. However, Gonzaga (0-3) battled back with an 8-2 run to force a deciding game.

In the fifth frame, the Bulldogs held a 6-5 advantage, before the Bobcats rattled off a 5-1 run sparked by three kills from junior Chase Doughty and two blocks via freshman Kelsie White. Following a GU time out with MSU leading 10-7, the Cats went on a 5-2 run, winning the match on another Wilson winner.

"It was a total team effort, and that includes an engaged bench," Jones said. "The kids paid attention to the scouting report. They paid attention to our offensive plan and they executed. However, we know we have lots of work to do, and we talk about getting a little bit better every day."

Junior Natalie Passeck paced the Bobcats with 17 kills, while Doughty and Wilson each posted career-highs with 14 kills. In addition, Wilson recorded her first career double-double with a career-high 11 digs. Sophomore setter Sydney Mathison notched a double-double with a career-high 50 assists and 11 digs.

Defensively, White and Wilson each posted career-bests with eight and seven blocks, respectively. Libero Allyssa Rizzo guided MSU in the back row with 15 digs.

As a team, the Bobcats out-hit Gonzaga .239 to .185, while also holding a 9-2 advantage in aces and a 13-9 cushion in blocks.

"We were focused on serving aggressive and making them get out of system," Jones said. "We wanted to put the pressure on them. When we do that we can run with any team."

For her efforts, Passeck was named to the all-tournament team, along with Bobcat Classic MVP Ali Bastianelli of Illinois, Jacqueline Quade, Illinois, Blayke Hranicka, Illinois, Liz Pennington, Air Force, Piper Heineck, Air Force and Kaylie Loewen, Gonzaga. The Fighting Illini won the team title with a 3-0 record.

MSU will travel to the Utah State Tournament next weekend in Logan, and will face the Aggies, UC Santa Barbara and Pacific.