Bobcats Clip Eagles in Five

Saturday, October 13

BOZEMAN

7:30 pm

Montana State University

8-11, 3-5Big Sky

Eastern Washington

8-12, 0-8Big Sky

Eastern Washington

Montana State

Senior Natalie Passeck

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

10/13/2018 11:06:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

“It was a real offensive battle,” said MSU head coach Daniel Jones. “Everyone put up great numbers. And, it came down to who was going to come through in the big moment and Natalie (Passeck) came through with a big kill to give us a 14-13 lead and we were able to finish out and get the win.”

By: Tom Schulz

Montana State used a solid offensive effort and a bend, don't break mentality, to hold on for a 25-21, 25-19, 23-25, 21-25, 15-13 victory over Eastern Washington on Saturday night in front of 1,121 fans in Shroyer Gym.

Montana State (8-11, 3-5) had its best offensive outing in Big Sky Conference play hitting .308 as a team. The Bobcats held advantages in kills, assists and aces, while Eastern Washington (8-12, 0-8) countered with an edge in digs and blocks.

"It was a real offensive battle," said MSU head coach Daniel Jones. "Everyone put up great numbers. And, it came down to who was going to come through in the big moment and Natalie (Passeck) came through with a big kill to give us a 14-13 lead and we were able to finish out and get the win."

MSU jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage, out-hitting EWU .471 to .283. The third frame featured 11 ties and eight lead changes, before the Eagles broke away from 22-all with two straight points. EWU closed out the set on a MaKenna Davis kill. Eastern Washington used a late charge in the fourth set with a 6-2 run, forcing a deciding game.

The final set saw the score tied ten times, including three lead changes. At 13-all, Passeck produced the matches' biggest point to give MSU a one-point cushion. EWU's Kamille Langford tried to even the match on the next possession, but her kill attempt sailed long to give the Cats the victory.

"I couldn't be happier for our players to step up in a big moment and make it happen," Jones said. "There was no set that got away from us and I thought we played level-headed and calm."

The Bobcats finished with four players in double-figure kills led by Passeck with 18. She was followed by Hannah Scott 17, Evi Wilson 15 and Kelsie White 12. Setter Carina Lehto matched a season-high 57 assists. She also chipped in 11 digs for her third straight double-double.

Defensively, MSU was paced by Allyssa Rizzo with a match-high 28 digs.

The Bobcats will play at Sacramento State on Thursday, Oct. 18.