Montana State University
Sacramento State
Bobcats Head West For Two
10/17/2018 5:52:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
After enjoying a quick two-match homestand that included homecoming, the Montana State volleyball team ventures back out on to the Big Sky Conference road this weekend. MSU will open play at Sacramento State, Thursday, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. (MST).
WESTWARD HO:
After enjoying a quick two-match homestand that included homecoming, the Montana State volleyball team ventures back out on to the Big Sky Conference road this weekend. MSU will open play at Sacramento State, Thursday, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. (MST). They will conclude weekend play at Portland State on Saturday, beginning at 3 p.m. in the new Viking Pavilion. This week's matches will be the second go-around of the season between the Big Sky rivals.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:
Sacramento State enters Thursday night's match in a four-way tie for first place after sweeping a pair of matches from Idaho State and Weber State on Colberg Court last weekend. Senior Mikaela Nocetti paced the Hornets in the victories averaging 6.50 kills per set, while hitting .290 from the field. Sacramento State defeated Montana State 18-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-21 in Bozeman on Sept. 22. Nocetti and Sarah Davis each tallied 17 kills. The Bobcats were led in the match by Hannah Scott and Natalie Passeck with 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Defensively, Allyssa Rizzo notched a match-high 32 digs. Portland State will face Montana on Thursday night before meeting the Cats on Saturday afternoon. Despite being 2-18 overall and 1-7 in Big Sky play, PSU pushed two of the league's top teams to five sets last weekend in Viking Pavilion. MSU defeated Portland State 25-12, 17-25, 23-25, 26-24 15-12 on Sept. 20 in Shroyer Gym.
Opponent: Sacramento State (30,800)
Nickname: Hornets
Head Coach: Ruben Volta
2018 Record: 11-11 overall; 6-1/Big Sky
Opponent: Portland State (29,524)
Nickname: Vikings
Head Coach: Michael Seemann
2018 Record: 2-18 overall; 1-7/Big Sky
SIDE OUTS:
* Sac State holds a 44-6 advantage in its all-time series with MSU going back to 9/7/91
* The last time the Bobcats (3-2) won at Sacramento State was on Oct. 18, 1997
* The Cats snapped a 22-match losing streak to Portland State on Sept. 20 in Bozeman
* Portland State holds a 43-21-1 edge in its all-time series with MSU going back to 1979
* Junior libero Allyssa Rizzo is fourth on MSU's career digs list with 1,263 saves
* Rizzo is second in the Big Sky at 5.44 digs per set, which ranks 20th nationally
* Thirteen of MSU's 17 rostered players have been in the program two years or less
* Montana State is averaging 1,093 fans per match, which ranks 43rd in the nation
SUPER SAVER:
Junior libero Allyssa Rizzo, who has earned two Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors this season, averaged 6.00 digs and 1.78 assists last weekend. The product of Crestwood, Ill., posted 54 digs in nine sets, logging 26 saves against Idaho and 28 in MSU's win over Eastern Washington. Rizzo has gone over the 30-dig plateau on three occasions this fall, including a career high 34 digs in MSU's win over Portland State. In addition, she has notched 13 matches with 20 or more digs. Her current 419 digs on the season is tenth most on MSU's single-season digs chart. Nicole Baker (2011) holds the Bobcat single-season record at 514. Rizzo is second in the Big Sky averaging 5.44 digs per set, which also ranks No. 20 in the nation. She has notched 1,263 career digs, which moved her into fourth on MSU's all-time career digs chart.
PINTREST:
As a unit Montana State's outside hitters manned the pins last weekend producing 86 kills, while hitting .239 from the floor. In addition, the foursome tallied 32 digs and added 15 blocks. Sophomore Hannah Scott led the way averaging 3.44 kills with a .244 attack mark while taking 90 swings over the weekend. The Hawthorne, Calif., product also posted 15 digs. Natalie Passeck averaged 3.11 kills per set with a .304 attack mark. The Parker, Colo., native has recorded double-figure kills in nine of her last ten matches. Evi Wilson recorded 24 kills and six blocks on the week, while freshman Hailey Merkes chipped in three kills and three blocks.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
As a team, the Bobcats rank in the top five in six Big Sky statistical categories. MSU ranked third in team digs (1,197); fourth in team aces (105), team attacks (2,760) and team attacks per set (35.84), and fifth in team assists (871) and team kills (932). Montana State is also ranked among the top 100 in NCAA Division I in total attacks (89th), team aces (92nd) and total digs (97th). Individually, Allyssa Rizzo ranks among the best liberos in the nation. Her 5.44 digs per set is second in the Big Sky and ranks 20th nationally. Rizzo is also ranked 19th in the nation in total digs and 57th in aces (28). Sophomore middle blocker Kelsie White's 70 total blocks is 189th in the nation.
HARD BLOCK CAFE:
Last season in MSU's win over Pacific, freshman Kelsie White notched 15 blocks, including 14 block assists. The 14 blocks assist was a Bobcat school-record, breaking the mark of 13 held by Karen Weyler (1994) and Mindy Nowak (1998). The 15 blocks were the second highest total in the nation last fall, and White's 1.08 blocks per game were the 13th best average produced by a freshmen in the country. The Layton, Utah native is currently ranked 189th in the nation with 70 total blocks, while her .93 blocks per set is listed 265th nationally.
THE RIGHT STUFF:
The Bobcats ended the 2017 season ranked No. 213 in the final RPI, which was a 46-spot leap up the rankings from 259 at the end of the 2016 season. In all, the Bobcats defeated five teams ranked higher than themselves in the final RPI, including No. 71 North Dakota, No. 99 Pacific, No. 151 Gonzaga, No. 164 Utah State and No. 182 UC Santa Barbara. This season, Montana State is currently No. 237 in the Nitty-Gritty listings. Weber State is the highest ranked Big Sky team at No. 122. Montana State's best wins of the season have been over No. 180 SMU and No. 221 Seattle U.
IT'S ALL-ACADEMIC:
Six Bobcat players that received All-Big Sky Conference Academic accolades in 2017 return to the MSU rotation. They include Lexi Goroski, Libby Christensen, Sydney Mathison, Hannah Scott, Allyssa Rizzo and Kelsie White.
1,000-KILL CLUB:
Senior Natalie Passeck is closing in on becoming just the 16th member of Montana State's 1000-Kill Club. The last member of the club, Kim Stonehouse, made the list in 2006. Here's a look at MSU's all-time career kills list.
1. Diane Terrall, 78-81.......... 1,451
2. Brandy Anderson, 95-98... 1,380
3. Maggie Koughan, 82-85.... 1,328
4. Stephanie Laya, 97-00 ..... 1,260
5. Meggie Malyurek, 02-05.. 1,136
6. Moyra Ditchfield, 80-83.... 1,135
7. Kim Stonehouse, 03-06.... 1,129
8. Megan Zanto, 02-05......... 1,128
9. Kim Steffel, 89-92............ 1,108
10. Michelle Usitalo, 81-84..... 1,060
11. Cori Carper, 96-99............ 1,058
12. Mindy Nowak, 96-99 ...... 1,044
13. Stephanie Nowicki, 86-89. 1,033
14. Karen Weyler, 94-97........ 1,026
15. Aimee Halyk, 99-02.......... 1,014
--- Natalie Passeck, 15---...... 934
1,000-DIG CLUB:
Junior Allyssa Rizzo became the just the ninth member of Montana State's 1,000-Dig Club when she notched 23 saves against Louisiana on Sept. 7. The last member of the club, Kasey Schlatter, made the list in 2014. Here's a look at MSU's all-time career digs list.
1. Kandice Kelly, 03-06......... 1,720
2. Meghan Albiston, 07-10... 1,577
3. Nicole Baker, 10-13.......... 1,564
4. Allyssa Rizzo, 16--............ 1,263
5. Kamber Kelly, 01-04......... 1,262
6. Meggie Malyurek, 02-05.. 1,223
7. Stephanie Laya, 97-00...... 1,183
8. Mindy Nowak, 96-99........ 1,073
9. Kasey Schlatter, 11-14 1,059
