Photo by: Andrew Pedersen
TUESDAY NIGHT: CAT-GRIZ, PART II
10/22/2018 3:53:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Bobcats begin its longest home stretch of the season, beginning with Montana, Tuesday, Oct. 23 in the second installment of the Brawl of the Wild series. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. in Shroyer Gym.
HOME SWEET HOME:
Finally, the Montana State volleyball team can unpack its luggage and enjoy a couple of weeks at home. The Bobcats begin its longest home stretch of the season, beginning with Montana, Tuesday, Oct. 23 in the second installment of the Brawl of the Wild series. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. in Shroyer Gym. MSU will close out its first week at home hosting Northern Colorado on Friday night beginning at 6 p.m. Time change is due to concert in the fieldhouse. Montana State will remain in Bozeman the following week when it hosts Southern Utah on Nov. 1 and Northern Arizona on Nov. 3.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:
Montana enters Tuesday night's contest 8-14 overall and 5-5 in Big Sky Conference action. Last weekend, the Grizzlies were swept by both Portland State and Sacramento State. On the season, UM has been paced by Mykaela Hammer, who is averaging 3.06 kills and 2.33 digs per set. Against Portland State, Hammer pounded out 13 kills and 12 digs, and followed that with a 15 kill and nine dig performance against Sacramento State. Montana defeated Montana State in their first meeting on Sept. 25 16-25, 25-18, 22-25, 27-25, 15-11 in Missoula. The Grizzlies were led by Hammer with 15 kills, while Maddy Marshall and Olivia Bradley added 14 kills, apiece. Montana State was guided in the match by Natalie Passeck and Evi Wilson with 14 and 12 kills, respectively.
Opponent: Montana (10,962)
Nickname: Grizzlies
Head Coach: Allison Lawrence
2018 Record: 8-14 overall; 5-5/Big Sky
Opponent: Northern Colorado (12,862)
Nickname: Bears
Head Coach: Lyndsey Oates
2018 Record: 10-9 overall; 6-4/Big Sky
SIDE OUTS:
* Tuesday's match against Montana will be the 113th meeting between the two rivals.
* The all-time series between Montana and Montana State is tied at 56-56 back to 1975
* The Cats swept the season series last year & have won three straight from UM at home
* The Bobcats have won five of the last eight meetings between the intra-state rivals
* Junior libero Allyssa Rizzo is fourth on MSU's career digs list with 1,296 saves
* Rizzo is third in the Big Sky at 5.45 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 44th 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 5.50 digs and 1.17 assists last weekend. The product of Crestwood, Ill., posted 33 digs in six sets, logging 10 saves against Sacramento State and 23 at Portland State. 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 14 matches with 20 or more digs. Her current 452 digs on the season is fifth most on MSU's single-season digs chart. Nicole Baker (2011) holds the Bobcat single-season record at 514. Rizzo is third in the Big Sky averaging 5.45 digs per set, which also ranks No. 20 in the nation. She has notched 1,296 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 50 kills, while hitting .103 from the floor. In addition, the fivesome tallied 29 digs and added 11 blocks. Sophomore Hannah Scott led the way averaging 3.79 kills with a .168 attack mark while taking 52 swings over the weekend. The Hawthorne, Calif., product also posted 13 digs. Natalie Passeck averaged 2.94 kills per set with a .247 attack mark. The Parker, Colo., native has recorded double-figure kills in nine of her last 11 matches. Evi Wilson recorded 14 kills, while freshmen Hailey Merkes and Serena Caspersen combined for 11 kills, six digs and six blocks.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
As a team, the Bobcats rank in the top five in five Big Sky statistical categories. MSU ranked fourth in team digs (1,295); fourth in team aces (111), team attacks (2,972) and digs per set (15.60). The Cats are fifth in the Big Sky in team attacks per set (35.81). Montana State is listed No. 105 in team digs, No. 133 in digs per set and No. 115 in service aces. Individually, Allyssa Rizzo ranks among the best liberos in the nation. Her 5.45 digs per set is third in the Big Sky and ranks 20th nationally. Rizzo is also ranked No. 22 in the nation in total digs, No. 57 in aces (31) and No. 87 in aces per set (.37). Sophomore middle blocker Kelsie White's 77 total blocks is rankled No. 195 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 195th in the nation with 77 total blocks, while her .95 blocks per set is listed 249th 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. 233 in the Nitty-Gritty listings. Northern Arizona is the highest ranked Big Sky team at No. 140. Montana State's best wins of the season have been over No. 139 SMU and No. 220 Seattle.
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---...... 942
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--............ 1,296
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
Finally, the Montana State volleyball team can unpack its luggage and enjoy a couple of weeks at home. The Bobcats begin its longest home stretch of the season, beginning with Montana, Tuesday, Oct. 23 in the second installment of the Brawl of the Wild series. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. in Shroyer Gym. MSU will close out its first week at home hosting Northern Colorado on Friday night beginning at 6 p.m. Time change is due to concert in the fieldhouse. Montana State will remain in Bozeman the following week when it hosts Southern Utah on Nov. 1 and Northern Arizona on Nov. 3.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:
Montana enters Tuesday night's contest 8-14 overall and 5-5 in Big Sky Conference action. Last weekend, the Grizzlies were swept by both Portland State and Sacramento State. On the season, UM has been paced by Mykaela Hammer, who is averaging 3.06 kills and 2.33 digs per set. Against Portland State, Hammer pounded out 13 kills and 12 digs, and followed that with a 15 kill and nine dig performance against Sacramento State. Montana defeated Montana State in their first meeting on Sept. 25 16-25, 25-18, 22-25, 27-25, 15-11 in Missoula. The Grizzlies were led by Hammer with 15 kills, while Maddy Marshall and Olivia Bradley added 14 kills, apiece. Montana State was guided in the match by Natalie Passeck and Evi Wilson with 14 and 12 kills, respectively.
Opponent: Montana (10,962)
Nickname: Grizzlies
Head Coach: Allison Lawrence
2018 Record: 8-14 overall; 5-5/Big Sky
Opponent: Northern Colorado (12,862)
Nickname: Bears
Head Coach: Lyndsey Oates
2018 Record: 10-9 overall; 6-4/Big Sky
SIDE OUTS:
* Tuesday's match against Montana will be the 113th meeting between the two rivals.
* The all-time series between Montana and Montana State is tied at 56-56 back to 1975
* The Cats swept the season series last year & have won three straight from UM at home
* The Bobcats have won five of the last eight meetings between the intra-state rivals
* Junior libero Allyssa Rizzo is fourth on MSU's career digs list with 1,296 saves
* Rizzo is third in the Big Sky at 5.45 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 44th 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 5.50 digs and 1.17 assists last weekend. The product of Crestwood, Ill., posted 33 digs in six sets, logging 10 saves against Sacramento State and 23 at Portland State. 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 14 matches with 20 or more digs. Her current 452 digs on the season is fifth most on MSU's single-season digs chart. Nicole Baker (2011) holds the Bobcat single-season record at 514. Rizzo is third in the Big Sky averaging 5.45 digs per set, which also ranks No. 20 in the nation. She has notched 1,296 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 50 kills, while hitting .103 from the floor. In addition, the fivesome tallied 29 digs and added 11 blocks. Sophomore Hannah Scott led the way averaging 3.79 kills with a .168 attack mark while taking 52 swings over the weekend. The Hawthorne, Calif., product also posted 13 digs. Natalie Passeck averaged 2.94 kills per set with a .247 attack mark. The Parker, Colo., native has recorded double-figure kills in nine of her last 11 matches. Evi Wilson recorded 14 kills, while freshmen Hailey Merkes and Serena Caspersen combined for 11 kills, six digs and six blocks.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
As a team, the Bobcats rank in the top five in five Big Sky statistical categories. MSU ranked fourth in team digs (1,295); fourth in team aces (111), team attacks (2,972) and digs per set (15.60). The Cats are fifth in the Big Sky in team attacks per set (35.81). Montana State is listed No. 105 in team digs, No. 133 in digs per set and No. 115 in service aces. Individually, Allyssa Rizzo ranks among the best liberos in the nation. Her 5.45 digs per set is third in the Big Sky and ranks 20th nationally. Rizzo is also ranked No. 22 in the nation in total digs, No. 57 in aces (31) and No. 87 in aces per set (.37). Sophomore middle blocker Kelsie White's 77 total blocks is rankled No. 195 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 195th in the nation with 77 total blocks, while her .95 blocks per set is listed 249th 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. 233 in the Nitty-Gritty listings. Northern Arizona is the highest ranked Big Sky team at No. 140. Montana State's best wins of the season have been over No. 139 SMU and No. 220 Seattle.
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---...... 942
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--............ 1,296
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
Players Mentioned
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