Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Big Sky Tournament Bound
11/20/2018 6:19:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Montana State volleyball team will make its first Big Sky Conference Tournament appearance since 2012 when it travels to Greeley, Colo., Thursday, Nov. 22.
BIG SKY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT BOUND:
The Montana State volleyball team will make its first Big Sky Conference Tournament appearance since 2012 when it travels to Greeley, Colo., Thursday, Nov. 22. The Bobcats will enter tournament action as the No. 8 seed and will face No. 1 Northern Arizona at 12:30 p.m., on Thanksgiving Day. Other first-round matches include No. 4 Sacramento State vs. No. 5 Idaho State, 10 a.m.; No. 2 Idaho vs. No. 7 Montana, 4:30 p.m., No. 3 Weber State vs. No. 6 Northern Colorado, 7 p.m. All matches will be played in Bank of Colorado Arena. Semifinal matches are slated for 4:35/7:05 p.m., on Friday, with the championship contest schedule for 7:35 p.m. on Saturday night.
LOOKING AT MSU'S FIRST-ROUND MATCH:
Montana State, making its first Big Sky tournament appearance since 2012 and only its second visit since 2005, posted 11 victories this season, the most since the 2012 squad went 15-14 overall. The 2012 squad also opened Big Sky tournament play against Northern Arizona in Greeley. The Lumberjacks won the match 25-20, 25-19, 25-17. The Cats will be looking to snap a three-match skid on Thursday- its last victory came at Eastern Washington (3-0) on Nov. 8. Northern Arizona is currently on a 10-match win streak. NAU swept Idaho and Eastern Washington last week to share the regular-season title with the Vandals. In the last meeting between NAU and MSU in Bozeman, the Bobcats held a 17-15 advantage in the opening set before NAU finished it out on a 4-1 run. The Cats held a commanding 15-5 edge in the second set before the Lumberjacks rallied and the final set was even at 14-all before NAU pulled away.
Opponent: Northern Arizona (30,383)
Nickname: Lumberjacks
Head Coach: Ken Murphy
2018 Record: 23-8 overall; 15-3/Big Sky
1st Meeting: NAU 25-13, 25-12, 25-21 in Flagstaff, Oct. 4
2nd Meeting: NAU 25-21, 25-23, 25-18 in Bozeman, Nov. 3
SIDE OUTS:
* The Bobcats are 8-11 all-time in Big Sky Conference Tournament play
* MSU's last BSC Tournament win came in 2005 in a 3-2 decision over Idaho State
* The Bobcats have never played for a Big Sky Conference Tournament title
* Montana State has played in eight semifinal tournament matches, going 0-8
* Junior libero Allyssa Rizzo is fourth on MSU's career digs list with 1,450 saves
* Rizzo is second in the Big Sky at 5.51 digs per set, which ranks 15th nationally
* Thirteen of MSU's 17 rostered players have been in the program two years or less
* Montana State is averaging 1,055 fans per match, which ranks 47th 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 6.33 digs and .67 assists last weekend. The product of Crestwood, Ill., posted 38 digs in six sets, including 20 saves against Idaho for a whopping 6.7 digs per set. Rizzo has gone over the 30-dig plateau on five occasions this fall, including a career high 34 digs in MSU's win over Portland State and loss to Southern Utah. In addition, she has notched 17 matches with 20 or more digs. Her current 606 digs on the year is the most ever recorded in a single-season at Montana State. Nicole Baker (2011) held the Bobcat single-season record at 514. Rizzo is second in the Big Sky averaging 5.51 digs per set, which also ranks No. 15 in the nation. She has notched 1,450 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 45 kills, while hitting an icy .063 from the floor. In addition, the fivesome tallied 19 digs and added 11 blocks. Sophomore Hannah Scott recorded a corps-high 16 kills, while Natalie Passeck chipped in 14 kills and nine digs. Junior Evi Wilson finished the weekend with eight kills, three blocks and two digs, while freshman Hailey Merkes posted seven kills and two blocks. Freshman Serena Caspersen came off the bench against Weber State and registered two blocks.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
As a team, the Bobcats ranked in the top five in three Big Sky statistical category this week. Montana State was ranked fifth in digs per set at 15.65; fifth in attacks per set at 35.94; and fifth in total digs at 1,772 on the season. Nationally, the Cats are ranked 119th in digs per set, 120th in attack per set, and 114th in team digs. Individually, Allyssa Rizzo ranks among the best liberos in the nation. Her 5.51 digs per set is second in the Big Sky and ranks 15th nationally. Rizzo is also ranked No. 18 in the nation in total digs (606), No. 67 in aces (39) and No. 90 in aces per set (.35). Sophomore middle blocker Kelsie White's 107 total blocks ranks No. 179 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 179th in the nation with 107 total blocks, while her .99 blocks per set is listed 225th 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. 249 in the Nitty-Gritty listings. Northern Arizona is the highest ranked Big Sky team at No. 115. Montana State's best wins of the season have been over No. 118 SMU and No. 212 Canisius.
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---...... 993
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--............ 1,450
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
The Montana State volleyball team will make its first Big Sky Conference Tournament appearance since 2012 when it travels to Greeley, Colo., Thursday, Nov. 22. The Bobcats will enter tournament action as the No. 8 seed and will face No. 1 Northern Arizona at 12:30 p.m., on Thanksgiving Day. Other first-round matches include No. 4 Sacramento State vs. No. 5 Idaho State, 10 a.m.; No. 2 Idaho vs. No. 7 Montana, 4:30 p.m., No. 3 Weber State vs. No. 6 Northern Colorado, 7 p.m. All matches will be played in Bank of Colorado Arena. Semifinal matches are slated for 4:35/7:05 p.m., on Friday, with the championship contest schedule for 7:35 p.m. on Saturday night.
LOOKING AT MSU'S FIRST-ROUND MATCH:
Montana State, making its first Big Sky tournament appearance since 2012 and only its second visit since 2005, posted 11 victories this season, the most since the 2012 squad went 15-14 overall. The 2012 squad also opened Big Sky tournament play against Northern Arizona in Greeley. The Lumberjacks won the match 25-20, 25-19, 25-17. The Cats will be looking to snap a three-match skid on Thursday- its last victory came at Eastern Washington (3-0) on Nov. 8. Northern Arizona is currently on a 10-match win streak. NAU swept Idaho and Eastern Washington last week to share the regular-season title with the Vandals. In the last meeting between NAU and MSU in Bozeman, the Bobcats held a 17-15 advantage in the opening set before NAU finished it out on a 4-1 run. The Cats held a commanding 15-5 edge in the second set before the Lumberjacks rallied and the final set was even at 14-all before NAU pulled away.
Opponent: Northern Arizona (30,383)
Nickname: Lumberjacks
Head Coach: Ken Murphy
2018 Record: 23-8 overall; 15-3/Big Sky
1st Meeting: NAU 25-13, 25-12, 25-21 in Flagstaff, Oct. 4
2nd Meeting: NAU 25-21, 25-23, 25-18 in Bozeman, Nov. 3
SIDE OUTS:
* The Bobcats are 8-11 all-time in Big Sky Conference Tournament play
* MSU's last BSC Tournament win came in 2005 in a 3-2 decision over Idaho State
* The Bobcats have never played for a Big Sky Conference Tournament title
* Montana State has played in eight semifinal tournament matches, going 0-8
* Junior libero Allyssa Rizzo is fourth on MSU's career digs list with 1,450 saves
* Rizzo is second in the Big Sky at 5.51 digs per set, which ranks 15th nationally
* Thirteen of MSU's 17 rostered players have been in the program two years or less
* Montana State is averaging 1,055 fans per match, which ranks 47th 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 6.33 digs and .67 assists last weekend. The product of Crestwood, Ill., posted 38 digs in six sets, including 20 saves against Idaho for a whopping 6.7 digs per set. Rizzo has gone over the 30-dig plateau on five occasions this fall, including a career high 34 digs in MSU's win over Portland State and loss to Southern Utah. In addition, she has notched 17 matches with 20 or more digs. Her current 606 digs on the year is the most ever recorded in a single-season at Montana State. Nicole Baker (2011) held the Bobcat single-season record at 514. Rizzo is second in the Big Sky averaging 5.51 digs per set, which also ranks No. 15 in the nation. She has notched 1,450 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 45 kills, while hitting an icy .063 from the floor. In addition, the fivesome tallied 19 digs and added 11 blocks. Sophomore Hannah Scott recorded a corps-high 16 kills, while Natalie Passeck chipped in 14 kills and nine digs. Junior Evi Wilson finished the weekend with eight kills, three blocks and two digs, while freshman Hailey Merkes posted seven kills and two blocks. Freshman Serena Caspersen came off the bench against Weber State and registered two blocks.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
As a team, the Bobcats ranked in the top five in three Big Sky statistical category this week. Montana State was ranked fifth in digs per set at 15.65; fifth in attacks per set at 35.94; and fifth in total digs at 1,772 on the season. Nationally, the Cats are ranked 119th in digs per set, 120th in attack per set, and 114th in team digs. Individually, Allyssa Rizzo ranks among the best liberos in the nation. Her 5.51 digs per set is second in the Big Sky and ranks 15th nationally. Rizzo is also ranked No. 18 in the nation in total digs (606), No. 67 in aces (39) and No. 90 in aces per set (.35). Sophomore middle blocker Kelsie White's 107 total blocks ranks No. 179 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 179th in the nation with 107 total blocks, while her .99 blocks per set is listed 225th 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. 249 in the Nitty-Gritty listings. Northern Arizona is the highest ranked Big Sky team at No. 115. Montana State's best wins of the season have been over No. 118 SMU and No. 212 Canisius.
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---...... 993
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--............ 1,450
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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