Photo by: Andrew Pedersen
MSU Volleyball's Rizzo Helps Guide Bobcats Into 2018 Season
8/22/2018 7:34:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Allyssa Rizzo enters her junior season looking to provide leadership and stability for the Bobcat volleyball team as MSU gets set to open its season in Cleveland on Friday
The Bobcat volleyball team has a visible presence on the court that leads from the back row. It's a familiar face for those that attend Montana State matches inside Shroyer Gymnasium.
Allyssa Rizzo enters her junior season looking to provide leadership and stability.
Rizzo continues her maturation as one of the Big Sky Conference's best defensive specialists as the 2018 season opener nears. The native of Crestwood, Ill., faces new challenges going into her junior year. Not only is she playing libero for the Bobcats, but she has also been put into the role of captain this season. The Bobcats have only one senior on the roster, Natalie Passeck, and are looking to Rizzo to help with guiding the team.
"We rely on her leadership on the court and we rely on her for leadership off the court," Montana State head coach Daniel Jones said. "She brings a steadying influence and a high expectation on herself and her teammates, which leads us in the right direction."
On the court, Rizzo provides stability to a young Bobcat team leading MSU's defense.
Rizzo has played in all of the Bobcats' 50 volleyball matches over the past two seasons. As a sophomore, she led MSU with 462 digs, averaging 4.71 digs per set. Her average of 5.26 digs per set in league action was ranked third in the Big Sky Conference.
Her experience on the court sets the tone and structure for the Bobcats. She enters 2018 just 156 digs away from becoming the ninth player in MSU history to reach the 1,000 digs milestone. As the team's libero for the third consecutive year, Rizzo will serve as one of MSU volleyball's eldest student-athletes, on a team featuring seven newcomers.
"I honestly forget the age (of our team) once we're on the court," Rizzo said. "Once we're on the court, it's all for one, one for all.
Despite being such a young team, building chemistry has come relatively quick for this group of Bobcats. Rizzo credited the chemistry built by her teammates by the bonds they've made off the court. She also said that the passion the Bobcats have shown so far this fall has led to progress in play.
"(Passion) is one of the hardest things to teach," Rizzo said. "But we have a lot of it. The second something great happens on the court, we just love to cheer for each other. We get so excited because we work so hard day in and day out. To see the outcome of that, in live play in front of people – other than each other – it gives you chills."
Spending time together is something the team will get plenty of over the next few months. The young team travels all over the country competing in tournaments to start the year before conference play begins on Sept. 20 in Shroyer Gym.
"We've worked so hard in the spring and took a lot of pride in it," Rizzo said. "I know all of the returners did too. It's so exciting having new freshmen on this team and I see really big things (for us). I think for me too, with only having two years left, I'm in the home stretch. I have a lot I want to accomplish. "
The Bobcats open their season at the Cleveland State tournament participating in three matches over two days. MSU makes its debut Friday morning against Canisius, with Rizzo playing an integral role in the Bobcats' success this season.
"Allyssa needs to continue to believe in herself and continue to believe in the work she's doing," Jones said. "She's as tireless as anyone in the gym at her work. When she's on tune and has that determination that she's good, she's unstoppable."
Allyssa Rizzo enters her junior season looking to provide leadership and stability.
Rizzo continues her maturation as one of the Big Sky Conference's best defensive specialists as the 2018 season opener nears. The native of Crestwood, Ill., faces new challenges going into her junior year. Not only is she playing libero for the Bobcats, but she has also been put into the role of captain this season. The Bobcats have only one senior on the roster, Natalie Passeck, and are looking to Rizzo to help with guiding the team.
"We rely on her leadership on the court and we rely on her for leadership off the court," Montana State head coach Daniel Jones said. "She brings a steadying influence and a high expectation on herself and her teammates, which leads us in the right direction."
On the court, Rizzo provides stability to a young Bobcat team leading MSU's defense.
Rizzo has played in all of the Bobcats' 50 volleyball matches over the past two seasons. As a sophomore, she led MSU with 462 digs, averaging 4.71 digs per set. Her average of 5.26 digs per set in league action was ranked third in the Big Sky Conference.
Her experience on the court sets the tone and structure for the Bobcats. She enters 2018 just 156 digs away from becoming the ninth player in MSU history to reach the 1,000 digs milestone. As the team's libero for the third consecutive year, Rizzo will serve as one of MSU volleyball's eldest student-athletes, on a team featuring seven newcomers.
"I honestly forget the age (of our team) once we're on the court," Rizzo said. "Once we're on the court, it's all for one, one for all.
Despite being such a young team, building chemistry has come relatively quick for this group of Bobcats. Rizzo credited the chemistry built by her teammates by the bonds they've made off the court. She also said that the passion the Bobcats have shown so far this fall has led to progress in play.
"(Passion) is one of the hardest things to teach," Rizzo said. "But we have a lot of it. The second something great happens on the court, we just love to cheer for each other. We get so excited because we work so hard day in and day out. To see the outcome of that, in live play in front of people – other than each other – it gives you chills."
Spending time together is something the team will get plenty of over the next few months. The young team travels all over the country competing in tournaments to start the year before conference play begins on Sept. 20 in Shroyer Gym.
"We've worked so hard in the spring and took a lot of pride in it," Rizzo said. "I know all of the returners did too. It's so exciting having new freshmen on this team and I see really big things (for us). I think for me too, with only having two years left, I'm in the home stretch. I have a lot I want to accomplish. "
The Bobcats open their season at the Cleveland State tournament participating in three matches over two days. MSU makes its debut Friday morning against Canisius, with Rizzo playing an integral role in the Bobcats' success this season.
"Allyssa needs to continue to believe in herself and continue to believe in the work she's doing," Jones said. "She's as tireless as anyone in the gym at her work. When she's on tune and has that determination that she's good, she's unstoppable."
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