Montana State University
Tennessee Tech
Bobcats Close Out Non-Conference at Seattle U Tournament
9/13/2018 11:55:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Montana State volleyball team will conclude a stretch of four consecutive weekends away from Shroyer Gym following its play at the Redhawk Invitational hosted by Seattle U this weekend in the Emerald City.
EMERALD CITY BOUND:
The Montana State volleyball team will conclude a stretch of four consecutive weekends away from Shroyer Gym following its play at the Redhawk Invitational hosted by Seattle U this weekend in the Emerald City. Montana State will open play on Friday, Sept. 14 at 4:30 p.m. (MST) in Redhawk Center against Tennessee Tech, before closing out the tournament against Seattle U on Saturday at 3 p.m. Big Sky Conference rival Idaho State will also play in the tournament, however, the two league schools will not face each other.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS WEEKEND'S OPPONENTS:
Tennessee Tech enters play 6-5 overall, after recording a 1-2 slate in Memphis last week. The Golden Eagles defeated North Alabama 3-1, before dropping a 3-1 decision to the Tigers and a 3-0 contest the La-Monroe. In its win over North Alabama they were led by Erica Grant and Ali Verzani with 15 kills, apiece. On the season, the Golden Eagles have been led by Grant, Rachel Thomas and Verzani, who average 3.19, 2.95 and 2.76 kills per set, respectively. Defensively, Tennessee Tech has been paced by Kirsten Brugere at 4.36 saves per set. Seattle U is 5-4 overall, which includes a pair of victories over Big Sky foes Sacramento State (3-2) and Weber State (3-0). Last week, SU was led by Sofia Sanchez and Maja Stojanovic, who averaged 2.69 and 2.00 kills per set.
Opponent: Tennessee Tech (10,500)
Nickname: Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Jeannette Waldo
2018 Record: 6-5 overall; 0-0/Ohio Valley
Opponent: Seattle U (7,278)
Nickname: Redhawks
Head Coach: James Finley
2018 Record: 5-4 overall; 0-0/WAC
SIDE OUTS:
* Montana State and Tennessee Tech have never met on the volleyball court
* Saturday's meeting with Seattle U will be the fourth between the two schools
* Seattle U holds a 2-1 lead in its all-time series going back to Oct. 26, 2009
* The last match between MSU and SU was a Bobcat win (3-0) on Oct. 16, 2011
* Junior libero Allyssa Rizzo became the 9th member of MSU's 1000-dig club last week
* Allyssa Rizzo leads the Big Sky Conference averaging 5.28 digs per set
* Thirteen of MSU's 17 rostered players have been in the program two years or less
* The last tournament title for MSU came last year at the Utah State Invitational
SUPER SAVER:
Junior libero Allyssa Rizzo paced Montana State at the Fight for the Fort Tournament over the weekend, averaging 4.31 digs per set. The product of Crestwood, Ill., was over the 20 dig mark in two of the three matches. She posted a weekend-high 25 saves in MSU's 3-2 win over SMU. On the season, Rizzo is averaging 5.28 digs per set, which leads the Big Sky Conference. For the weekend, she also recorded nine assists. As a primary passer, Rizzo finished the 13 sets with just two reception errors. In the opening weekend of play in late August, Rizzo was named to the Cleveland State All-Tournament team after averaging 5.18 digs and .55 aces per set. In her third season as MSU's starting libero, Rizzo has notched 1,034 career digs, becoming just ninth member of Montana State's prestigious 1,000-Dig Club.
PINTREST:
As a unit Montana State's outside hitters manned the pins last weekend producing 96 kills, while hitting .156 from the floor. In addition, the foursome tallied 46 digs. Evi Wilson led the way averaging 3.15 kills per set with a .223 attack mark. The Vancouver, Wash., native recorded a career-high 21 kills in MSU's 3-2 victory over SMU. Sophomore Hannah Scott averaged 2.92 kills per set while taking 102 swings over the weekend. The Hawthorne, Calif., product also led the outside hitting contingent with 32 digs. Senior Natalie Passeck played just one match and knocked down 11 kills, while freshmen Serena Caspersen added six kills.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
As a team, the Bobcats rank in the top five in five Big Sky Conference statistical categories. MSU is ranked fourth in team digs (569) and are listed fifth in the league in kills (418), total attacks per set (36.44), team assists (393) and total attacks (1,312). Montana State is also ranked among the top 100 in NCAA Division I in total attacks per set (67th), team total attacks (77th) and team digs (82nd). Individually, Allyssa Rizzo ranks among the best liberos in the nation. Her 5.28 digs per set not only leads the Big Sky Conference, but ranks 23rd nationally. Rizzo is also ranked 27th in the nation in total digs and 141st in aces. Sophomore middle blocker Kelsie White is listed 115th in the nation with 37 total blocks, and is 157th overall averaging 1.09 blocks per contest.
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 157th in the nation in blocks per set, while her 37 total blocks is 115th overall.
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.
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---...... 836
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. Kamber Kelly, 01-04......... 1,262
5. Meggie Malyurek, 02-05.. 1,223
6. Stephanie Laya, 97-00...... 1,183
7. Mindy Nowak, 1,073........ 1,073
8. Kasey Schlatter, 11-14...... 1,059
9. Allyssa Rizzo, 16-- 1,034
