Montana State University
Idaho
BOBCATS HOST IDAHO & EASTERN WASHINGTON
10/1/2019 2:01:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Montana State volleyball team will open its Big Sky home schedule when it hosts Idaho and Eastern Washington this week in Shroyer Gym.
BOBCATS HOST IDAHO & EASTERN WASHINGTON IN BIG SKY HOME OPENING WEEKEND:
The Montana State volleyball team will open its Big Sky home schedule when it hosts Idaho and Eastern Washington this week in Shroyer Gym. The Bobcats will face Idaho on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. and will host Eastern Washington on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. Last week, Montana State opened its league schedule at Montana and Northern Colorado. The Bobcats swept the Grizzlies before dropping a 3-0 decision to Northern Colorado in Greeley. Idaho went 2-0 on its opening weekend defeating Portland State and Sacramento State in Moscow, while Eastern Washington went 0-2 losing to the Vikings and Hornets.
SIDE OUTS:
* Idaho holds the all-time series lead with MSU 38-9 going back to the 1976 season
* Last year, the Vandals swept the Bobcats winning 3-1 in both matches
* Montana State's last win over Idaho (3-1) came on Sept. 14, 1990
* MSU has lost 23 straight matches to the University of Idaho
* MSU trails Eastern Washington 55-26 in its all-time series going back to 1980
* The Cats won both matches over EWU last fall, including a 3-1 decision in Bozeman
* Montana State has won three straight matches over Eastern Washington
* Allyssa Rizzo became the second Bobcat to reach 1,700 digs in a career on Sept. 24
* Rizzo needs 11 digs to tie and 12 to break the all-time Bobcat mark of 1,720 saves
* Rizzo is currently ranked fifth in the nation averaging 5.75 digs per set
* Evi Wilson paces the Bobcats offensively averaging 3.10 kps, while hitting .221
1,000-DIG CLUB:
Senior Allyssa Rizzo became the just the ninth member of Montana State's prestigious 1,000-Dig Club when she notched 23 saves against Louisiana on Sept. 7, 2018. The last member of the club, Kasey Schlatter, made the list in 2014. Rizzo has her sights set on breaking the all-time Bobcat career digs record of 1,720 set by MSU's first-ever libero Kandice Kelly (2003-06). At Montana on Tuesday night, she became just the second Bobcat in history to go over 1,700-digs plateau. Rizzo, a product of Crestwood, Ill., needs 12 saves for the new Bobcat milestone.
1. Kandice Kelly, 03-06......... 1,720
2. Allyssa Rizzo, 16--............ 1,709
3. Meghan Albiston, 07-10.... 1,577
4. Nicole Baker, 10-13.......... 1,564
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
RIZZO 2.0:
Senior Allyssa Rizzo is ranked fifth in the nation averaging 5.74 digs per set. She is ranked behind Wright State's Jenna Story (6.59), Charlotte's Yumi Garcia (6.53), Kent State's Erin Gardner and Fordham's Morgan Williams (6.04). Rizzo's career-high 37 dig output against Northwestern State on Aug. 30 is the 12th highest total recorded this season at the NCAA Division I level. Rizzo leads the Big Sky at 5.74 per set. She is followed by Ellie Snook of Portland State, who averages 5.00 digs per outing.
GREAT SCOTT:
Junior Hannah Scott (who possesses the best playlist on the team) is off to a hot start after moving to the rightside position. The Hawthorne, Calif., native, has been in double figure kills in six matches, including a pair of 17-kill outings, which is just one kill shy of her career-best 18 kills set against Weber State as a freshman. The 5-11 outside hitter entered the season with a career .135 attack mark. After 11 matches this season, Scott is hitting a team-high .268 from the field. She has posted seven matches hitting over .250 this fall, including a season-best .438 (7-0-16) attack mark in MSU's win over Montana on Tuesday night.
HARD BLOCK CAFE:
For the first time in a long time, the Bobcats are ranked among the Big Sky's best in blocking. Montana State currently ranks fifth in the league averaging 2.26 blocks per set. MSU also sports two players among the top 10 in the conference. Junior Kelsie White in fifth in the conference averaging 1.10 blocks per set, while freshman Emma Pence is listed seventh at 1.05 per contest.
A LENDING HAND:
Former Bozeman High product and Montana Class AA state champion setter Allie Lynch is settling into her junior season at Montana State. Lynch currently averages 9.83 assists per set, which ranks fourth in the Big Sky Conference. On the season, she has registered four matches with 45 assists or more, including a season-high 51 assists in MSU's win over Loyola Maryland. Lynch also leads in the Bobcats from the service line with a team-best 11 aces. She has recorded a season-high three aces on two occasions this fall, the last coming against Arkansas on Aug. 31. Defensively, her 2.00 digs per set is third best on the squad, while her .55 blocks per set average rank fourth on the team.
CLIMBING THE LADDER:
As the MSU program continues to improve, its numbers within the league's statistical categories have shown remarkable improvement. In the 12 team categories, the Cats are ranked in the top five in eight listings. MSU is ranked first in opponent aces (0.90), third in opponent hitting percentage (.193) fourth in opponent blocks (1.93) and fifth in hitting percentage (.212), kills (12.17), blocks (2.26), assists (11.31) and opponent digs (15.26).
FAB FROSH:
A pair of freshmen are part of Montana State's starting rotation. Outside hitter Kira Thomsen and middle blocker Emma Pence had made an early impact for MSU playing in all eleven matches. The duo has combined for 175 kills, 82 digs and 69 blocks.
WHITE WATCH:
Junior Kelsie White is quickly moving up the all-time MSU block charts and is closing in on being ranked among the top 10 in block assists and total blocks.
BLOCK ASSISTS:
1. Megan Zanto, 02-05......... 511
2. Karen Weyler, 94-97......... 460
3. Cori Carper, 96-99............ 425
4. Anglea Wiebe, 03-06........ 394
5. Aimee Halyk, 99-02........... 308
6. Julia Handwerk, 98-01...... 290
7. Kim Steffel, 89-92............. 283
8. Mindy Nowak, 96-99........ 277
9. Natalee Godfrey, 12-15.... 271
10. Kamber Kelly, 01-04.......... 269
-- Kelsie White, 2017--......... 233
TOTAL BLOCKS:
1. Megan Zanto, 02-05......... 592
2. Karen Weyler, 94-97......... 570
3. Cori Carper, 96-99............ 490
4. Anglea Wiebe, 03-06........ 416
5. Kim Steffel, 89-92............. 356
6. Lisa McCanlies, 80-83....... 341
7. Aimee Halyk, 99-02........... 327
8. Julia Handwerk, 98-01...... 318
Becky Waddell, 83-86....... 318
10. Karin Lundqvist, 00-01...... 300
-- Kelsie White, 2017--......... 258
FAN-TASTIC:
The Bobcats saw 935 in attendance against Seattle U. MSU is consistently at the top of the Big Sky and has ranked among the nation's top 50, as well.
