Montana State University
Northern Arizona
BOBCATS TRAVEL TO NORTHERN ARIZONA, SOUTHERN UTAH:
10/10/2019 4:43:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Montana State volleyball team will look to extend its two-match winning streak when it travels to Northern Arizona and Southern Utah this weekend.
BOBCATS TRAVEL TO NORTHERN ARIZONA, SOUTHERN UTAH:
The Montana State volleyball team will look to extend its two-match winning streak when it travels to Northern Arizona and Southern Utah this weekend. The Bobcats, who took a weekend series for the first time since 2013 last weekend against Idaho and Eastern Washington, will face NAU on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m. (MT) in Rolle Activity Center. The Bobcats will travel to Cedar City on Saturday to face SUU at 1 p.m. at the America First Event Center. Ironically, it was Northern Arizona and Southern Utah who the Bobcats defeated back-to-back on Oct. 11 and Oct. 12, 2013, respectively- its last weekend sweep.
SIDE OUTS:
* Montana State trails Northern Arizona 40-23 in the all-time series going back to 1987
* Northern Arizona has won eight straight matches from the Bobcats
* MSU dropped three matches to NAU last season, including at the BSC Tournament
* Montana State's last win over the Lumberjacks cam in Bozeman (3-2), Oct. 11, 2013
* The Bobcats lead its all-time series with Southern Utah 6-4 going back to 2012
* MSU has won three of its last four matches with the Thunderbirds
* Allyssa Rizzo became MSU's all-time career digs leader on Thursday with 21 digs
* Rizzo's career mark stands at 1,749, 29 more than previous record-holder Kandice Kelly
* Rizzo is currently ranked fifth in the nation averaging 5.75 digs per set
* Senior Evi Wilson led MSU with a team-high 18 kills against Idaho
* Evi Wilson paces the Bobcats offensively averaging 3.22 kps, while hitting .230
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. On Thursday, Oct. 3, Rizzo became Montana State's all-time career digs leader when she racked-up 21 saves in the Bobcats' 3-1 win over Idaho. Her current career total stands at 1,749 digs, 29 more than previous record-holder Kandice Kelly (2003-06). The Crestwood, Ill., product ranks 9th all-time in Big Sky Conference history, as well.
1. Allyssa Rizzo, 16--............ 1,749
2. Kandice Kelly, 03-06......... 1,720
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 5.73 digs per set. She is ranked behind Charlotte's Yumi Garcia (6.61), Wright State's Jenna Story (6.41), Fordham's Morgan Williams (6.08) and Kent State's Erin Gardner (5.92). Rizzo's career-high 37 dig output against Northwestern State on Aug. 30 is the 14th highest total recorded this season at the NCAA Division I level. Rizzo leads the Big Sky at 5.73 per set. She is followed by Ellie Snook of Portland State, who averages 5.32 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 13 matches this season, Scott is hitting a .258 from the field. She has posted eight matches hitting over .250 this fall, including a season-best .438 (7-0-16) attack mark in MSU's win over Montana on Sept. 24.
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 fourth in the league averaging 2.31 blocks per set. MSU also sports two players among the top 10 in the conference. Junior Kelsie White in third in the conference averaging 1.22 blocks per set, while freshman Emma Pence is listed ninth at 0.98 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 9.86 assists per set, which ranks third 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 1.96 digs per set is second best on the squad, while her .57 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 seven listings. MSU is ranked first in opponent aces (0.98), third in opponent hitting percentage (.185) and kills (12.35), fourth in blocks (2.31), assists (11.43) and opponent digs (15.18) and fifth in hitting percentage (.214).
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 13 matches. The duo has combined for 212 kills, 93 digs and 58 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--......... 244
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--......... 272
FAN-TASTIC:
The Cats average 980 fans per match. MSU has consistently been at the top of the Big Sky in attendance and is usually ranked in the nation's top 50, as well.
MSU is currently at listed at No. 49.
