Montana State University
Weber State
Bobcats Host Weber State, Idaho State
10/16/2019 5:15:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Montana State volleyball team returns to the warm confines of Shroyer Gym to begin its longest home stretch of the season when it hosts Weber State, Thursday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.
BOBCATS BACK IN THE WARM CONFINES OF SHROYER GYM:
The Montana State volleyball team returns to the warm confines of Shroyer Gym to begin its longest home stretch of the season when it hosts Weber State, Thursday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. MSU will close this week out against Idaho State on Saturday night at 7 p.m. The Bobcats will play five of its next six matches on its home court. Following at trip to Portland State on Oct. 24, the Cats will be home against Sacramento State, Oct. 26, Montana, Oct. 29 and Northern Colorado, Oct. 31. Montana State is 2-1 at home this season, with victories over Idaho and Eastern Washington.
SIDE OUTS:
* Montana State & Weber State are 37-37 in their all-time series going back to 9/26/79
* Weber State won the only contest last season, in Ogden, 3-0, on Nov. 17, 2018
* Prior to last season, MSU had taken nine of ten matches from Weber State
* Montana State trails Idaho State 41-32in its all-time series going back to 9/23/78
* The Bobcats have dropped eight straight matches to Idaho State
* MSU's last victory over the Bengals, 3-2, came in Bozeman on Sept. 28, 2012
* Allyssa Rizzo is Montana State's all-time career digs leader with 1,810 digs
* Rizzo is the only Bobcat in history to surpass the 1,800-dig plateau
* Rizzo is currently ranked fourth in the nation averaging 5.90 digs per set
* Freshman Kira Thomsen paced Montana State last weekend, averaging 2.56 kps
* Evi Wilson leads MSU in Big Sky action averaging 3.41 kills per set, while hitting .246
A LEAGUE OF HER OWN:
Senior Allyssa Rizzo became the ninth member of Montana State's prestigious 1,000-Dig Club when she notched 23 saves against Louisiana on Sept. 7, 2018. Since then, she has shattered the roof on MSU's all-time digs chart. 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 1,810, making her the only Bobcat in history to go over the 1,800-dig plateau. The Crestwood, Ill., product ranks seventh all-time in Big Sky Conference history, as well.
1. Allyssa Rizzo, 16--............ 1,810
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 fourth in the nation averaging 5.90 digs per set. She is ranked behind Charlotte's Yumi Garcia (6.57), Wright State's Jenna Story (6.37) and Fordham's Morgan Williams (6.08). 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, while her 34-save effort against Loyola Maryland is the ninth highest total for a four-set match. Rizzo leads the Big Sky at 5.90 per set. She is followed by Ellie Snook of Portland State, who averages 5.43 digs per outing.
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 third in the league averaging 2.33 blocks per set. MSU also sports two players among the top 10 in the conference. Junior Kelsie White in third in the conference averaging 1.17 blocks per set, while freshman Emma Pence is listed seventh at 1.05 per contest.
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--......... 251
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--......... 280
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 eight 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 15 matches this season, Scott is hitting a .251 from the field. She has posted nine 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.
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 9.67 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. On Thursday against Northern Arizona, she dished out 44 assists as MSU snapped NAU's 13-match home court win streak. Lynch also leads in the Bobcats from the service line with a team-best 14 aces. She has recorded a season-high three aces on two occasions this fall, the last coming against Arkansas on Aug. 31. Defensively, her 1.91 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 five listings. MSU is ranked first in opponent aces (0.98), third in opponent hitting percentage (.185), blocks (2.23) and opponent digs (15.21), and fifth in opponent blocks (1.98).
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. Last weekend, Thomsen had 17 kills to guide MSU in its win over Northern Arizona. Pence paced MSU at Southern Utah with a team-best seven block assists.
