Montana State University
Montana
Second Go: Cats Host Griz in Second Brawl of the Wild Tilt
10/28/2019 7:26:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Montana State volleyball team will host a pair of mid-week matches beginning with the Brawl of the Wild. The Bobcats will host Montana on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. in Shroyer Gym.
BOBCATS BEGIN FOUR MATCH RUN IN EIGHT DAY STRETCH:
The Montana State volleyball team will host a pair of mid-week matches beginning with the Brawl of the Wild. The Bobcats will host Montana on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. in Shroyer Gym. Montana State captured the first meeting this season on Sept. 24 in Missoula - 25-21, 25-13, 25-18. MSU will close out the week hosting Northern Colorado on Thursday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. in Shroyer Gym. Following this week's action, Montana State will play four of its last six matches on the road. The Cats will have just two home matches left after this week as well- Oct. 14 vs. Southern Utah and Oct. 16 vs. Northern Arizona.
SIDE OUTS:
* Montana State holds a slim 58-56 in its all-time series with Montana going back to 1975
* MSU has won four of the last five and seven of the last ten matches against the Griz
* In its first meeting against UM this season, MSU was led by Evi Wilson with 13 kills
* Northern Colorado owns a commanding 27-3 lead in its all-time series with MSU
* UNC has won 27 straight matches over the Bobcats, including a 3-0 decision on Sept. 28
* MSU's last victory over Northern Colorado, 3-1, came on Sept. 10, 2005 in Bozeman
* Allyssa Rizzo is Montana State's all-time career digs leader with 1,909 digs
* Rizzo is the only Bobcat in history to surpass the 1,900-dig plateau
* Rizzo is currently ranked fourth in the nation averaging 5.96 digs per set
* Rizzo was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week- her 3rd league honor this year
* Freshman Kira Thomsen paced the Cats with 3.67 kills and 3.44 digs per set, last week
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 1,909- making her the only Bobcat in history to go over the 1,900-dig plateau. The Crestwood, Ill., product ranks fourth all-time in Big Sky Conference history, as well.
1. Allyssa Rizzo, 16--............ 1,909
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 5.96 digs per set. She is ranked behind Charlotte's Yumi Garcia (6.60), Wright State's Jenna Story (6.57) and Loyola Maryland's Katie Forsythe (6.22). Rizzo's career-high 37-dig output against Northwestern State on 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 5.96 per set. She is followed by Ellie Snook of Portland State, who averages 5.44 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 2.39 blocks per set. MSU also sports two players among the top 10 in the conference. Junior Kelsie White in fourth in the conference averaging 1.16 blocks per set, while freshman Emma Pence is listed sixth at 1.14 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--......... 260
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--......... 290
GREAT SCOTT:
Junior Hannah Scott is having a tremendous third season for MSU after moving to the rightside position. The Hawthorne, Calif., native, has been in double figure kills in 11 matches, including a career-high 20 kills as Montana State defeated Sacramento State, last Saturday. The 5-11 outside hitter entered the season with a career .135 attack mark. After 19 matches this season, Scott is hitting a .243 from the field. She has posted 11 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 in Missoula.
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 9.68 assists per set, which ranks fourth in the Big Sky Conference. On the season, she has registered six matches with 45 assists or more, including a season-high 51 assists in MSU's win over Loyola Maryland. On Oct. 19, she notched a career-high seven kills leading the Bobcats to a 3-1 win over Idaho State. Lynch also leads in the Bobcats from the service line with a team-best 17 aces. She has recorded a season-high three aces on two occasions this fall, the last coming against Arkansas on Aug. 31. Defensively, her 2.04 digs per set is third best on the squad, while her .57 blocks per set average ranks 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 second in opponent aces (0.99), third in opponent blocks (2.39), fourth in opponent hitting percentage (.190) and fifth in kills (12.39) and opponent blocks (2.05).
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 impact for MSU playing in all 19 matches. The duo has combined for 334 kills, 180 digs and 107 blocks. Last weekend, Thomsen led MSU with a team-high 33 kills in two matches. Pence paced MSU at the net with ten blocks on the weekend. She also averaged 1.67 kills per set, while hitting .211 from the field.
