Thursday, October 31
BOZEMAN
7 p.m.
Montana State University
10-11,6-6Big Sky
2
vs
3
Northern Colorado
16-7,10-1Big Sky
1
2
3
4
5
F
Northern Colo.
22
25
21
25
15
3
Montana State
25
21
25
19
13
2
Senior Evi Wilson had 18 kills and 13 digs against Northern Colorado on Thursday night.
Photo by: Garrett Becker
Big Sky’s Top Team Rallies to Defeat Bobcats in Five-Match Thriller
10/31/2019 10:47:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MSU was paced by Evi Wilson with a team-high 18 kills. The product of Vancouver, Wash., also chipped in 13 digs and two blocks.
BOZEMAN, Mont. - The Montana State volleyball team had the Big Sky Conference's top team on the ropes, but eventually fell to Northern Colorado 22-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-19, 15-13 on Thursday night in Shroyer Gym
Montana State (10-11, 6-6) captured sets one and three, while Northern Colorado (16-7, 10-1) took games two and four to force a fifth and deciding frame.
The Bobcats held a 9-8 advantage in the fifth set following a UNC hitting error, but the Bears answered with two points of its own gaining a 10-9 lead on a kill by Taylor Muff. At 10-all, Northern Colorado went up 12-10 on another Muff winner. MSU closed to within one point on three occasions down the stretch before the Bears took the match on a Lauren Hinrichs kill.
"We played with a passion and fire that we didn't have on Tuesday night," said MSU head coach Daniel Jones. "We had a real attitude that we weren't going to let any ball drop and we pursued everything."
MSU was paced by Evi Wilson with a team-high 18 kills. The product of Vancouver, Wash., also chipped in 13 digs and two blocks.
"Evi steps up in the big moments," Jones said. "She wants to be the one taking the big swing. I'm excited that she's making this drive in her senior year, because we truly believe we can beat anyone in the conference on any given night. We have to find a little bit of consistency with it, but I think we can do it."
Freshman Kira Thomsen also reached double-digit kills with 12 put-a-ways. In addition, she finished with 11 digs for her seventh double-double. MSU's other starting freshman, Emma Pence, had an efficient match as well, recording seven kills, a .286 attack mark and five blocks.
"Emma has done a great job adjusting to the college game," Jones said. "She makes adjustments quickly and that's evident in her production. She's been one of our most consistent performers the past couple of weeks."
Defensively, the Bobcats were led by Allyssa Rizzo with a match-high 32 digs. Hannah Scott led all players with a match-best seven blocks.
Bozeman product Allie Lynch finished with 45 assists, ten digs and three blocks.
Muff guided UNC with 21 kills and 15 digs.
Montana State will travel to Eastern Washington on Nov. 7.
Montana State (10-11, 6-6) captured sets one and three, while Northern Colorado (16-7, 10-1) took games two and four to force a fifth and deciding frame.
The Bobcats held a 9-8 advantage in the fifth set following a UNC hitting error, but the Bears answered with two points of its own gaining a 10-9 lead on a kill by Taylor Muff. At 10-all, Northern Colorado went up 12-10 on another Muff winner. MSU closed to within one point on three occasions down the stretch before the Bears took the match on a Lauren Hinrichs kill.
"We played with a passion and fire that we didn't have on Tuesday night," said MSU head coach Daniel Jones. "We had a real attitude that we weren't going to let any ball drop and we pursued everything."
MSU was paced by Evi Wilson with a team-high 18 kills. The product of Vancouver, Wash., also chipped in 13 digs and two blocks.
"Evi steps up in the big moments," Jones said. "She wants to be the one taking the big swing. I'm excited that she's making this drive in her senior year, because we truly believe we can beat anyone in the conference on any given night. We have to find a little bit of consistency with it, but I think we can do it."
Freshman Kira Thomsen also reached double-digit kills with 12 put-a-ways. In addition, she finished with 11 digs for her seventh double-double. MSU's other starting freshman, Emma Pence, had an efficient match as well, recording seven kills, a .286 attack mark and five blocks.
"Emma has done a great job adjusting to the college game," Jones said. "She makes adjustments quickly and that's evident in her production. She's been one of our most consistent performers the past couple of weeks."
Defensively, the Bobcats were led by Allyssa Rizzo with a match-high 32 digs. Hannah Scott led all players with a match-best seven blocks.
Bozeman product Allie Lynch finished with 45 assists, ten digs and three blocks.
Muff guided UNC with 21 kills and 15 digs.
Montana State will travel to Eastern Washington on Nov. 7.
Team Stats
UNC
MSU
Kills
71
56
Errors
29
20
Attempts
193
185
Hitting %
.218
.195
Points
82.0
76.0
Assists
67
51
Aces
3
6
Blocks
8.0
14.0
Game Leaders
Kills
18
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
7
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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