Photo by: Andrew Pedersen
MSU Volleyball Hitters Provide Sign of Program Development
10/4/2019 1:33:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Bobcat hitters Evi Wilson, Hannah Scott and Kira Thomsen have made big impacts during the 2019 season
Things have changed for the Montana State volleyball program since Evi Wilson joined it as a freshman. That season, the Bobcats recorded five overall victories and MSU was outhit by more than .100 by its opponents over the course of 25 matches.
Things look a lot different now for the Bobcat senior. Wilson is part of a squad that has already passed the team's win total of 2016 and strives for more as the Bobcats prepare for their fourth Big Sky Conference match.
The numbers tell the story of where part of Montana State's success comes from. While Wilson serves as the team leader with 148 kills through 12 matches, fellow hitters Hannah Scott and Kira Thomsen have also broken the 100-kill mark. The trio has created a strong group, with each individual able to take over a match depending on who's on a roll on any given night.
"I think there's been a defined chemistry that we've been able to establish with our consistent hitters and lineups," Scott said. "We're better at reading each other, knowing what we need from each other."
All three have had their moments throughout the season. Wilson has had a team-high 19 kill match this season and reached double digit kills in eight outings. Scott, a junior, has the highest attack mark of the three players at .249. Thomsen, who has seven double digit kill performances this season, is in the midst of her freshman campaign. The MSU newcomer said she has dealt with an adjustment of facing bigger and more experienced players, but it's helped having two hitters on her own team that can serve as finishers.
"It's really nice," Thomsen said of Montana State's multiple hitters. "It takes a lot of pressure off me because every game I don't have to be 100 percent on in every aspect. Each one of us gets rolling at different times or different games, so it keeps the dynamic light and fun. If I'm struggling, I know they'll pick up the slack."
The Bobcats have made a leap statistically during a four-year span.
The MSU attack hit .149 and finished with 11.26 kills per set in 2016. Each year, the Bobcat offense has improved steadily. Through 12 matches this season, Montana State is averaging 12.20 kills per set and is showing efficiency with an attack mark of .209 which outpaces opponents' .190 percentage.
Wilson believes the group of players that now are on the Montana State roster have helped boost the Bobcats in their level of play.
"It's exciting for the growth of the program," Wilson said of MSU's talent on its roster. "It's exciting for this year because it's cool for me as a leader because they're super impressionable. They soak up anything us leaders say and they run with it."
The rise in ability on the Montana State volleyball team was evident in Thursday's match against Idaho.
Wilson served as the Bobcats' kills leader with 18 in the match, but contributions came from a variety of areas. Thomsen, along with freshman Emma Pence, finished with 10 kills apiece. Scott followed closely with nine kills.
By the end of the night, Montana State had earned a four-set victory over Idaho. It was the first win for the Bobcats over the Vandals in their previous 23 meetings dating back to 1990.
"I think it's interesting because there's been history, but not history I've been a part of because I've only been here this season," Thomsen said. "Every opponent, like an Idaho, the upperclassmen haven't won so they have that target. They kind of place it on the freshmen as the turning point, like 'now we're not going to lose to this team that we've been down against.'
"It's interesting to be part of that turning point where we feel like we're good, but also we want to be even better."
The next step in sustaining success for Montana State is going into a match favored and coming out with a win. With talent at all positions on the court for MSU, hopes are high for the Bobcats as they get into the swing of the Big Sky Conference schedule.
"I think we talk a lot about our game plan as a program and how we prepare," Scott said. "As long as everybody knows the game plan, the role they're walking into, the scouting report, all of that stuff, it should be easy to walk on to the court and play well."
Montana State returns to action on Saturday when Eastern Washington visits Shroyer Gym. First serve for the contest between the Bobcats and Eagles is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Things look a lot different now for the Bobcat senior. Wilson is part of a squad that has already passed the team's win total of 2016 and strives for more as the Bobcats prepare for their fourth Big Sky Conference match.
The numbers tell the story of where part of Montana State's success comes from. While Wilson serves as the team leader with 148 kills through 12 matches, fellow hitters Hannah Scott and Kira Thomsen have also broken the 100-kill mark. The trio has created a strong group, with each individual able to take over a match depending on who's on a roll on any given night.
"I think there's been a defined chemistry that we've been able to establish with our consistent hitters and lineups," Scott said. "We're better at reading each other, knowing what we need from each other."
All three have had their moments throughout the season. Wilson has had a team-high 19 kill match this season and reached double digit kills in eight outings. Scott, a junior, has the highest attack mark of the three players at .249. Thomsen, who has seven double digit kill performances this season, is in the midst of her freshman campaign. The MSU newcomer said she has dealt with an adjustment of facing bigger and more experienced players, but it's helped having two hitters on her own team that can serve as finishers.
"It's really nice," Thomsen said of Montana State's multiple hitters. "It takes a lot of pressure off me because every game I don't have to be 100 percent on in every aspect. Each one of us gets rolling at different times or different games, so it keeps the dynamic light and fun. If I'm struggling, I know they'll pick up the slack."
The Bobcats have made a leap statistically during a four-year span.
The MSU attack hit .149 and finished with 11.26 kills per set in 2016. Each year, the Bobcat offense has improved steadily. Through 12 matches this season, Montana State is averaging 12.20 kills per set and is showing efficiency with an attack mark of .209 which outpaces opponents' .190 percentage.
Wilson believes the group of players that now are on the Montana State roster have helped boost the Bobcats in their level of play.
"It's exciting for the growth of the program," Wilson said of MSU's talent on its roster. "It's exciting for this year because it's cool for me as a leader because they're super impressionable. They soak up anything us leaders say and they run with it."
The rise in ability on the Montana State volleyball team was evident in Thursday's match against Idaho.
Wilson served as the Bobcats' kills leader with 18 in the match, but contributions came from a variety of areas. Thomsen, along with freshman Emma Pence, finished with 10 kills apiece. Scott followed closely with nine kills.
By the end of the night, Montana State had earned a four-set victory over Idaho. It was the first win for the Bobcats over the Vandals in their previous 23 meetings dating back to 1990.
"I think it's interesting because there's been history, but not history I've been a part of because I've only been here this season," Thomsen said. "Every opponent, like an Idaho, the upperclassmen haven't won so they have that target. They kind of place it on the freshmen as the turning point, like 'now we're not going to lose to this team that we've been down against.'
"It's interesting to be part of that turning point where we feel like we're good, but also we want to be even better."
The next step in sustaining success for Montana State is going into a match favored and coming out with a win. With talent at all positions on the court for MSU, hopes are high for the Bobcats as they get into the swing of the Big Sky Conference schedule.
"I think we talk a lot about our game plan as a program and how we prepare," Scott said. "As long as everybody knows the game plan, the role they're walking into, the scouting report, all of that stuff, it should be easy to walk on to the court and play well."
Montana State returns to action on Saturday when Eastern Washington visits Shroyer Gym. First serve for the contest between the Bobcats and Eagles is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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