Montana State University
Idaho State
Bobcats Face Final Matches of Big Sky Regular Season
11/20/2019 12:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Bobcat volleyball team will wrap-up its regular-season when it travels down the I-15 corridor this weekend. Montana State, who has already clinched a spot in the Big Sky Conference Tournament, will look to solidify a seed in its final two matches. MSU will begin play in Pocatello at Idaho State, Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m., in Reed Gym.
FINAL WEEK OF REGULAR-SEASON ACTION:
The Bobcat volleyball team will wrap-up its regular-season when it travels down the I-15 corridor this weekend. Montana State, who has already clinched a spot in the Big Sky Conference Tournament, will look to solidify a seed in its final two matches. MSU will begin play in Pocatello at Idaho State, Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m., in Reed Gym. The Bobcats will conclude its regular-season at Weber State on Saturday, Nov. 23 in Ogden at 7 p.m. in Swenson Gym. Earlier this season, the Bobcats defeated Idaho State 23-25, 26-24, 25-21, 25-14 in Bozeman, while WSU swept the Cats 25-23, 25-20, 25-23 on Oct. 17.
SIDE OUTS:
* Montana State trails Idaho State 41-33 in its all-time series going back to 9/23/78
* Before beating ISU on Oct. 19, the Cats had dropped eight straight matches to the Bengals
* MSU's last victory over the Bengals in Pocatello, 3-2, came on Oct. 7, 2011
* Weber State holds a slim 38-37 lead in their all-time series going back to 9/26/79
* Montana State's last victory in Ogden, 3-2, came on Oct. 5, 2017
* Montana State has taken nine of the last 12 meetings between the two Big Sky rivals
* Allyssa Rizzo is Montana State's all-time career digs leader with 2,051 digs
* Rizzo became the third player in Big Sky history to go over 2,000 digs at Idaho on Nov. 9
* Rizzo is currently ranked seventh in the nation averaging 5.95 digs per set
* Evi Wilson paced MSU last weekend averaging 4.00 kills per set with a .312 attack mark
* Junior setter Allie Lynch averaged 11.00 assists per set last weekend, as well as 2.12 dps
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 Oct. 3, Rizzo became MSU'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 2,051- making her the only Bobcat in history to go over the 2,000-dig plateau. The Crestwood, Ill., product ranks third all-time in Big Sky Conference history, as well.
1. Allyssa Rizzo, 16--............... 2,051
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:
Allyssa Rizzo is ranked seventh in the nation averaging 5.95 digs per set. She is ranks behind Charlotte's Yumi Garcia (6.47), Wright State's Jenna Story (6.41), Loyola Maryland's Katie Forsythe (6.15), Tulsa's Taylor Horsfall (6.12), Evansville's Gabriela Macedo (6.06), and Fordham's Morgan Williams (6.05). Rizzo's career-high 37-dig output against Northwestern State on is the 27th highest total recorded this season at the NCAA Division I level, while her 34-save effort against Loyola Maryland is the 23rdhighest total for a four-set match. Rizzo leads the Big Sky at 5.95 per set. She is followed by Ellie Snook of Portland State, who averages 5.56 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 2.35 blocks per set. MSU also sports two players among the top 10 in the conference. Freshman Emma Pence is listed fifth in the Big Sky Conference averaging 1.11 blocks per set, while junior Kelsie White in sixth in the conference averaging 1.08 blocks 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. Kelsie White, 2017--........... 278
9. Mindy Nowak, 96-99.............. 277
10. Natalee Godfrey, 12-15......... 271
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. Kelsie White, 2017--........... 309
BEAM ME UP SCOTTY:
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 15 matches, including a career-high 20 kills as Montana State defeated Sacramento State on Oct. 26. The 5-11 outside hitter entered the season with a career .135 attack mark. After 25 matches this season, Scott is hitting a .241 from the field. She has posted 13 matches hitting over .250 this fall, including a season-best .478 (12-1-23) attack mark in MSU's win over Southern Utah, last Thursday night.
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 9.89 assists per set, which ranks fourth in the Big Sky. On the season, she has registered nine 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 helps the Bobcats from the service line and is third on the squad with 19 aces. Defensively, her 2.08 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, as well. In the 12 team categories, the Cats are ranked in the top five in six listings. MSU is ranked first in opponent aces (0.94), third in blocks (2.35) and kills (12.62), fourth in opponent hitting percentage (.193) and assists (11.65) and fifth in opponent blocks (1.98).
FAB FRESH:
A pair of freshmen are part of Montana State's starting rotation. Outside hitter Kira Thomsen and middle blocker Emma Pence have made an impact for MSU playing in all 25 matches. The duo has combined for 446 kills, 237 digs and 136 blocks. Last weekend, Thomsen averaged 2.75 kills and 2.38 digs per set. She recorded double-double 3-2 heartbreaking loss to Northern Arizona last Saturday with 10 kills and 12 digs. Pence averaged 2.00 kills and 1.12 blocks per set, last week against Southern Utah and Northern Arizona.
