Montana State University
Sacramento State
Bobcats Open Big Sky Tournament Against Host Sacramento State, Thanksgiving Night
11/25/2019 2:29:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Bobcats will be the #4 seed at the Big Sky Conference Tournament this weekend in Sacramento, Calif. MSU will face the host Hornets, who drew the #5 seed. The match is slated for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28 at 8 p.m. (MT).
BIG SKY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT BOUND:
The Bobcat volleyball team concluded its 2019 Big Sky Conference regular-season with a 3-0 setback at Weber State, last Saturday night. MSU finished 14-13 overall and 10-8 in Big Sky Conference action. The 14 overall victories are the most for the program since 2012 (15) and its 10 league wins were its most since 2004 (10). The Bobcats will be the #4 seed at the Big Sky Conference Tournament this weekend in Sacramento, Calif. MSU will face the host Hornets, who drew the #5 seed. The match is slated for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28 at 8 p.m. (MT).
Big Sky Conference Tournament Website:
Information on the Big Sky Conference Volleyball Tournament can be found here:
Live Video Stream:
The Big Sky Tournament can be seen at WatchBigSky.com or Pluto TV Ch. 531
Live Stats:
Live stats for this week's matches can be found at msubobcats.com
SIDE OUTS:
* Montana State trails Sacramento State 45-7 in its all-time series going back to 1991
* Before beating Sacramento State on Oct. 26, the Hornets had won 13 straight over the Cats
* MSU's win over Sac State was its first over the Hornets since a 3-0 win on Oct. 15, 2010
* The last time a Bobcat squad has defeated the Hornets at Sac State was Oct. 17, 1997 (3-2)
* MSU makes its second straight BSC Tourney, its first back-to-back since 2004 & 2005
* Montana State is 8-12 all-time in BSC Tourney play; its last win came in 2005 vs. Idaho St
* Allyssa Rizzo is Montana State's all-time career digs leader with 2,088 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 5.96 digs per set
* Freshman Kira Thomsen paced MSU last weekend averaging 4.83 kps, while hitting .299
* Allie Lynch dished out a whopping 13.50 assists per set in MSU's two matches last week
MORE ON THE HORNETS:
Sacramento State closed its season last weekend dropping a 3-1 decision to Northern Colorado in Greeley, last Saturday. The Hornets also suffered a 3-2 setback at Portland State on Tuesday. Sacramento State went 9-9 in Big Sky action, with half of those matches going five sets. The Hornets finished the season 4-5 in five set matches, including a 21-25, 25-23, 17-25, 25-16, 19-17 loss to the Bobcats in Shroyer Gym on Oct. 26. Montana State was led in the win by Kira Thomsen and Hannah Scott with 22 and 20 kills, respectively, while Sac State was led by Sarah Davis with 26 kills. Davis has paced Sac State this year at 4.17 kills and 2.16 digs per set.
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 2,088- 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--............ 2,088
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 (6.35), Loyola Maryland's Katie Forsythe (6.17), Tulsa's Taylor Horsfall (6.12), Fordham's Morgan Williams (6.05) and Evansville's Gabriela Macedo (5.97). 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 5.96 per set. She is followed by Ellie Snook of Portland State, who averages 5.47 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 2.38 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 1.10 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. Kelsie White, 2017--......... 286
8. Kim Steffel, 89-92............. 283
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. Kelsie White, 2017--......... 318
Julia Handwerk, 98-01...... 318
Becky Waddell, 83-86....... 318
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 16 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 27 matches this season, Scott is hitting a .242 from the field. She has posted 14 matches hitting over .250 this fall, including a season-best .478 (12-1-23) attack mark in MSU's win over Southern Utah on Nov. 14.
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 10.10 assists per set, which ranks fourth in the Big Sky. On the season, she has registered ten 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 2.12 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 seven listings. MSU is ranked first in opponent aces (0.91), third in blocks (2.38), fourth in kills (12.82), opponent hitting percentage (.194) and assists (11.86) and fifth in opponent blocks (2.06) and digs (15.62).
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 27 matches. The duo has combined for 485 kills, 248 digs and 144 blocks. Last weekend, Thomsen averaged 4.83 kills and 1.50 digs per set. She recorded 18 kills and a .300 attack mark as MSU swept Idaho State on Thursday. Pence averaged 1.67 kills and 1.00 blocks per set, last week against Idaho State and Weber State to conclude the Big Sky regular-season.
