A Walk in Time: 1998
11/20/2020 7:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The 1998 team owns the best winning percentage in Bobcat history, which makes it an obvious choice for the top spot on my list. However, their story was much more than what they accomplished on the court.
When the Bobcat volleyball coaches approached me to do a top 20 countdown of the all-time greatest players during my era with the program, I instantly hesitated. The reason: I didn't want to step on any toes because Montana State has had a plethora of talented athletes since my first year in 1988, which was also the first season women competed under the Big Sky Conference umbrella.
I knew if I had to list players from 1-20 my Facebook message box would light-up with former athletes putting in their two cents. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy corresponding with former players and the group I usually hear from holds a special place in my heart. They were good, funny, and full of shenanigans.
So, as I thought about the list, the idea to do a top 10 favorite teams list suddenly became much more palatable. Over the course of the next ten weeks, while we all look for things to do with our Thursday and Saturday nights without volleyball in Shroyer Gym, I will revisit ten (11) teams which during my 32 years covering the Cats standout in the back of my cobwebbed mind. Again, these are not necessarily the best teams, but the teams that have had an impact on Bobcat Athletics, Montana State University, and my career as Sports Information Director.
I would also be remiss if I didn't mention that before the Bobcats started play in the Big Sky Conference, there were some amazing teams in the '70s and early '80s led by some of the best coaches in the country. Names like Terrall, Moe, McKinzie, Williams-McMullan, Wagner, McCanlies, Ditchfield, Kinney, Usitalo, Koughan, Ryan, Cruz, Griffith and Dirks set the foundation for what Bobcat volleyball is today, and they will always be remembered in the annals of Bobcat history.
No. 1 – 1998
The 1998 team owns the best winning percentage in Bobcat history, which makes it an obvious choice for the top spot on my list. However, their story was much more than what they accomplished on the court.
The 1998 tale begins with two seniors that former head coach Dave Gantt brought in with the goal of resurrecting the Montana State program. One was a military kid from the eastern seaboard that had been all over the country. The other- a hometown standout.
Gantt knew he needed to find a game-changer- someone who could come in right away and raise the level of play in the program. Gantt heard of Brandy Anderson from Phil Olsen, whose daughter Brooke was an up and coming setter that played club ball with Anderson, and a kid Gantt had his eye on to join the Bobcat program the following season.
After watching Anderson and Olsen play at a tournament in North Carolina, Gantt knew the duo could play an integral role in the rebuild of the Montana State program.
Anderson was a highly touted high school standout and made recruiting visits to Penn State, Michigan and Clemson. Gantt was not deterred by Anderson's hefty suitors and instead gave her a call. "We knew Silver Spring, Maryland was a long way from Bozeman, but we decided 'why not fire a shot,'" Gantt recalled.
Anderson's visit to Montana State is legendary in Bobcat volleyball lore. Her trip started with a snowstorm in Washington D.C., which made for a 3 a.m. arrival in Bozeman, early Saturday morning. Later that day a few Bobcat volleyball and football players took Anderson inner-tubing at Bridger Bowl.
"They brought out a gigantic inner-tube and we climbed the hill," Anderson (now Archdale) laughed. "We all got on it and down we went, flying off all the bumps. The last bump sent us all rolling down the hill. All of a sudden, I felt a jaw-busting thump, my teeth rattled, and I came to a complete stop. When I opened my eyes, the girls were standing over me. I said, 'what just happened?'"
Anderson had crashed into a snowmobile and Christmas tree that a Bozeman family had just cut down. The 6-foot lanky recruit eventually got on her feet and was barely able to walk to the car. After a 20-minute commute, Anderson was being checked over in the Bobcat training room.
Anderson's hosts during her stay – Jennifer Cook and Jen Elliot - informed Gantt that she was in the training room and there had been an accident. Gantt's heart skipped a beat.
"I wasn't sure what I was going to find when I got to the training room," Gantt said. "But there she was, laughing and having a good time and sporting a sizeable bruise in the shape of a sled runner. She wore it as a badge of courage."
That evening, Anderson joined the volleyball team at the men's basketball game. "I was walking by the student section and I could hear some of the football players saying, 'hey, there's that girl.'" Despite being a little embarrassed, Anderson knew Montana State was the place she wanted to be.
Anderson returned home to Maryland and eventually told Michigan no to their offer. She accepted Gantt's offer over the phone without hesitation. "Everyone was so genuine," she recollected. "It was a team that needed building and I was ready to do whatever I could to make that happen."
Bozeman High product Shannon Kemper (now Lundgren) redshirted her first season at Montana State in 1994. That was also Gantt's first campaign at the helm of the Bobcat program. Kemper was familiar with MSU volleyball, serving as a ball-shagger during her freshman year of high school. Watching former greats like Kim Steffel-Duis compete only cemented Kemper's desire to play in the Blue and Gold.
"I remember Coach Gantt and Beth (Welch, assistant coach) coming into my mom's Country Time restaurant in the mall." Kemper said. "They sat down at the table and asked if I wanted to be part of rebuilding the MSU volleyball program and playing for the Blue and Gold. I didn't hesitate with my answer."
Kemper, who was a young 17-year-old player, flourished in her redshirt season. Her recruiting class featured six players, but she was the only one to navigate a five-year career. She joined Anderson as a redshirt-freshman and the duo played side-by-side for the next four seasons.
With Anderson and Kemper leading Montana State, the Bobcats jumped out to an 8-0 record, winning both the Villanova and Holiday Inn Classic titles. MSU defeated Syracuse, Sam Houston State and San Jose State to win its own tournament.
The Cats went 2-2 to open Big Sky play, before going out of conference for a neutral showdown with Wyoming in Sheridan. The match would pit Bobcat sophomore Stephanie Laya against her sister Jami. MSU rallied to defeat the Cowgirls 14-16, 7-15, 16-14, 15-13, 16-14. Stephanie Laya paced MSU with 25 kills, while Jami led Wyoming with 21.
"That was a nice out-of-conference win for us," Gantt said. "The two Laya girls went toe-to-toe. Jami was a rightside, so her and Steph went up against each other. I'm glad we won that battle, and I think Steph still holds that over Jami's head to this day, I'm, sure."
Laya had overextended herself in the win over Wyoming, after all it was one of the matches she wanted most. According to Gantt, Laya needed a little down time to regroup from her performance. With that, Kemper filled Laya's spot on the outside and put together two huge matches.
In its win over Cal State Northridge the following week, Kemper helped MSU with 17 kills and 17 digs. The next week, she recorded a career-high 27 kills as the Cats defeated the Griz in five sets in a match held at Loyola-Sacred Heart High School in Missoula.
"It was a special two-week period for Shannon," Gantt said. "She came in and made the most of it. I remember being so proud of her effort against Montana. For a Montana kid, playing the Grizzlies for the last time in Missoula, and then having a career performance is something she will always be able to hold on to and tell her kids about."
Behind Anderson and a strong supporting cast, the Bobcats went 7-3 down the stretch with notable victories over Montana and Eastern Washington. MSU rallied from a 2-1 deficit to sweep Montana. The Cats also defeated EWU 18-16, 0-15, 15-8, 17-15 in Shroyer Gym. The Eagles went on to a 24-6 overall mark, earning an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament.
MSU finished its season at the Big Sky Tournament the following week. The Bobcats rallied from a 2-0 deficit to grind-out a 12-15, 14-16, 15-7, 15-12, 15-11 win over Weber State. Montana State then had to turn around hours later and face EWU that evening. With the wind out of their sails, the Cats fell in three straight sets to the Eagles.
Montana State finished the season 21-6 overall and 11-5 in Big Sky play. They also went 9-0 in non-conference action and were 10-1 in the friendly confines of Shroyer Gym.
Anderson ended her senior season with 477 kills, which at the time was the third highest single-season total in Bobcat history. In the win over CS Northridge, she posted a school-record 40 kills, a mark that still holds today. In all, Anderson, who was named First-Team All-Big Sky Conference in 1998, completed her tenure in the Blue and Gold with 1,380 kills, which ranks second in Bobcat lore.
"If you look at good teams there are always going to be one or two players, that at their height, are very impactive," Gantt said. "Brandy was that player.
"It's easy to measure her impact by how we did, respectively, from her freshman to senior season," Gantt continued. "We went from five, to seven, to nine, to eleven wins during her time. She elevated her impact every cycle, and she was fortunate to have a cast of characters, some who went on the be single-season and career-record holders, who allowed us to get better at every position in those four years."
When Gantt started recruiting Anderson, he was keen on finding someone who could carry a big load and raise the average level of play, because he knew it would payoff in the long run. "That's exactly what we did with Brandy."
Anderson entered the Bobcat Hall of Fame in 2017. She was the quintessential six-rotation player that took the Bobcat program to new heights in the Big Sky Conference.
"The thing I remember game-wise was just gutting out those five set matches," Anderson said. "We gave our coaches heart attacks, but we won all nine of them. We were so cohesive as a group, which was a big change from my freshman year. We were able to go into matches and focus on blocking schemes and other top-level efficiencies. Everyone had trust in each other to do their job. We showed-up and it didn't feel like we were going to lose.
"We had great play calling and we were strong defensively," Anderson added. "That season we brought it all together and we were able to get some rest, rehab, and not worry. We all had our routines, and we were dialed-in."
Kemper echoed Anderson's sentiments that the team profited from its togetherness.
"Man, it feels just like yesterday," Kemper chuckled. "You could put us in a room today and we'd pick-up exactly where we left off. We were such a close group whose common thread was working hard and being accountable for our play. We were together all of the time and that led to our success."
The supporting group around Anderson and Kemper included Cori Carper, who garnered Second-Team All-Big Sky accolades after averaging 2.65 kills and 1.14 blocks per set, while hitting a team-high .344 from the field. Olsen garnered all-conference honorable mention kudos after dishing out 1,385 assists, which still ranks third on MSU's single-season chart. Her 4,712 career assists are still the all-time mark for the program. Mindy Nowak also received all-league honorable mention honors after recording 2.96 kills, 3.03 digs and .86 blocks per set, while leading the team with 32 aces.
"You have to love the supporting cast of characters," Gantt stated. "There were nights in 1998 in the conference season, when obviously, we had some all-conference performances by other players because our opponents were so keyed in on Brandy. And, when the time came, each kid stepped-up and gave us everything they had."
Side-Outs:
A Killer Night: Brandy Anderson fondly recalled the night she set the school-record of 40 kills against Cal State Northridge. In a match MSU won 3-2 and that lasted for almost three hours, Anderson took an unbelievable 90 swings. "I just remember saying, 'keep going, don't stop until the score says to," Anderson commented. "We just kept grinding the whole match and we knew we had the grit to win. Brooke kept setting a nice ball and I kept thinking just be ready when it comes my way. Some of those rallies were long- it was dig ball, get up, get out, be ready, swing. I don't recall my arm being tired. I never had any difficulty with my shoulder, it was almost robotic."
A Little Bit of Brandy: Anderson came into the Bobcat program as a middle blocker. During the spring season of her freshman year, Gantt moved her to the outside. "I can't remember exactly the thing she said when I told her we were making the switch, but she was like, 'sure, I can do that.' Pretty much what you would get from her. She had a high, loopy arm-swing and could hit all the shots and angles and she was able to hit high hands off the outside blocker. She could hit every set we could make. Brandy also won the out-of-system balls. If it was in the air, she was going to get to it. She had relentless pursuit."
Take Cover: Aimee Halyk, who had an all-conference career at Montana State was a little bit – shall we say- wild with her swing during her redshirt freshman season. Usually when trying to terminate a ball across the net in practice something would happen at the last minute and she would hit a teammate on her own side of the net. "That girl spent countless hours before practice working on her swing," said a former Bobcat player. And, all that work paid off for one of the best to play in the Blue and Gold.
Don't Get in the Way of Food: As a senior, it's told Anderson became defiant enough to order burgers and fries at pre-game. Said one Bobcat player… 'coach could hardly handle how poor her nutrition was. I think all she ate were quesadillas and Burger King.' Another story has Heather Dolan ordering a milkshake with her 'healthy' meal. As she walked out of the restaurant, Gantt said… 'since when do we have milkshakes, Dolan?' Dolan was perturbed for being called-out, mainly because Anderson had just downed a double cheeseburger with bacon.
Stank Eye: Assistant coach Jennifer Michalczik had one of the best stank eyes in the program, especially when someone ordered chili for pre-game.
The Pre-Match Music Conundrum: According to some players, the 1998 prematch music 'tape' was off the charts. It was an eclectic mix that included Metallica for Anderson, country for Kemper, and also featured Enter Sandman, Kid Rock and Biggie Smalls. "The tape was like one big identity crisis," Carper quipped.
Odd and Ends: Kemper's mom would bring huge cookies after the matches, which one player referred to as 'my crack.'…Dolan could survive on cookie dough and fruit pizza…Anderson was not to be messed with when WWE was on the television…Anderson made some 'mean' Special K bars…The players always looked forward to being heckled by the men's volleyball team at Cal State Northridge…some players left the Matadome with nicknames like Biff, Sweat Hog, Fancy and Sven…however, the most famous nickname in Bobcat history was Winky- and that's a story better told by one of the players on the roster below.
1998 Roster:
1- Andrea Bruch – S – 5-7 – Sr – Lusk, Wyo.
2- Dulcie Berube – DS – 5-7 – So – Columbia Falls, Mont.
3- Kodi Crawford – OH – 5-7 – Jr – Worland, Wyo.
4- Heather Dolan – DS – 5-6 – Jr – Billings, Mont.
5- Stephanie Laya – OH – 5-10 – So – Ranchester, Wyo.
6- Lindsay Stobbs – MB – 6-1 – Fr – Weldon, Sask.
7- Ashley Wyatt – MB – 6-2 – So – Deer Lodge, Mont.
8- Julia Handwerk – MB – 6-1 – Fr – Great Falls, Mont.
10- Brooke Olsen – S – 5-8 – Jr – North Potomac, Md.
11- Aimee Halyk – OH – 6-0 – Fr – Esterhazy, Sask.
12- Brandy Anderson – OH – 6-0 – Sr – Silver Spring, Md.
13- Mindy Nowak – OH – 5-10 – Jr – Marysville, Wash.
14- Cori Carper – MB – 6-1 – Jr – Lander, Wyo.
15- Shannon Kemper – OH – 6-0 – Sr – Bozeman, Mont.
16- Keri Lister – OH – 5-11 – Fr – Bozeman, Mont.
Head Coach: Dave Gantt
Assistant Coach: Jennifer Michalczik, Miya Malauulu
Where are They Now:
1- Andrea Bruch Busby – Brock, Texas
2- Dulcie Berube – Columbia Falls, Mont.
3- Kodi Crawford Hardman – Bozeman, Mont.
4- Heather Dolan Bergeson – Billings, Mont.
5- Stephanie Laya Maughan – Bozeman, Mont.
6- Lindsay Stobbs – Zhengzhou, China
7- Ashley Wyatt Welch – Boise, Idaho
8- Julia Handwerk Fitzpatrick – Great Falls, Mont.
10- Brooke Olsen Roush – San Jose, Calif.
11- Aimee Halyk Unchulenko – Esterhazy, Sask.
12- Brandy Anderson Archdale – Lakeville, Minn.
13- Mindy Nowak Staudinger – Snohomish, Wash.
14- Cori Carper Jones – Cranford, N.J.
15- Shannon Kemper Lundgren – Bozeman, Mont.
16- Keri Lister Baar – Bozeman, Mont.
Head Coach: Dave Gantt, Great Falls, Mont.
Assistant Coach: Jennifer Michalczik, Corvallis, Ore.
Assistant Coach: Miya Malauulu Usumali'I, Carson, Calif.
If any former alum would like to reconnect with Bobcat Volleyball or update their current whereabouts, please email Tom Schulz, Sports Information, with your contact information tschulz@msubobcats.com We would love to hear from you!
As Montana State Athletics strives to develop the best and brightest student-athletes, support for the Bobcat Club Annual Scholarship Fund is crucial now more than ever. Donating to the Bobcat Club Annual Scholarship Fund's Plant The Flag initiative ensures not only that the 350-plus Bobcat student-athletes will continue to receive the resources needed to succeed in and out of competition, but that Montana State Athletics will rise above the pack stronger.
For more information about the Plant The Flag initiative, visit MSUBobcatClub.com or contact a member of the Bobcat Club staff.
I knew if I had to list players from 1-20 my Facebook message box would light-up with former athletes putting in their two cents. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy corresponding with former players and the group I usually hear from holds a special place in my heart. They were good, funny, and full of shenanigans.
So, as I thought about the list, the idea to do a top 10 favorite teams list suddenly became much more palatable. Over the course of the next ten weeks, while we all look for things to do with our Thursday and Saturday nights without volleyball in Shroyer Gym, I will revisit ten (11) teams which during my 32 years covering the Cats standout in the back of my cobwebbed mind. Again, these are not necessarily the best teams, but the teams that have had an impact on Bobcat Athletics, Montana State University, and my career as Sports Information Director.
I would also be remiss if I didn't mention that before the Bobcats started play in the Big Sky Conference, there were some amazing teams in the '70s and early '80s led by some of the best coaches in the country. Names like Terrall, Moe, McKinzie, Williams-McMullan, Wagner, McCanlies, Ditchfield, Kinney, Usitalo, Koughan, Ryan, Cruz, Griffith and Dirks set the foundation for what Bobcat volleyball is today, and they will always be remembered in the annals of Bobcat history.
No. 1 – 1998
The 1998 team owns the best winning percentage in Bobcat history, which makes it an obvious choice for the top spot on my list. However, their story was much more than what they accomplished on the court.
The 1998 tale begins with two seniors that former head coach Dave Gantt brought in with the goal of resurrecting the Montana State program. One was a military kid from the eastern seaboard that had been all over the country. The other- a hometown standout.
Gantt knew he needed to find a game-changer- someone who could come in right away and raise the level of play in the program. Gantt heard of Brandy Anderson from Phil Olsen, whose daughter Brooke was an up and coming setter that played club ball with Anderson, and a kid Gantt had his eye on to join the Bobcat program the following season.
After watching Anderson and Olsen play at a tournament in North Carolina, Gantt knew the duo could play an integral role in the rebuild of the Montana State program.
Anderson was a highly touted high school standout and made recruiting visits to Penn State, Michigan and Clemson. Gantt was not deterred by Anderson's hefty suitors and instead gave her a call. "We knew Silver Spring, Maryland was a long way from Bozeman, but we decided 'why not fire a shot,'" Gantt recalled.
Anderson's visit to Montana State is legendary in Bobcat volleyball lore. Her trip started with a snowstorm in Washington D.C., which made for a 3 a.m. arrival in Bozeman, early Saturday morning. Later that day a few Bobcat volleyball and football players took Anderson inner-tubing at Bridger Bowl.
"They brought out a gigantic inner-tube and we climbed the hill," Anderson (now Archdale) laughed. "We all got on it and down we went, flying off all the bumps. The last bump sent us all rolling down the hill. All of a sudden, I felt a jaw-busting thump, my teeth rattled, and I came to a complete stop. When I opened my eyes, the girls were standing over me. I said, 'what just happened?'"
Anderson had crashed into a snowmobile and Christmas tree that a Bozeman family had just cut down. The 6-foot lanky recruit eventually got on her feet and was barely able to walk to the car. After a 20-minute commute, Anderson was being checked over in the Bobcat training room.
Anderson's hosts during her stay – Jennifer Cook and Jen Elliot - informed Gantt that she was in the training room and there had been an accident. Gantt's heart skipped a beat.
"I wasn't sure what I was going to find when I got to the training room," Gantt said. "But there she was, laughing and having a good time and sporting a sizeable bruise in the shape of a sled runner. She wore it as a badge of courage."
That evening, Anderson joined the volleyball team at the men's basketball game. "I was walking by the student section and I could hear some of the football players saying, 'hey, there's that girl.'" Despite being a little embarrassed, Anderson knew Montana State was the place she wanted to be.
Anderson returned home to Maryland and eventually told Michigan no to their offer. She accepted Gantt's offer over the phone without hesitation. "Everyone was so genuine," she recollected. "It was a team that needed building and I was ready to do whatever I could to make that happen."
Bozeman High product Shannon Kemper (now Lundgren) redshirted her first season at Montana State in 1994. That was also Gantt's first campaign at the helm of the Bobcat program. Kemper was familiar with MSU volleyball, serving as a ball-shagger during her freshman year of high school. Watching former greats like Kim Steffel-Duis compete only cemented Kemper's desire to play in the Blue and Gold.
"I remember Coach Gantt and Beth (Welch, assistant coach) coming into my mom's Country Time restaurant in the mall." Kemper said. "They sat down at the table and asked if I wanted to be part of rebuilding the MSU volleyball program and playing for the Blue and Gold. I didn't hesitate with my answer."
Kemper, who was a young 17-year-old player, flourished in her redshirt season. Her recruiting class featured six players, but she was the only one to navigate a five-year career. She joined Anderson as a redshirt-freshman and the duo played side-by-side for the next four seasons.
With Anderson and Kemper leading Montana State, the Bobcats jumped out to an 8-0 record, winning both the Villanova and Holiday Inn Classic titles. MSU defeated Syracuse, Sam Houston State and San Jose State to win its own tournament.
The Cats went 2-2 to open Big Sky play, before going out of conference for a neutral showdown with Wyoming in Sheridan. The match would pit Bobcat sophomore Stephanie Laya against her sister Jami. MSU rallied to defeat the Cowgirls 14-16, 7-15, 16-14, 15-13, 16-14. Stephanie Laya paced MSU with 25 kills, while Jami led Wyoming with 21.
"That was a nice out-of-conference win for us," Gantt said. "The two Laya girls went toe-to-toe. Jami was a rightside, so her and Steph went up against each other. I'm glad we won that battle, and I think Steph still holds that over Jami's head to this day, I'm, sure."
Laya had overextended herself in the win over Wyoming, after all it was one of the matches she wanted most. According to Gantt, Laya needed a little down time to regroup from her performance. With that, Kemper filled Laya's spot on the outside and put together two huge matches.
In its win over Cal State Northridge the following week, Kemper helped MSU with 17 kills and 17 digs. The next week, she recorded a career-high 27 kills as the Cats defeated the Griz in five sets in a match held at Loyola-Sacred Heart High School in Missoula.
"It was a special two-week period for Shannon," Gantt said. "She came in and made the most of it. I remember being so proud of her effort against Montana. For a Montana kid, playing the Grizzlies for the last time in Missoula, and then having a career performance is something she will always be able to hold on to and tell her kids about."
Behind Anderson and a strong supporting cast, the Bobcats went 7-3 down the stretch with notable victories over Montana and Eastern Washington. MSU rallied from a 2-1 deficit to sweep Montana. The Cats also defeated EWU 18-16, 0-15, 15-8, 17-15 in Shroyer Gym. The Eagles went on to a 24-6 overall mark, earning an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament.
MSU finished its season at the Big Sky Tournament the following week. The Bobcats rallied from a 2-0 deficit to grind-out a 12-15, 14-16, 15-7, 15-12, 15-11 win over Weber State. Montana State then had to turn around hours later and face EWU that evening. With the wind out of their sails, the Cats fell in three straight sets to the Eagles.
Montana State finished the season 21-6 overall and 11-5 in Big Sky play. They also went 9-0 in non-conference action and were 10-1 in the friendly confines of Shroyer Gym.
Anderson ended her senior season with 477 kills, which at the time was the third highest single-season total in Bobcat history. In the win over CS Northridge, she posted a school-record 40 kills, a mark that still holds today. In all, Anderson, who was named First-Team All-Big Sky Conference in 1998, completed her tenure in the Blue and Gold with 1,380 kills, which ranks second in Bobcat lore.
"If you look at good teams there are always going to be one or two players, that at their height, are very impactive," Gantt said. "Brandy was that player.
"It's easy to measure her impact by how we did, respectively, from her freshman to senior season," Gantt continued. "We went from five, to seven, to nine, to eleven wins during her time. She elevated her impact every cycle, and she was fortunate to have a cast of characters, some who went on the be single-season and career-record holders, who allowed us to get better at every position in those four years."
When Gantt started recruiting Anderson, he was keen on finding someone who could carry a big load and raise the average level of play, because he knew it would payoff in the long run. "That's exactly what we did with Brandy."
Anderson entered the Bobcat Hall of Fame in 2017. She was the quintessential six-rotation player that took the Bobcat program to new heights in the Big Sky Conference.
"The thing I remember game-wise was just gutting out those five set matches," Anderson said. "We gave our coaches heart attacks, but we won all nine of them. We were so cohesive as a group, which was a big change from my freshman year. We were able to go into matches and focus on blocking schemes and other top-level efficiencies. Everyone had trust in each other to do their job. We showed-up and it didn't feel like we were going to lose.
"We had great play calling and we were strong defensively," Anderson added. "That season we brought it all together and we were able to get some rest, rehab, and not worry. We all had our routines, and we were dialed-in."
Kemper echoed Anderson's sentiments that the team profited from its togetherness.
"Man, it feels just like yesterday," Kemper chuckled. "You could put us in a room today and we'd pick-up exactly where we left off. We were such a close group whose common thread was working hard and being accountable for our play. We were together all of the time and that led to our success."
The supporting group around Anderson and Kemper included Cori Carper, who garnered Second-Team All-Big Sky accolades after averaging 2.65 kills and 1.14 blocks per set, while hitting a team-high .344 from the field. Olsen garnered all-conference honorable mention kudos after dishing out 1,385 assists, which still ranks third on MSU's single-season chart. Her 4,712 career assists are still the all-time mark for the program. Mindy Nowak also received all-league honorable mention honors after recording 2.96 kills, 3.03 digs and .86 blocks per set, while leading the team with 32 aces.
"You have to love the supporting cast of characters," Gantt stated. "There were nights in 1998 in the conference season, when obviously, we had some all-conference performances by other players because our opponents were so keyed in on Brandy. And, when the time came, each kid stepped-up and gave us everything they had."
Side-Outs:
A Killer Night: Brandy Anderson fondly recalled the night she set the school-record of 40 kills against Cal State Northridge. In a match MSU won 3-2 and that lasted for almost three hours, Anderson took an unbelievable 90 swings. "I just remember saying, 'keep going, don't stop until the score says to," Anderson commented. "We just kept grinding the whole match and we knew we had the grit to win. Brooke kept setting a nice ball and I kept thinking just be ready when it comes my way. Some of those rallies were long- it was dig ball, get up, get out, be ready, swing. I don't recall my arm being tired. I never had any difficulty with my shoulder, it was almost robotic."
A Little Bit of Brandy: Anderson came into the Bobcat program as a middle blocker. During the spring season of her freshman year, Gantt moved her to the outside. "I can't remember exactly the thing she said when I told her we were making the switch, but she was like, 'sure, I can do that.' Pretty much what you would get from her. She had a high, loopy arm-swing and could hit all the shots and angles and she was able to hit high hands off the outside blocker. She could hit every set we could make. Brandy also won the out-of-system balls. If it was in the air, she was going to get to it. She had relentless pursuit."
Take Cover: Aimee Halyk, who had an all-conference career at Montana State was a little bit – shall we say- wild with her swing during her redshirt freshman season. Usually when trying to terminate a ball across the net in practice something would happen at the last minute and she would hit a teammate on her own side of the net. "That girl spent countless hours before practice working on her swing," said a former Bobcat player. And, all that work paid off for one of the best to play in the Blue and Gold.
Don't Get in the Way of Food: As a senior, it's told Anderson became defiant enough to order burgers and fries at pre-game. Said one Bobcat player… 'coach could hardly handle how poor her nutrition was. I think all she ate were quesadillas and Burger King.' Another story has Heather Dolan ordering a milkshake with her 'healthy' meal. As she walked out of the restaurant, Gantt said… 'since when do we have milkshakes, Dolan?' Dolan was perturbed for being called-out, mainly because Anderson had just downed a double cheeseburger with bacon.
Stank Eye: Assistant coach Jennifer Michalczik had one of the best stank eyes in the program, especially when someone ordered chili for pre-game.
The Pre-Match Music Conundrum: According to some players, the 1998 prematch music 'tape' was off the charts. It was an eclectic mix that included Metallica for Anderson, country for Kemper, and also featured Enter Sandman, Kid Rock and Biggie Smalls. "The tape was like one big identity crisis," Carper quipped.
Odd and Ends: Kemper's mom would bring huge cookies after the matches, which one player referred to as 'my crack.'…Dolan could survive on cookie dough and fruit pizza…Anderson was not to be messed with when WWE was on the television…Anderson made some 'mean' Special K bars…The players always looked forward to being heckled by the men's volleyball team at Cal State Northridge…some players left the Matadome with nicknames like Biff, Sweat Hog, Fancy and Sven…however, the most famous nickname in Bobcat history was Winky- and that's a story better told by one of the players on the roster below.
1998 Roster:
1- Andrea Bruch – S – 5-7 – Sr – Lusk, Wyo.
2- Dulcie Berube – DS – 5-7 – So – Columbia Falls, Mont.
3- Kodi Crawford – OH – 5-7 – Jr – Worland, Wyo.
4- Heather Dolan – DS – 5-6 – Jr – Billings, Mont.
5- Stephanie Laya – OH – 5-10 – So – Ranchester, Wyo.
6- Lindsay Stobbs – MB – 6-1 – Fr – Weldon, Sask.
7- Ashley Wyatt – MB – 6-2 – So – Deer Lodge, Mont.
8- Julia Handwerk – MB – 6-1 – Fr – Great Falls, Mont.
10- Brooke Olsen – S – 5-8 – Jr – North Potomac, Md.
11- Aimee Halyk – OH – 6-0 – Fr – Esterhazy, Sask.
12- Brandy Anderson – OH – 6-0 – Sr – Silver Spring, Md.
13- Mindy Nowak – OH – 5-10 – Jr – Marysville, Wash.
14- Cori Carper – MB – 6-1 – Jr – Lander, Wyo.
15- Shannon Kemper – OH – 6-0 – Sr – Bozeman, Mont.
16- Keri Lister – OH – 5-11 – Fr – Bozeman, Mont.
Head Coach: Dave Gantt
Assistant Coach: Jennifer Michalczik, Miya Malauulu
Where are They Now:
1- Andrea Bruch Busby – Brock, Texas
2- Dulcie Berube – Columbia Falls, Mont.
3- Kodi Crawford Hardman – Bozeman, Mont.
4- Heather Dolan Bergeson – Billings, Mont.
5- Stephanie Laya Maughan – Bozeman, Mont.
6- Lindsay Stobbs – Zhengzhou, China
7- Ashley Wyatt Welch – Boise, Idaho
8- Julia Handwerk Fitzpatrick – Great Falls, Mont.
10- Brooke Olsen Roush – San Jose, Calif.
11- Aimee Halyk Unchulenko – Esterhazy, Sask.
12- Brandy Anderson Archdale – Lakeville, Minn.
13- Mindy Nowak Staudinger – Snohomish, Wash.
14- Cori Carper Jones – Cranford, N.J.
15- Shannon Kemper Lundgren – Bozeman, Mont.
16- Keri Lister Baar – Bozeman, Mont.
Head Coach: Dave Gantt, Great Falls, Mont.
Assistant Coach: Jennifer Michalczik, Corvallis, Ore.
Assistant Coach: Miya Malauulu Usumali'I, Carson, Calif.
If any former alum would like to reconnect with Bobcat Volleyball or update their current whereabouts, please email Tom Schulz, Sports Information, with your contact information tschulz@msubobcats.com We would love to hear from you!
As Montana State Athletics strives to develop the best and brightest student-athletes, support for the Bobcat Club Annual Scholarship Fund is crucial now more than ever. Donating to the Bobcat Club Annual Scholarship Fund's Plant The Flag initiative ensures not only that the 350-plus Bobcat student-athletes will continue to receive the resources needed to succeed in and out of competition, but that Montana State Athletics will rise above the pack stronger.
For more information about the Plant The Flag initiative, visit MSUBobcatClub.com or contact a member of the Bobcat Club staff.
Matt Houk Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, January 18
Daniel Jones Weekly Press Conference
Monday, November 15
Bobcat Classic: Arkansas vs. Portland
Saturday, September 04
Bobcat Classic: Arkansas vs. Utah State
Friday, September 03
