Friday Digs: Kelsie White
6/12/2020 9:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
A three-year starter in the middle for the Bobcats, White returns for her final season in the Blue and Gold with the same goals and expectations as she has had all along – win a Big Sky Conference championship.
Every Friday from now until the beginning of the volleyball season will we spotlight a member of the Bobcat volleyball program. Now up: Kelsie White.
A three-year starter in the middle for the Bobcats, White returns for her final season in the Blue and Gold with the same goals and expectations as she has had all along – win a Big Sky Conference championship. The product of Layton, Utah is one of the top middle blockers in the league and ranked fourth in blocks last fall. In addition, White has already established her legacy as one of MSU's all-time great blockers, ranking seventh on the total blocks chart. She will look to grow her legacy this fall as one of five seniors on the team that thirsts for the schools' first-ever Big Sky title.
CATCHING UP WITH KELSIE:
1). Can you give us an update on your current status?
Currently, I just got back to Bozeman and I am so excited to be back and get some normalcy. I will say though that getting to be home with family was a positive amongst all the negative of life's current situations. It was kind of like a dream being able to be with my family for three months. I haven't gotten to spend that much time with them since before college, so it was very healing for the soul. I have five nieces that came over all the time so life was always exciting and a little crazy around my house, but I truly was in heaven hanging out with those five little girls and my family all the time. There was definitely never a dull moment. However, I missed Bozeman more than I ever have and am more eager than ever to get back in the gym and be with the girls.
My thoughts on everything that is happening right now is a mix of lots of different emotions. I am a true believer that everything happens for a reason. Often times that reason is unknown, but I do believe there is good that can come from every circumstance we are put in. That is not to take away from all the pain that this pandemic has caused, because I know it is very real and effects everyone differently, and my heart aches for the hard times that the world is going through. I have also experienced the pain and uncertainty during this unique time, but with that I have started to notice all the things there are to be grateful for. That list is endless. In short, I am confident that as we are coming out of this storm and we will all be stronger because of it.
2). How do you think the spring volleyball season was progressing before everything shut down?
Every spring season I am amazed at the improvements everyone makes. The level of the gym goes up every year and it's pretty exciting and humbling to be a part of that. This spring season was only a continuation of that trend, as the level of the gym was higher than ever, and the improvements were coming from everyone. The upcoming senior class is unique because of our large number and it also adds to our strength. We've been through it all together for four years so having this last spring together was something we didn't take lightly. To say that things didn't go how we expected was an understatement. No one would have guessed that our season would be cut short and our last spring season as seniors would be cut in half. However, like I said, we've been through everything together and we always make it through better than before.
3). What are your goals heading into the fall and what are the expectations for the team?
My goals and expectations are the same as they've always been; to win the Big Sky championship. The pandemic hasn't changed any of that, it's just fueled the fire and given us the opportunity to overcome another obstacle. This isn't the first time this team has gone through something hard and experienced setbacks and this won't be the first time we overcome the obstacle. More than anything, I'm so grateful during this time to have the team and support staff that we do. I personally have been given more support than I could have asked for and made relationships that will last well beyond college, so with that, my personal goal is to do everything I can to be there for my team and be the teammate/friend/family they need.
HEAD COACH DANIEL JONES ON KELSIE WHITE:
"Kelsie is now one of our seasoned veterans. She has been a four-year starter and has had a huge impact on the whole program. She has been integral in establishing our culture and has a huge passion for leaving Montana State volleyball better than she found it. I am excited to see what this time away from the court has done for Kelsie, she has struggled with some small injuries over her career and it will be great to see what she can do when she is fresh, focused and injury free. She has the size and ability to dominate a match on both sides of the ball – her block is the biggest in the league, and when she is at her explosive best she can score at will. Most of all I am just excited to see Kelsie enjoy her volleyball and have a great senior season."
WHITE'S PLAYING BIO:
JUNIOR (2019):
White played in 27 matches and saw action in 100 sets…recorded 130 kills, averaging 1.30 per set…posted season-high nine kills in win over CSU Bakersfield…hit .400 (9-1-20) against the Roadrunner…hit a season-high .667 (8-0-12) as the Bobcats defeated the Grizzlies in Missoula…tallied three matches hitting .400 or better…finished the year hitting .239 from the field…ended the season averaging 1.15 blocks per set…totaled 115 blocks; 17 solo blocks and 98 block assists…registered a season-high nine blocks in Montana State's Big Sky Conference Tournament semifinal match against Northern Colorado…had nine matches with five blocks or more…ranked fourth in the Big Sky in blocks per set…ranks seventh all-time in MSU history with 327 total blocks…an all-Big Sky Conference academic pick.
SOPHOMORE (2018):
White saw action in 111 of MSU's 113 sets on the season...started all 30 matches...finished the season with 193 kills, averaging 1.74 kills per set...recorded six matches in double-digit kills, including a season-high 12 kills in MSU's 3-2 win over Eastern Washington in Shroyer Gym...posted a .240 hitting percentage...recorded seven matched hitting .400 from the floor or better...tallied a season-best .579 attack mark (11-0-19) as the Bobcats swept rival Montana 3-0 in Bozeman...recorded 15 service aces, including a career-high five aces in Montana State's victory at Southern Utah...led the Bobcats with 108 total blocks...averaged .97 blocks per set...notched nine matches with five or more blocks...had a season-high seven blocks against LIU Brooklyn...participated in the 2019 US Women's National Team Open tryouts in Colorado Springs...was a Big Sky Conference All-Academic honoree.
FRESHMAN (2017):
White had an outstanding freshman campaign for the Bobcats...she led the team in blocking averaging 1.08 per set...she registered 104 total blocks on the season...her 14 blocks assists in MSU's win over Pacific on Sept. 2 was a Bobcat single-match school-record...for the season, White finished among the top 125 blockers in all of NCAA Division I and she ranked 13th overall for freshmen...was ninth in the Big Sky Conference in blocking...her 15 blocks in a five-set match was the second highest in the nation behind Syracuse's Amber Witherspoon who recorded 16 stuffs...in all, she recorded five or more blocks on 12 occasions...offensively, she averaged 1.69 kills per set...posted a season-best 13 kills in Montana State's win at Weber State...posted four matches in double-digit kills...hit .300 or better eight times; .400 or better five times; and .500 or better, twice...recorded a season-best .571 (10-2-14) attack mark against Northern Arizona...for the season registered 162 kills and hit .221 from the field...played in 96 of MSU's 98 sets for 2017...was a Big Sky Conference All-Academic honoree.
HIGH SCHOOL:
White prepped at Bountiful High School and helped guide the Braves to their second consecutive Utah 4A state title last fall, posting an overall mark of 31-2. White led Utah 4A in blocks and hitting percentage as a three-year starter. Bountiful also garnered its third straight Region 5 championship. For her efforts, White was a Utah Coaches' and Deseret News 4A First-Team All-State pick and was named the Deseret News 4A Defensive Player of the Year, as well. As a senior, she notched 147 kills and 80 blocks, while hitting .332 from the floor. As a junior, she was a 2015 Second-Team Utah All-State selection, after being an all-state honorable mention choice in 2014.
A three-year starter in the middle for the Bobcats, White returns for her final season in the Blue and Gold with the same goals and expectations as she has had all along – win a Big Sky Conference championship. The product of Layton, Utah is one of the top middle blockers in the league and ranked fourth in blocks last fall. In addition, White has already established her legacy as one of MSU's all-time great blockers, ranking seventh on the total blocks chart. She will look to grow her legacy this fall as one of five seniors on the team that thirsts for the schools' first-ever Big Sky title.
CATCHING UP WITH KELSIE:
1). Can you give us an update on your current status?
Currently, I just got back to Bozeman and I am so excited to be back and get some normalcy. I will say though that getting to be home with family was a positive amongst all the negative of life's current situations. It was kind of like a dream being able to be with my family for three months. I haven't gotten to spend that much time with them since before college, so it was very healing for the soul. I have five nieces that came over all the time so life was always exciting and a little crazy around my house, but I truly was in heaven hanging out with those five little girls and my family all the time. There was definitely never a dull moment. However, I missed Bozeman more than I ever have and am more eager than ever to get back in the gym and be with the girls.
My thoughts on everything that is happening right now is a mix of lots of different emotions. I am a true believer that everything happens for a reason. Often times that reason is unknown, but I do believe there is good that can come from every circumstance we are put in. That is not to take away from all the pain that this pandemic has caused, because I know it is very real and effects everyone differently, and my heart aches for the hard times that the world is going through. I have also experienced the pain and uncertainty during this unique time, but with that I have started to notice all the things there are to be grateful for. That list is endless. In short, I am confident that as we are coming out of this storm and we will all be stronger because of it.
2). How do you think the spring volleyball season was progressing before everything shut down?
Every spring season I am amazed at the improvements everyone makes. The level of the gym goes up every year and it's pretty exciting and humbling to be a part of that. This spring season was only a continuation of that trend, as the level of the gym was higher than ever, and the improvements were coming from everyone. The upcoming senior class is unique because of our large number and it also adds to our strength. We've been through it all together for four years so having this last spring together was something we didn't take lightly. To say that things didn't go how we expected was an understatement. No one would have guessed that our season would be cut short and our last spring season as seniors would be cut in half. However, like I said, we've been through everything together and we always make it through better than before.
3). What are your goals heading into the fall and what are the expectations for the team?
My goals and expectations are the same as they've always been; to win the Big Sky championship. The pandemic hasn't changed any of that, it's just fueled the fire and given us the opportunity to overcome another obstacle. This isn't the first time this team has gone through something hard and experienced setbacks and this won't be the first time we overcome the obstacle. More than anything, I'm so grateful during this time to have the team and support staff that we do. I personally have been given more support than I could have asked for and made relationships that will last well beyond college, so with that, my personal goal is to do everything I can to be there for my team and be the teammate/friend/family they need.
HEAD COACH DANIEL JONES ON KELSIE WHITE:
"Kelsie is now one of our seasoned veterans. She has been a four-year starter and has had a huge impact on the whole program. She has been integral in establishing our culture and has a huge passion for leaving Montana State volleyball better than she found it. I am excited to see what this time away from the court has done for Kelsie, she has struggled with some small injuries over her career and it will be great to see what she can do when she is fresh, focused and injury free. She has the size and ability to dominate a match on both sides of the ball – her block is the biggest in the league, and when she is at her explosive best she can score at will. Most of all I am just excited to see Kelsie enjoy her volleyball and have a great senior season."
WHITE'S PLAYING BIO:
JUNIOR (2019):
White played in 27 matches and saw action in 100 sets…recorded 130 kills, averaging 1.30 per set…posted season-high nine kills in win over CSU Bakersfield…hit .400 (9-1-20) against the Roadrunner…hit a season-high .667 (8-0-12) as the Bobcats defeated the Grizzlies in Missoula…tallied three matches hitting .400 or better…finished the year hitting .239 from the field…ended the season averaging 1.15 blocks per set…totaled 115 blocks; 17 solo blocks and 98 block assists…registered a season-high nine blocks in Montana State's Big Sky Conference Tournament semifinal match against Northern Colorado…had nine matches with five blocks or more…ranked fourth in the Big Sky in blocks per set…ranks seventh all-time in MSU history with 327 total blocks…an all-Big Sky Conference academic pick.
SOPHOMORE (2018):
White saw action in 111 of MSU's 113 sets on the season...started all 30 matches...finished the season with 193 kills, averaging 1.74 kills per set...recorded six matches in double-digit kills, including a season-high 12 kills in MSU's 3-2 win over Eastern Washington in Shroyer Gym...posted a .240 hitting percentage...recorded seven matched hitting .400 from the floor or better...tallied a season-best .579 attack mark (11-0-19) as the Bobcats swept rival Montana 3-0 in Bozeman...recorded 15 service aces, including a career-high five aces in Montana State's victory at Southern Utah...led the Bobcats with 108 total blocks...averaged .97 blocks per set...notched nine matches with five or more blocks...had a season-high seven blocks against LIU Brooklyn...participated in the 2019 US Women's National Team Open tryouts in Colorado Springs...was a Big Sky Conference All-Academic honoree.
FRESHMAN (2017):
White had an outstanding freshman campaign for the Bobcats...she led the team in blocking averaging 1.08 per set...she registered 104 total blocks on the season...her 14 blocks assists in MSU's win over Pacific on Sept. 2 was a Bobcat single-match school-record...for the season, White finished among the top 125 blockers in all of NCAA Division I and she ranked 13th overall for freshmen...was ninth in the Big Sky Conference in blocking...her 15 blocks in a five-set match was the second highest in the nation behind Syracuse's Amber Witherspoon who recorded 16 stuffs...in all, she recorded five or more blocks on 12 occasions...offensively, she averaged 1.69 kills per set...posted a season-best 13 kills in Montana State's win at Weber State...posted four matches in double-digit kills...hit .300 or better eight times; .400 or better five times; and .500 or better, twice...recorded a season-best .571 (10-2-14) attack mark against Northern Arizona...for the season registered 162 kills and hit .221 from the field...played in 96 of MSU's 98 sets for 2017...was a Big Sky Conference All-Academic honoree.
HIGH SCHOOL:
White prepped at Bountiful High School and helped guide the Braves to their second consecutive Utah 4A state title last fall, posting an overall mark of 31-2. White led Utah 4A in blocks and hitting percentage as a three-year starter. Bountiful also garnered its third straight Region 5 championship. For her efforts, White was a Utah Coaches' and Deseret News 4A First-Team All-State pick and was named the Deseret News 4A Defensive Player of the Year, as well. As a senior, she notched 147 kills and 80 blocks, while hitting .332 from the floor. As a junior, she was a 2015 Second-Team Utah All-State selection, after being an all-state honorable mention choice in 2014.
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
