Bobcat Volleyball Squad Opens Season at Northern Colorado

Sunday, January 24

Greeley, CO

2 p.m.

Montana State University

Northern Colorado

Bobcat Volleyball Squad Opens Season at Northern Colorado

1/22/2021 6:03:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

The Montana State volleyball team will open its 2020-21 Big Sky Conference season at Northern Colorado on Sunday, Jan. 24 at 2 p.m. in Bank of Colorado Arena.

By: Tom Schulz

WHEN:             Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021 @ 2 p.m. (MST)
                            Monday, Jan. 25, 2021 @ 6 p.m. (MST)
WHERE:           Greeley, Colo. - Bank of Colorado Arena
RECORDS:        Montana State 0-0; Northern Colorado 0-0
SERIES:             Northern Colorado 29-3; Streak: UNC W29
LAST MTG:      Nov. 29, 2019 @ BSCT - No. Colorado 3-1
LIVE STATS:     Live statistics can be accessed at msubobcats.com
VIDEO:              Montana State's match against Northern Colorado on Sunday/Monday can be seen on Pluto TV - Ch. 1059

MSU VB NOTES

SEASON & BIG SKY CONFERENCE OPENER: The Montana State volleyball team will open its 2020-21 Big Sky Conference season at Northern Colorado on Sunday, Jan. 24 at 2 p.m. in Bank of Colorado Arena. The Bobcats will close out play against the Bears on Monday, Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. Much like the Big Sky basketball schedule, volleyball will also play the same opponent in a weekend, however it will be just a 16-match season. Montana State will not face Sacramento State or Eastern Washington in the regular-season.

MORE ON THE OPENER: Since the inception of the Big Sky Conference for women in the fall of 1988, the Bobcats are 12-20 in league openers. Current Bobcat head coach Daniel Jones is 2-1 in Big Sky openers, including a 3-0 Brawl of the Wild victory over intra-state rival Montana in Dahlberg Arena on Sept. 24, 2019.

BOBCAT BLURBS: The Bobcats return 11 letterwinners and five starters from last year's squad that went 15-14 overall and 10-8 in Big Sky play...MSU was tabbed fourth in the preseason Big Sky Conference Coaches' poll that was released in July prior to the start of volleyball's traditional season...Montana State will be led by senior outside hitter Hannah Scott, who was a First-Team All-Big Sky selection, last fall...MSU will need to fill the shoes of senior libero Allyssa Rizzo, who was the 2019 Big Sky Libero of the Year and set the MSU school-record with 2,120 career digs- battling for the spot are seniors Libby Christensen and Lexi Goroski...Montana State's sensational freshmen duo of Kira Thomsen and Emma Pence return to the starting line-up...Thomsen averaged 3.02 kps, while Pence added 1.64 kps and 1.19 bps.

SIDEOUTS:
* Montana State wrapped last season with 15 victories, its most since 2012.
* MSU's 10-win Big Sky Conference win total was its highest total since 2004.
* Its first-round Big Sky Tourney win over Sacramento State was its first at SAC in 22 years
* The victory was also MSU's first in Big Sky tournament play since 2005.
* For the first time in team history MSU had three All-Big Sky First-Team selections, last fall.
* The team finished first in opponent service aces .88 per set
* The Bobcats finished 194th in final RPI last season.
* Montana State was 43rd in country with 2.48 blocks per set, last fall.
* The Bobcats ranked 50th in country with 277.5 total blocks, last season.
* MSU swept Idaho & won in Moscow for first time since Nov. 3, 1989- its first 3-0 win at UI.