Saturday, February 20
BOZEMAN
5 p.m.
Montana State University
vs
Idaho State
Senor Hailey Merkes with a kill against Northern Arizona.
Photo by: Garrett Becker
Bobcats Host Bengals in Two-Match Series
2/19/2021 3:50:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The two Big Sky rivals will open on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m., and conclude play on Sunday at 5 p.m.
WHO: Idaho State at Montana State
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021 @ 5 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 @ 5 p.m.
WHERE: Bozeman, Mont. - Shroyer Gym
RECORDS: Montana State 4-2, 4-2; Idaho State 4-4, 2-4
SERIES: Montana State leads 58-57; Streak: UM W1
LAST MTG: Oct. 29, 2019 - Montana 3, @ Montana State 1
VIDEO: Montana State's matches against Idaho State on Saturday and Sunday can be seen on Pluto TV - Ch. 1057.
UP NEXT: The Montana State volleyball team fresh off its sweep of Montana to capture the first-ever Main Line Trophy last weekend in Missoula returns to the Shroyer Gym floor in a weekend series against Idaho State. The two Big Sky rivals will open on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m., and conclude play on Sunday at 5 p.m.
BOBCAT PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Offensive- Kira Thomsen led Montana State to a sweep of its intra-state rival Montana in Missoula to help the Bobcats win the first-ever Main Line Trophy. For the two-match series, she averaged 4.75 kills per set. Thomsen knocked down an impressive 20 kills in MSU 3-0 win over the Grizzlies on Monday night, averaging a hefty 6.7 kills per set. Defensive- Emma Pence paced the Bobcats on the defensive side of the net recording 12 blocks in MSU's sweep of Montana, last weekend. The Carson City, Nevada, product posted eight block assists in Montana State's 3-0 win on Monday and had four blocks on Sunday. For the weekend, she averaged in impressive 1.50 blocks per set. Pence's season average of 1.41 blocks per set leads the Big Sky Conference.
BOBCAT BLURBS: In its two matches at Montana last weekend, the Bobcats hit a whopping .293 from the floor. MSU posted a .252 attack mark on Sunday and followed it with a season-high .354 mark (47-12-99) on Monday...Lexi Goroski, who started both matches against Montana as MSU's libero registered a career-high 27 digs in Sunday's 3-2 victory...Kira Thomsen has been in double-figure kills the last three matches. She posted her first 20-kill match at Montana on Monday night, averaging an impressive 6.7 kills per set.
SIDE OUTS:
* Montana State snapped a 29-match losing streak to Northern Colorado on Jan. 24
* MSU's .245 attack percentage is second best in the league behind Weber State (.271)
* The Bobcats are ranked 56th in the nation, averaging 2.43 blocks per set
* Montana State is ranked 74th in the nation, averaging 1.64 aces per contest
* Emma Pence is ranked 32nd in the nation, averaging 1.41 blocks per set
* Emma Pence is ranked 52nd in the country with a .394 attack mark- tops in the Big Sky
* Freshman Jourdain Klein is ranked sixth in the Big Sky Conference, averaging 1.09 bps
* Jourdain Klein's 1.09 is ranked 30th in the nation for freshmen
* MSU averaged 1.88 bps at Montana- the Bobcats rank third in Big Sky blocking
* Emma Pence was Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week for Feb. 9
HARD BLOCK CAFE: The Bobcats averaged 1.88 blocks per set last weekend in its two-match sweep of Montana to win the first-ever Main Line Trophy. As a team, MSU is ranked third in the Big Sky Conference averaging 2.43 blocks per set. MSU's 2.43 bps also ranks No. 56 in the nation. Individually, sophomore Emma Pence leads the league averaging 1.41 blocks per set. That number ranks No. 31 in the country. Redshirt-freshman Jourdain Klein ranks sixth in the Big Sky averaging 1.09 blocks per set, which is 140th in the nation. The Bobcats posted a season-best 12 team blocks in its 3-0 win at UNC.
BEAM ME UP SCOTTY: Senior Hannah Scott recorded back-to-back double-figure kills matches as the Bobcats swept Montana last week. For the weekend, she averaged 2.88 kills per set, while notching a .340 attack mark. Scott's best match of the week came in MSU's 3-0 sweep over the Grizzlies as she registered 11 kills, a .500 attack mark five digs, two blocks and an ace. Last season, Scott had a breakout year which culminated in being named to the all-Big Sky Conference First-Team as she averaged 2.66 kills per set, while hitting .230 from the floor. She recorded 17 double-figure kill matches, including a season-best 20 kills in MSU's victory over Sacramento State. Scott also averaged 1.71 digs per set and logged six double-digit dig matches, including a season-high 11 saves on three occasions, the last coming against Sacramento State. Scott recorded a career-high 10 blocks against Northern Colorado at the Big Sky Tournament in 2019. She is currently 180 kills shy of becoming the 16th member of MSU's 1000-kill club.
A LENDING HAND: Former Bozeman High product and Montana Class AA state champion setter Allie Lynch settled into her junior season at Montana State. Lynch is averaging 4.27 assists per set in Montana State's 6-2 offense. Against Northern Arizona on Feb. 6, Lynch dished out a season-high 22 assists. Last weekend, the 5-10 junior averaged 3.63 assists and 1.00 digs per set the help the Bobcats in its sweep of Montana. Last fall, she registered ten matches with 45 assists or more, including a season-high 51 assists in MSU's win over Loyola Maryland. Freshman Delaney Shearan has also come up big in MSU's 6-2 system. The Phoenix, Ariz., product in averaging 4.95 assists per contest. She dished out a season and career-high 28 assists in MSU 3-2 win over the Grizzlies, last Sunday in Missoula. Additionally, Shearan is averaging 2.18 digs and .32 aces per set. For the two-match series, Shearan averaged 5.63 assists and 2.13 digs per game. She notched a season-high 12 digs against Northern Arizona on Feb. 6.
MAY I ASSIST YOU?: Junior setter Allie Lynch is slowly creeping up the all-time Montana State assists chart. The Bozeman native went over the 1,000-assist plateau against Portland State on Oct. 24, 2019. Former Bobcat standout Brooke Olsen-Roush (1996-99) holds the all-time Bobcats record set back in the old 15-point scoring era. Here's a look at MSU's all-time Top 10, and where Lynch stands:
1. Brooke Olsen, 1996-99 4,712
2. Kamber Kelly, 2001-04 3,751
3. Jennifer Lundquist, 2009-12 2,500
4. Lorraine Morrison, 1999-01 2,293
5. Kira Laden, 1995-96 1,893
6. Marsha Dirks, 1985-87 1,785
7. Katie Harrington, 2014-15 1,779
8. Stacey Nielsen, 1987-89 1,735
9. Allie Lynch, 2017--- 1,562
10. Christi Ryan, 1984-85 1,497
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 digs (12.64), second in hitting percentage (.245), third in kills (12.68), blocks (2.43) and opponent blocks (1.82), fourth in assists (11.23), and fifth in aces (1.64)
THOMSEN TIME: Sophomore Kira Thomsen averaged 4.75 kills per set, while hitting .347 from the floor in MSU's sweep at Montana last weekend. The Parker, Colo. product recorded 38 total kills, including 20 in the second match as MSU swept UM 3-0. Thomsen notched her first double-double of the season with 13 kills and 10 digs as MSU defeated Northern Arizona 3-0 in Shroyer Gym on Feb. 7. She has been in double-digit digs in four matches. Thomsen is also getting the job done from the service line. She has ten aces and her .45 aces per set is seventh best in the Big Sky and is 107th in the nation. Defensively, she averages 2.50 digs per set.
PENCE POWER: Sophomore middle blocker Emma Pence was named the #BigSkyVB Offensive Player of the Week for Feb. 9. It marked the first time a Bobcat has been honored this season. Last weekend, the Carson City native recorded 16 kills, a .300 attack mark and 12 block assists. Pence had her best match at the Bobcats defeated Montana 3-0 on Monday night. For the contest, she posted seven kills, a .500 attack mark and eight blocks. Her current .394 hitting percentage is top in the Big Sky and 51st in the nation. Pence's 1.41 blocks also lead the league and is 31st in the country.
THE MENACE FROM ENNIS: Redshirt-freshman Jourdain Klein (Ennis, Mont.) has been solid in the early going for the Bobcats. The true-freshman is averaging 1.32 kills and 1.09 blocks per set, while hitting at a .198 clip. Klein notched eight kills in MSU's 3-2 loss to NAU on Feb. 6. Her 1.09 blocks per set ranks sixth in the Big Sky Conference and 140th in the nation.
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021 @ 5 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 @ 5 p.m.
WHERE: Bozeman, Mont. - Shroyer Gym
RECORDS: Montana State 4-2, 4-2; Idaho State 4-4, 2-4
SERIES: Montana State leads 58-57; Streak: UM W1
LAST MTG: Oct. 29, 2019 - Montana 3, @ Montana State 1
VIDEO: Montana State's matches against Idaho State on Saturday and Sunday can be seen on Pluto TV - Ch. 1057.
UP NEXT: The Montana State volleyball team fresh off its sweep of Montana to capture the first-ever Main Line Trophy last weekend in Missoula returns to the Shroyer Gym floor in a weekend series against Idaho State. The two Big Sky rivals will open on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m., and conclude play on Sunday at 5 p.m.
BOBCAT PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Offensive- Kira Thomsen led Montana State to a sweep of its intra-state rival Montana in Missoula to help the Bobcats win the first-ever Main Line Trophy. For the two-match series, she averaged 4.75 kills per set. Thomsen knocked down an impressive 20 kills in MSU 3-0 win over the Grizzlies on Monday night, averaging a hefty 6.7 kills per set. Defensive- Emma Pence paced the Bobcats on the defensive side of the net recording 12 blocks in MSU's sweep of Montana, last weekend. The Carson City, Nevada, product posted eight block assists in Montana State's 3-0 win on Monday and had four blocks on Sunday. For the weekend, she averaged in impressive 1.50 blocks per set. Pence's season average of 1.41 blocks per set leads the Big Sky Conference.
BOBCAT BLURBS: In its two matches at Montana last weekend, the Bobcats hit a whopping .293 from the floor. MSU posted a .252 attack mark on Sunday and followed it with a season-high .354 mark (47-12-99) on Monday...Lexi Goroski, who started both matches against Montana as MSU's libero registered a career-high 27 digs in Sunday's 3-2 victory...Kira Thomsen has been in double-figure kills the last three matches. She posted her first 20-kill match at Montana on Monday night, averaging an impressive 6.7 kills per set.
SIDE OUTS:
* Montana State snapped a 29-match losing streak to Northern Colorado on Jan. 24
* MSU's .245 attack percentage is second best in the league behind Weber State (.271)
* The Bobcats are ranked 56th in the nation, averaging 2.43 blocks per set
* Montana State is ranked 74th in the nation, averaging 1.64 aces per contest
* Emma Pence is ranked 32nd in the nation, averaging 1.41 blocks per set
* Emma Pence is ranked 52nd in the country with a .394 attack mark- tops in the Big Sky
* Freshman Jourdain Klein is ranked sixth in the Big Sky Conference, averaging 1.09 bps
* Jourdain Klein's 1.09 is ranked 30th in the nation for freshmen
* MSU averaged 1.88 bps at Montana- the Bobcats rank third in Big Sky blocking
* Emma Pence was Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week for Feb. 9
HARD BLOCK CAFE: The Bobcats averaged 1.88 blocks per set last weekend in its two-match sweep of Montana to win the first-ever Main Line Trophy. As a team, MSU is ranked third in the Big Sky Conference averaging 2.43 blocks per set. MSU's 2.43 bps also ranks No. 56 in the nation. Individually, sophomore Emma Pence leads the league averaging 1.41 blocks per set. That number ranks No. 31 in the country. Redshirt-freshman Jourdain Klein ranks sixth in the Big Sky averaging 1.09 blocks per set, which is 140th in the nation. The Bobcats posted a season-best 12 team blocks in its 3-0 win at UNC.
BEAM ME UP SCOTTY: Senior Hannah Scott recorded back-to-back double-figure kills matches as the Bobcats swept Montana last week. For the weekend, she averaged 2.88 kills per set, while notching a .340 attack mark. Scott's best match of the week came in MSU's 3-0 sweep over the Grizzlies as she registered 11 kills, a .500 attack mark five digs, two blocks and an ace. Last season, Scott had a breakout year which culminated in being named to the all-Big Sky Conference First-Team as she averaged 2.66 kills per set, while hitting .230 from the floor. She recorded 17 double-figure kill matches, including a season-best 20 kills in MSU's victory over Sacramento State. Scott also averaged 1.71 digs per set and logged six double-digit dig matches, including a season-high 11 saves on three occasions, the last coming against Sacramento State. Scott recorded a career-high 10 blocks against Northern Colorado at the Big Sky Tournament in 2019. She is currently 180 kills shy of becoming the 16th member of MSU's 1000-kill club.
A LENDING HAND: Former Bozeman High product and Montana Class AA state champion setter Allie Lynch settled into her junior season at Montana State. Lynch is averaging 4.27 assists per set in Montana State's 6-2 offense. Against Northern Arizona on Feb. 6, Lynch dished out a season-high 22 assists. Last weekend, the 5-10 junior averaged 3.63 assists and 1.00 digs per set the help the Bobcats in its sweep of Montana. Last fall, she registered ten matches with 45 assists or more, including a season-high 51 assists in MSU's win over Loyola Maryland. Freshman Delaney Shearan has also come up big in MSU's 6-2 system. The Phoenix, Ariz., product in averaging 4.95 assists per contest. She dished out a season and career-high 28 assists in MSU 3-2 win over the Grizzlies, last Sunday in Missoula. Additionally, Shearan is averaging 2.18 digs and .32 aces per set. For the two-match series, Shearan averaged 5.63 assists and 2.13 digs per game. She notched a season-high 12 digs against Northern Arizona on Feb. 6.
MAY I ASSIST YOU?: Junior setter Allie Lynch is slowly creeping up the all-time Montana State assists chart. The Bozeman native went over the 1,000-assist plateau against Portland State on Oct. 24, 2019. Former Bobcat standout Brooke Olsen-Roush (1996-99) holds the all-time Bobcats record set back in the old 15-point scoring era. Here's a look at MSU's all-time Top 10, and where Lynch stands:
1. Brooke Olsen, 1996-99 4,712
2. Kamber Kelly, 2001-04 3,751
3. Jennifer Lundquist, 2009-12 2,500
4. Lorraine Morrison, 1999-01 2,293
5. Kira Laden, 1995-96 1,893
6. Marsha Dirks, 1985-87 1,785
7. Katie Harrington, 2014-15 1,779
8. Stacey Nielsen, 1987-89 1,735
9. Allie Lynch, 2017--- 1,562
10. Christi Ryan, 1984-85 1,497
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 digs (12.64), second in hitting percentage (.245), third in kills (12.68), blocks (2.43) and opponent blocks (1.82), fourth in assists (11.23), and fifth in aces (1.64)
THOMSEN TIME: Sophomore Kira Thomsen averaged 4.75 kills per set, while hitting .347 from the floor in MSU's sweep at Montana last weekend. The Parker, Colo. product recorded 38 total kills, including 20 in the second match as MSU swept UM 3-0. Thomsen notched her first double-double of the season with 13 kills and 10 digs as MSU defeated Northern Arizona 3-0 in Shroyer Gym on Feb. 7. She has been in double-digit digs in four matches. Thomsen is also getting the job done from the service line. She has ten aces and her .45 aces per set is seventh best in the Big Sky and is 107th in the nation. Defensively, she averages 2.50 digs per set.
PENCE POWER: Sophomore middle blocker Emma Pence was named the #BigSkyVB Offensive Player of the Week for Feb. 9. It marked the first time a Bobcat has been honored this season. Last weekend, the Carson City native recorded 16 kills, a .300 attack mark and 12 block assists. Pence had her best match at the Bobcats defeated Montana 3-0 on Monday night. For the contest, she posted seven kills, a .500 attack mark and eight blocks. Her current .394 hitting percentage is top in the Big Sky and 51st in the nation. Pence's 1.41 blocks also lead the league and is 31st in the country.
THE MENACE FROM ENNIS: Redshirt-freshman Jourdain Klein (Ennis, Mont.) has been solid in the early going for the Bobcats. The true-freshman is averaging 1.32 kills and 1.09 blocks per set, while hitting at a .198 clip. Klein notched eight kills in MSU's 3-2 loss to NAU on Feb. 6. Her 1.09 blocks per set ranks sixth in the Big Sky Conference and 140th in the nation.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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