Thomsen Notches 1,000th Career Kill at EWU

Friday, October 28

Cheney, WA

7 p.m. (MT)

Montana State University

9-14,5-6Big Sky

Eastern Washington

9-13,4-6Big Sky

Montana St.

Eastern Wash.

Kira Thomsen

Photo by: Gerry Mooney

10/28/2022 10:28:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Thomsen, who finished with a season-high 24 kills, became MSU’s 17th member of its prestigious 1,000-kill club on her 19th kill of the match. The senior from Parker, Colo., put together one of her best career efforts notching a .321 attack mark while adding 23 digs, four blocks and three aces.

By: Tom Schulz

Despite career performances from Kira Thomsen and Jourdain Klein the Montana State volleyball team couldn't hold off a late charging Eastern Washington squad as the Eagles rallied for a 25-22, 26-28, 19-25, 25-23, 15-11 win over the Bobcats on Friday night at Reese Court.

Montana State (9-14, 5-6) held a 2-1 advantage after a convincing 25-19 set three victory. The fourth frame saw six ties in the waning moments before Eastern Washington (9-13, 4-6) broke away at 23-all with a kill by Sadie Bacon followed by a Bobcat hitting error to force a fifth and deciding set.

MSU jumped out to an early 6-3 lead in the fifth following an Eagle hitting miscue and held a 10-8 cushion following a block by Klein and Jordan Radick. After an EWU timeout, the Eagles rattled off a 5-0 run and never relinquished its lead taking the match on back-to-back kills.

Thomsen, who finished with a season-high 24 kills, became MSU's 17^th member of its prestigious 1,000-kill club on her 19^th kill of the match. The senior from Parker, Colo., put together one of her best career efforts notching a .321 attack mark while adding 23 digs, four blocks and three aces.

"Getting 1,000 kills is a big deal," said MSU acting head coach Cole Aiazzi. "Kira has been a staple of our program and one of the athletes that has helped us move this program forward. It's cool that she reached this milestone."

Klein, an outside hitter from Ennis, posted a career-high 23 kills while hitting .298 and adding three blocks.

"We're still in the situation of putting all the pieces together," Aiazzi said. "We moved our line-up around to put us in the best position possible. Our outsides had a big-time night, but now we need to have everyone firing on all cylinders at the same time. We will continue to move forward with a unified front and work on becoming better in uncomfortable situations."

Bobcat setter Audrey Hofer finished the contest with a career-high 56 assists, while chipping in 11 digs. Also posting double-digit digs were Lauren Lindseth 18 and Madilyn Siebler 17.

Alyssa Radke notched 16 kills to lead four Eagles in double-figure kills.

Montana State hosts Sacramento State on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. in Shroyer Gym.