Cats Close Out Regular Season on Road

WHO:           Montana State at Weber State
WHEN:         Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, at 6 p.m. (MT)
WHERE:       Ogden, Utah
VENUE:        Swenson Gym
RECORDS:    Montana State 11-15, 7-7; Montana 16-9, 10-4
SERIES:         Weber State leads all-time series 44-37 (1979)
LAST MTG: Oct. 22, 2022 - Weber State 3, @ Montana St. 1

WHO:           Montana State at Idaho State
WHEN:         Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at 7 p.m. (MT)
WHERE:       Pocatello, Idaho
VENUE:        Reed Gym
RECORDS:    Montana State 11-15, 7-7; Idaho State 13-14, 5-9
SERIES:         Idaho State leads all-time series 41-38 (1978)
LAST MTG: Oct. 20, 2022 - @Montana State 3, Idaho State 0

VIDEO:          Montana State's matches at Weber State and Idaho State will be streamed live at ESPN+ (subscription necessary).

NEXT UP: Montana State closes out the 2022 regular season when it travels down the I-15 corridor this week. The Bobcats will face Weber State, Thursday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. in Swenson Gym in Ogden, Utah, before wrapping Big Sky play with Idaho State, Saturday, Nov. 19 at Reed Gym in Pocatello. Montana State currently sits in sixth place and have clinched a spot in the eight-team Big Sky Conference Tournament set to begin on Nov. 23 in Ogden, Utah. Who MSU's first-round opponent in the tournament will be is anyone's guess as it is possible the Big Sky season ends with four co-champions - from five schools still in the running for a title - Northern Colorado, Weber State, Portland State/Sacramento State (winner) and Montana.

BOBCAT OF THE WEEK: Junior outside hitter Kira Thomsen is the Bobcat Player of the Week after continuing her stellar play over the past two weeks. Thomsen, who was named the AVAC National Division I Player of the Week on Nov. 7, paced Montana State at Montana last Friday night. Against the Grizzlies, she was the only Bobcat to reach double-digit kills with a match-high 18, while hitting .175 and adding eight digs and three service aces

BOBCAT BITES: Kira Thomsen became the 17th member of MSU's 1,000-Kill Club at Eastern Washington on Oct. 28...Thomsen's career 1,077 kills rank No. 12 all-time in the Bobcat Record Book...Sophomore Jourdain Klein notched a career-high 23 kills against Eastern Washington on Oct. 28...MSU set a school, state of Montana, and Big Sky volleyball attendance record when 6,457 fans jammed into Worthington Arena on Sept. 30 against Montana.

SIDE OUTS:
* Montana State ranks No. 120 in the nation with 223.0 total blocks on the season
* Junior Kira Thomsen is second in the Big Sky Conference averaging 3.92 kills per set
* In Big Sky stats, Montana State is third in the league in kills (12.78) and assists (11.86)
* Freshman Lauren Lindseth ranks second in the Big Sky and 135th in the nation with 403 digs
* Setter Audrey Hofer is sixth in the Big Sky and 104th in the nation with 895 assists
* Kira Thomsen is starting to find her legs and is averaging 3.87 kps and 3.11 dps in BSC play
* MSU's Kira Thomsen currently ranks fifth in the Big Sky Conference averaging .39 aces per set
* Montana State averaged 1,292 fans per match, which currently ranks 42nd in the nation
* Jordan Radick was the 2021 Big Sky Freshman of the Year, the first for MSU since 2013
* BSC's toughest schedules: 1-PSU 102, 2-WSU 134, 3- MSU 158, 4- NAU 170, 5- UNC 195

THE SCOUTING REPORT: Weber State is 16-9 overall and 10-4 in Big Sky play after defeating Northern Arizona 3-1, before dropping a 3-2 decision - including a 21-19 fifth set loss- at Northern Colorado. Against UNC, the Wildcats were paced by Dani Richins and Emma Mangum with 24 and 10 kills, respectively. Mangum also produced seven blocks. At NAU, WSU was led by Richins with 17 kills, while Mangum, Baylee Bodily and Saane Katoa added 10 apiece. Idaho State is 13-14 overall and 5-9 in league play. Last weekend, ISU dropped matches at UNC and NAU. Sadie Bluth leads the Bengals averaging 2.97 kills per set.

PACKED HOUSE: The Bobcats set a Big Sky Conference, state of Montana and MSU attendance record when 6,457 fans jammed Worthington Arena on Friday, Sept. 30 against rival Montana. The top five largest home crowds in MSU history:

1.            vs. Montana*    9/30/22                6,457
2.            vs. Montana*    11/15/02              6,378
3.            vs. Montana*    10/10/03              4,741
4.            vs. Montana*    11/5/04                4,159
5.            vs. Montana       10/12/01              2,125
* = Played in Worthington Arena

MADE IN MONTANA: The Bobcats' starting rotation has included four players from the Treasure State. In all, MSU has five athletes from its home turf on the roster. Starters include setter Audrey Hofer (Helena/Capital), middle blocker Jordan Radick (Bozeman), outside hitter Jordan Klein (Ennis) and libero Lauren Lindseth (Great Falls/CMR). The fifth is defensive specialist Shayla Webber (Joliet), who has seen action in 17 of MSU's 23 matches.

HARD BLOCK CAFE: Overall, the Bobcats are sixth in the league averaging 2.12 blocks per set. Individually, Kaycee O'Dell leads the Bobcats averaging 1.36 blocks per set. On the season, Montana State's 223 total blocks is fourth best in the conference and ranks 120th in the nation. It's 2.12 bps ranks 152nd in the country.

CLIMBING THE LADDER: As the MSU program continues to improve, its numbers within the Big Sky statistical categories have shown improvement. In the 13 team statistical categories compiled by the Big Sky, the Cats rank among the top five in the league in seven categories, including #3 in points (16.19), kills (12.78), and assists (11.86), and #5 in (15.64), opponent service aces (1.40), opponent kills (12.17) and opponent assists (11.52).

TOOL TIME: Junior outside hitter Kira Thomsen returned to the Bobcat rotation after missing 14 matches due to injury against Montana on Sept. 30. Two weeks ago, the product of Parker, Colorado was named the GameChanger/AVCA NCAA Division I National Player of the Year after averaging 6.0 kills and 6.4 points per set in wins over Portland State and Sacramento State. She also hit .405 and added 29 digs. Against Portland State, Thomsen notched a career-high 32 kills, while hitting .444 and adding 20 digs. She has been in double-figure kills in ten of 12 matches and double-digit digs in six of 12 outings. For the season, Thomsen has tallied five double-doubles. On Oct. 28th at Eastern Washington, Thomsen's 19th kill of the match gave her 1,000 for her career - becoming the 17th member of MSU's 1,000-kill club. Earlier in the season, Thomsen notched a career-best 26 digs at Portland State. Last season, the Second Team All-Big Sky Conference selection.

Career Kills Watch:
                1.            Diane Terrall                       1,451     78-81
                2.            Brandy Anderson             1,380     95-98
                3.            Maggie Koughan              1,328     82-85
                4.            Hannah Scott                     1,288     17-21
                5.            Stephanie Laya                 1,260     97-00
                6.            Meggie Malyurek             1,136     02-05
                7.            Moyra Ditchfield               1,135     80-83
                8.            Kim Stonehouse               1,129     03-06
                9.            Megan Zanto                     1,128     02-05
                10.          Kim Steffel                          1,108     89-92
                11           Kira Thomsen                    1,077     19---
                12.          Michelle Usitalo                1,060     81-84
                13.          Cori Carper                         1,058     96-99
                14.          Mindy Nowak                    1,044     96-99
                15.          Stephanie Nowicki           1,033     86-89
                16.          Karen Weyler                     1,026     94-97
                17.          Aimee Halyk                       1,014     99-02

THE GREAT WALL OF BOZEMAN: Junior Emma Pence continues her assault on the Bobcat blocks records. This season, the product of Carson City, Nevada, has totaled 85 blocks, averaging 0.91 per set. Last fall, Pence was one of the top blockers in the nation averaging 1.34 blocks per set, which led the Big Sky and ranked 14th in the nation. Pence's 151 total blocks was tops in the league and seventh in the country. This season, she had recorded four total blocks or more on thirteen occasions, the last coming against Montana, last Friday night in Dahlberg Arena.

Career Block Watch:
Block Assists:
1.            Megan Zanto, 02-05        511
2.            Karen Weyler, 94-97        460
3.            Cori Carper, 96-99            425
4.            Emma Pence, 2019--       400
5.            Angela Wiebe, 03-06       394

Total Blocks:
1.            Megan Zanto, 02-05        592
2.            Karen Weyler, 94-97        570
3.            Cori Carper, 96-99            490
4.            Emma Pence, 2019--       452
5.            Angela Wiebe, 03-06       416

THE MENACE FROM ENNIS: Jourdain Klein, a 6-1 outside hitter from Ennis, Mont., is averaging 2.37 kills and 0.83 blocks per set with a .222 attack mark in Big Sky Conference action. Two weeks ago, she tallied 19 kills and four blocks against Sacramento State and Portland State. Klein registered a career-high 23 kills at Eastern Washington. on Oct. 28. This fall, she has recorded ten matches with double-digit kills, and ten matches with four or more blocks. She recorded a season-high eight blocks against Harvard. Klein was named to the Bobcat Invitational All-Tournament team after producing 26 kills and 10 blocks vs. Boise State, Washington and UNT.

JORDAN IN THE MIDDLE: two weeks ago, sophomore Jordan Radick averaged 2.33 kills and .44 blocks per set Sacramento State and Portland State. For the nine sets, she posted a .325 (21-8-40) attack mark. Radick notched a weekend-high 11 kills at Sacramento State. Against Weber State on Oct. 22, Radick matched a career-high 15 kills. The Bozeman High product has been in double-figure kills on nine occasions and has notched nine matches with four or more blocks. Radick leads the team in hitting percentage at .301. On the season, she has registered eight matches hitting .350 or better. Radick was the 2021 Big Sky Freshman of the Year and was a 2021 All-Big Sky Second Team selection, as well.

HERE'S THE DISH: Sophomore setter Audrey Hofer dished out 13 assists and added five digs at Montana, last Friday. Two weeks ago, she recorded 44 assists, averaging 4.89 per set against Sacramento State and Portland State in MSU's 6-2 offense. In MSU's 3-2 loss at Eastern Washington on Oct. 28, Hofer handed out a career-high 56 assists. The product of Helena Capital is eighth in the Big Sky averaging 8.51 apg. She has registered five double-doubles this fall and recorded a career-high six kills at Bryant University. Freshman Nellie Reese got the starting nod in MSU's 6-2 offense on Nov. 3 versus Sacramento State and averaged 7.33 assists and 2.56 digs per set. She dished out 17 assists at Montana on Friday night.

TO BE OR NOT TO BE: Sophomore Courtney Weatherby has done an outstanding job on the outside for the Bobcats this fall. The native of Kuna, Idaho has played in 23 matches and 88 sets, averaging 1.86 kills and 2.34 digs per set. Weatherby recorded a career-high 20 kills against St. Thomas (MN) at the Bobcat Classic en route to being named to the all-tournament team. In all, she has been in double-digit kills on nine occasions, and double-figure digs eleven times. She leads the Bobcats with eight double-doubles. Weatherby tallied a season-high 22 saves as the Bobcats defeated Fordham on Sept. 9. Weatherby has also done the job from the service line and is third on the team with 23 aces. She posted three aces against Grand Canyon and Fordham. Against Northern Colorado, Weatherby registered a career-high three blocks, with one solo, and two block assists on Sept. 24. Last Friday, Weatherby had four kills and 12 digs.

LINDSETH FAMILY LEGACY: Montana State freshman libero Lauren Lindseth is part of Bobcat history as one-half of the first mother/daughter duo to play volleyball at MSU. Lindseth's mother - Kelly Modrow - played for the Blue and Gold from 1992-1996. The native of Minnetonka, Minnesota (Hopkins HS) played in 110 matches and 359 sets. In all, her career totals include: 889 kills, 733 digs, 128 blocks and 87 service aces wearing the No. 2 jersey. Like her mother, Lauren also dons the No. 2 uniform. Lindseth has played in all 26 matches and 105 sets this season as MSU's starting libero. On the season, she's totaled 403 digs, averaging 3.84 per contest. In Big Sky play, she is averaging 4.39 digs per set. Lindseth had been in double-digit saves on 19 occasions, including a season and career-high 32 digs as the Bobcat upset Boise State 3-2 in Shroyer Gym on Sept. 15. Additionally, Lindseth is first on the squad with 25 service aces, including a season-high two aces on seven occasions. She's also dished out 72 assists, averaging .69 per set.

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