A Little Tweak Needed: Cats Sting Hornets

Thursday, November 3

BOZEMAN

7 p.m.

Montana State University

10-14,6-6Big Sky

Sacramento State

11-13,7-5Big Sky

Sacramento St.

Montana St.

Kira Thomsen celebrates one of her 22 kills as the Bobcats knocked off Sacramento State on Thursday night in Shroyer Gym.

Photo by: Thomas Anderson

11/3/2022 10:05:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Tom Schulz

Sometimes change can be a good thing, and for the Montana State volleyball team it paid big dividends as the Bobcats rallied for a 20-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-15 victory over Sacramento State on Thursday night in Shroyer Gym.

Montana State (10-14, 6-6), who up until its match with Sacramento State (11-13, 7-5) had used a 5-1 offense (five hitters, one setter), mixed things up running a 6-2 (six hitters, two setters). The change resulted in the Bobcats holding a 60-49 advantage in kills, while out-hitting the Hornets .267 to .207.

"It took us a while to start clicking in the new offense," said MSU acting head coach Cole Aiazzi. "This week we took a good, long look at what was working for us, and what was not. It was a big change in the offense, but I thought our kids responded well and executed the game plan. We are a team with a lot of depth and trust and as the match went along, we were clicking well."

Senior Kira Thomsen led the Bobcats with a match-high 22 kills, while Jourdain Klein and Jordan Radick added 11 kills, apiece. Setters Nellie Reese and Audrey Hofer dished out 32 and 21 assists, respectively.

Defensively, MSU was paced by Lauren Lindseth with 21 digs, while Reese posted a season-high 13 saves. At the net, Avery Turnage tallied four blocks, while Emma Pence recorded three.

Sacramento State was led by Bridgette Smith with 13 kills and nine digs.

Montana State hosts Portland State on Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Shroyer Gym in its final home contest of the season, which will celebrate its lone senior Kaycee O'Dell.

SET ONE
Sacramento State got out to a 12-7 lead, before the Bobcats whittled the margin to 15-13 on an Emma Pence kill. The Hornets responded with a 7-3 run and held its advantage down the stretch winning on a Bridgette Smith kill. Pence and Jordan Radick led MSU in the set with four kills, apiece.

SET TWO
Set two saw 12 ties and three lead changes. The Bobcats broke away at 20-all with three consecutive points with kills from Jourdain Klein, Kira Thomsen and Emma Pence. The Hornets fought off two set points before a service error by Caty Cordano gave MSU the victory. Thomsen led MSU with six kills in the set, while Avery Turnage and Jordan Radick added two blocks, each.

SET THREE
Montana State got out to a huge 17-9 advantage midway through the set following a Kira Thomsen kill. Sacramento State cut the lead to 19-16 but would never get closer as Thomsen put MSU over the top, winning the set on another Hornet serving miscue. Thomsen notched six kills, along with Courtney Weatherby, who sparked the Cats with six kills and a .750 attack mark. Weatherby and Lauren Lindseth each added four digs.

SET FOUR
Montana State used an 8-3 run midway through the fourth set and finished out the match on a 6-1 spurt winning the contest on Jordan Radick's 11^th kill of the night. Kira Thomsen led MSU with seven kills in the set, while Jourdain Klein added four. Defensively, Lauren Lindseth and Ellie Reese guided MSU with nine and six digs, apiece.