Thomsen’s Career Night Lifts Bobcats to Five-Set Win

Saturday, November 5

BOZEMAN

7 p.m.

Montana State University

11-14,7-6Big Sky

Portland State

14-10,9-4Big Sky

Portland St.

Montana St.

Kira Thomsen digs up one of her team-leading 20 saves.

Photo by: Sawyer Haupt

11/5/2022 10:51:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

“Kira Thomsen looked like a player of the year contender,” Aiazzi added. “She took over the match, and she just had that look in her eye, and she led the charge.”

By: Tom Schulz

Montana State junior Kira Thomsen posted a career-high 32 kills, while adding 20 digs to guide the Bobcats to a 25-22, 22-25, 19-25, 26-24, 15-11 victory over league-leading Portland State on Saturday night in Shroyer Gym.

Thomsen's kill total was also a Big Sky Conference best this season. The product of Parker, Colo. notched a .444 attack mark committing just four errors on 63 swings. Also hitting double-figures for Montana State (11-14, 7-6) were Jordan Radick and Courtney Weatherby with 10, apiece.

"It was a true team effort," said MSU acting head coach Cole Aiazzi. "We had players come in off the bench who stepped right into their roles. We had a black-eye mentality, tonight.

"Kira Thomsen looked like a player of the year contender," Aiazzi added. "She took over the match, and she just had that look in her eye, and she led the charge."

Defensively, MSU was paced by Thomsen and Lauren Lindseth. Lindseth, a freshman from Great Falls, matched Thomsen's 20 digs. Also in double-digit digs were Weatherby 17 and Nellie Reese 10. At the net, the Bobcats were led by Emma Pence with five blocks.

Reese and Audrey Hofer ran the MSU offense dishing out 34 and 23 assists, respectively.

"We just switched to the 6-2 and we still have a lot of things to work on," Aiazzi said. "We're still not the final product we know we can be."

Portland State (14-10, 9-4) was led by Makayla Lewis with 19 kills and 16 digs.

Montana State's at Montana next Friday night in Missoula and plays its last three matches on the road.

"I can't thank Bobcat Nation, enough," Aiazzi said. "The crowd was electric tonight and really gave us a lift. Throughout the whole season, they've had our backs."

SET 1
Kira Thomsen and Portland State's Makayla Lewis were the show in the opening set as they recorded nine and seven, kills respectively. Thomsen recorded the first kill of the set, and the Bobcats never trailed the rest of the way. Leading 15-14 at the midway mark, MSU rattled off a 6-2 run to take a 21-16 advantage following an Emma Pence kill. The Vikings closed to within 24-22 in the waning moments before Thomsen closed out the frame with a kill.

SET 2
Portland State got out to a 14-7 lead early in the second stanza before the Bobcats rallied, closing the margin to 15-13 on a Lauren Lindseth service ace. The Vikings held off the MSU charge with three consecutive points and took the set on a Bobcat service error.

SET 3
The third set was a back-and-forth affair with neither team holding more than a three-point lead. With the set even at 17-all, Portland State scored five unanswered points cruising to the win out-hitting the Bobcats .289 to .163.

SET 4
The fourth set featured five ties and five lead changes. Portland State held a late 20-16 advantage following a Bobcat hitting miscue. MSU responded with a 6-3 run pulling within one point, however a Bobcat service error gave PSU match point. The Bobcats fought off two match points on a kill by Thomsen and a PSU hitting error. MSU closed out its 4-0 run on a Thomsen ace and a kill via Courtney Weatherby. Thomsen was unstoppable in the fourth frame, notching eight kills with a .727 attack mark.

SET 5
Montana State jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the fifth and deciding set. Portland State whittled the margin to 8-6 on a Sophia Meyers' kill, but again the Bobcats responded with a 5-2 run capped by a block by Kira Thomsen and Emma Pence. Thomsen closed out the match with two kills to complete the Bobcats' come-from-behind victory. Montana State out-hit Portland State .360 to .200 in the final game.