Montana State’s Blue-Gold Scrimmage Goes the Distance
8/13/2022 6:28:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Sixth-year head coach Daniel Jones got a glimpse of his 2022 volleyball squad in live action as the Blue defeated the Gold 25-18, 20-25, 25-21, 15-25, 15-10 on Saturday afternoon in Shroyer Gym
Sixth-year head coach Daniel Jones got a glimpse of his 2022 volleyball squad in live action as the Blue defeated the Gold 25-18, 20-25, 25-21, 15-25, 15-10 on Saturday afternoon in Shroyer Gym.
"It's always good to put the jerseys on for the first time and get some nerves out, particularly the freshmen," Jones said. "It was a great opportunity to get out and compete, and it was a high-level of volleyball."
The Bobcats relied on a bevy of veterans offensively led by Jourdain Klein with a match-high 17 kills, while Kaycee O'Dell (13), Kira Thomsen (12), Jordan Radick (12), Avery Turnage (10) and Emma Pence (10) all registered double-digit kills.
MSU's middle blocking trio of O'Dell, Radick and Pence combined to post a .459 attack mark. O'Dell, MSU's lone senior, hit a team-best .590 connecting on 13 kills behind 22 swings.
"An efficient attack from a number of players across the board is exactly what you want to see," Jones commented. "We're really happy with that and that our setters did a nice job distributing the ball and finding the right hitters at the right time and keeping them in rhythm."
Sophomore Audrey Hofer led MSU dishing out 52 assists, while freshman Nellie Reese had 28 and junior Delaney Shearan 18.
Thomsen, a junior all-conference outside hitter, paced the Bobcats from the service line with six aces, while Shearan added three.
"We've really focused on our serving and having the ability to knock our opponents out of system," Jones stated. "It allows for our block and defense to come into play."
Defensively, MSU had four players in double-figure digs led by Shalya Webber with 16. The junior from Joliet was followed by Courtney Weatherby (14), Lauren Lindseth (11) and Maci Abshier (10).
"It's a credit to (assistant coach) Taylor Els, on both serving and defense," Jones said. Taylor's come in and put a huge emphasis on those two areas and we're starting to see the results- the relentless training of floor defense and the confidence the team has right now to make those moves and get the ball up, and not just getting them up in the air, but getting them up in really good situations to give us offensive opportunities."
Pence, who was the Big Sky Conference's top blocker last season, recorded a match-high four blocks, while Turnage, Radick, O'Dell and freshman Camryn Greenwald added three apiece.
MSU will travel to MSU Billings on Thursday, Aug. 18 to face the Yellowjackets in exhibition action.
"We need to continue fine-tuning some things," Jones added. "We need to find a lineup. We mixed and matched a lot in the scrimmage. We saw a lot of good things today, and we'll continue to move forward."
The Bobcats open regular-season action against San Francisco on Aug. 26 in Shroyer Gym.
"It's always good to put the jerseys on for the first time and get some nerves out, particularly the freshmen," Jones said. "It was a great opportunity to get out and compete, and it was a high-level of volleyball."
The Bobcats relied on a bevy of veterans offensively led by Jourdain Klein with a match-high 17 kills, while Kaycee O'Dell (13), Kira Thomsen (12), Jordan Radick (12), Avery Turnage (10) and Emma Pence (10) all registered double-digit kills.
MSU's middle blocking trio of O'Dell, Radick and Pence combined to post a .459 attack mark. O'Dell, MSU's lone senior, hit a team-best .590 connecting on 13 kills behind 22 swings.
"An efficient attack from a number of players across the board is exactly what you want to see," Jones commented. "We're really happy with that and that our setters did a nice job distributing the ball and finding the right hitters at the right time and keeping them in rhythm."
Sophomore Audrey Hofer led MSU dishing out 52 assists, while freshman Nellie Reese had 28 and junior Delaney Shearan 18.
Thomsen, a junior all-conference outside hitter, paced the Bobcats from the service line with six aces, while Shearan added three.
"We've really focused on our serving and having the ability to knock our opponents out of system," Jones stated. "It allows for our block and defense to come into play."
Defensively, MSU had four players in double-figure digs led by Shalya Webber with 16. The junior from Joliet was followed by Courtney Weatherby (14), Lauren Lindseth (11) and Maci Abshier (10).
"It's a credit to (assistant coach) Taylor Els, on both serving and defense," Jones said. Taylor's come in and put a huge emphasis on those two areas and we're starting to see the results- the relentless training of floor defense and the confidence the team has right now to make those moves and get the ball up, and not just getting them up in the air, but getting them up in really good situations to give us offensive opportunities."
Pence, who was the Big Sky Conference's top blocker last season, recorded a match-high four blocks, while Turnage, Radick, O'Dell and freshman Camryn Greenwald added three apiece.
MSU will travel to MSU Billings on Thursday, Aug. 18 to face the Yellowjackets in exhibition action.
"We need to continue fine-tuning some things," Jones added. "We need to find a lineup. We mixed and matched a lot in the scrimmage. We saw a lot of good things today, and we'll continue to move forward."
The Bobcats open regular-season action against San Francisco on Aug. 26 in Shroyer Gym.
Players Mentioned
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB/OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballWednesday, January 18
Monday, November 15
Saturday, September 04
Friday, September 03
