Still Playing: Cats Advance to NIVC Great Eight

Friday, December 1

Sacramento, CA

8 p.m. (MT)

Montana State University

23-8,12-4Big Sky

Sacramento State

22-12,13-3Big Sky

Montana St.

Sacramento St.

The Bobcats celebrate match-point against Sacramento State on Friday night.

Photo by: Courtesy Sacramento State Sports Information

12/2/2023 12:19:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

“It’s pretty cool,” said MSU first-year head coach Matt Houk on the Bobcats’ late-season success. “We just want to keep this stuff rolling.”

By: Tom Schulz

Montana State's historical season continues after dispatching Big Sky Conference rival Sacramento State in the second round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC). The Bobcats used a strong service game, an efficient offense and a big block to post a 25-27, 25-17, 25-19, 25-19 win over the Hornets on Friday night.

Montana State (23-8), winners in ten of its last 11 matches, faces Wyoming in the NIVC's Great Eight on Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m. in Laramie. MSU's 23 victories are a school record.

"It's pretty cool," said MSU first-year head coach Matt Houk on the Bobcats' late-season success. "We just want to keep this stuff rolling."

For the second straight match, the Bobcats jumped out early taking a 5-1 lead. However, Sacramento State (22-12) grabbed the momentum behind a 14-4 run and held a late 24-21 advantage. MSU fought off three set points to even the contest at 24-all on a kill by sophomore Camryn Greenwald. Tied at 25, the Hornets got a kill from Tiyanane Kamba-Griffin followed by a block to win the opening frame.

"We weren't passing very well, especially during their run," Houk said. "But in the time outs, I could see the look in our kids' eyes, and they were present in the moment. They really started to smooth things out and gain control at the end of the set and we felt like we were in control."

The Bobcats continued its steady energy to stake a 9-3 advantage to open the second stanza. Sacramento State closed to within 15-14 at the midway mark, but MSU rattled off a 7-1 run capped by a Jordan Radick kill and took its first set of the match on a Kira Thomsen winner.

"I was pleased with how we were siding-out," Houk stated. "We waited for our opportunities and stayed patient. I thought our middles really produced and the set the tone."

MSU's middle blocking tandem of Radick and Greenwald combined for five kills and four blocks in the second set.

The Bobcats owned the third set building a 10-1 lead. The Hornets would get no closer than four points the rest of the set as MSU outhit Sacramento State .290 to .059, while also outblocking the Hornets 6-2.

"Sacramento State is a tough team to block," Houk said. "If they pass well their kids are flying all over the place. I thought we executed our block plan at a high rate, and it gave them fits. Their middles are a handful, but the load of swings goes through (Bridgette) Smith, so it was important to slow her down."

Smith, the Big Sky's MVP, finished the match with 15 kills, but posted a .094 attack mark.

The final frame featured six ties and four lead changes. Tied at 18-all in the late going, MSU went on a 3-0 run behind a block by Greenwald and Jourdain Kamps, a Hornet hitting error, and a Nellie Stevenson ace. Leading 22-19 following a Kamps kill, Thomsen recorded her first ace of the night to give the Bobcats a four-point cushion. Thomsen closed out the match with her 53^rd ace of the season.

"That three-point stretch was crucial," Houk said. "And Nellie (Stevenson) hitting such a timely serve at an opportune time was a nice piece. I thought we were really assertive with our serve which at times was high error, but it was also high reward and getting eight aces was a risk we were willing to take."

Thomsen paced MSU with a team-high 15 kills, while adding nine digs and two aces. Greenwald also hit double-figures with 10 kills, a .444 attack mark and six blocks, while Radick finished with six kills and a match-best 10 blocks. Kamps also contributed to the Bobcat attack with nine kills, a .348 attack mark, a team-high 12 digs and six blocks.

Stevenson finished with 34 assists, seven digs, three blocks and two digs, while libero Lauren Lindseth registered 11 digs and three aces.

"Nellie has really found her comfort zone in the last third of the season," Houk said. "She is fun to watch.

"And I thought Lauren was stellar tonight," he added. "Not only in her defensive play, but with how steady she was as a passer. They couldn't rattle her."

MSU travels back to Bozeman on Saturday, and will take Sunday off, before practicing on Monday. The team plans to arrive in Laramie on Tuesday night.

MSU, Wyoming, Clemson, Wichita State and Drake are the only schools that have advanced to the Great Eight. The remaining three spots will be filled by Saturday night.