Saturday, December 9
Wichita, KS
12 p.m. (MT)
Montana State University
at
Wichita State
Photo by: courtesy of Wyoming Athletics
Cats Set to Face Wichita State in NIVC Fab Four
12/8/2023 4:39:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Montana State’s first-ever appearance in national postseason play continues this weekend as it faces Wichita State, Saturday, Dec. 9 at 12 p.m. MT in the Fab 4 of the Women’s National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) in Kansas.
NEXT UP: Montana State's first-ever appearance in national postseason play continues this weekend as it faces Wichita State, Saturday, Dec. 9 at 12 p.m. MT in the Fab 4 of the Women's National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) in Kansas. Montana State advanced to the semifinals after defeating Wyoming (3-2) on Wednesday night. MSU opened NIVC play with victories over Pacific (3-1) and Sacramento State (3-1) in California on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, respectively. Wichita State, who has an identical 24-8 overall mark as the Bobcats, defeated Arkansas State (3-0) and Tulsa (3-1) in the 1st/2nd rounds, before dispatching Drake (3-0) on Wednesday night. The Shockers have played all three matches in the NIVC on its home court.
ON A ROLL: Montana State, with its 3-2 loss to Weber State in the Big Sky championship match on Nov. 24, saw its seven-match win streak end. MSU notched victories over Sacramento State, Weber State, Portland State, Montana, Eastern Washington, Idaho State, and Northern Arizona. The streak was MSU's longest since the 2021 Bobcats won nine straight during the spring Covid season. MSU has won 10 of its last 11 matches heading into Saturday.
MAKING HISTORY: Montana State has won 24 matches following its 3-2 win over Wyoming on Wednesday night in Laramie. The 24 wins are the most (modern era - 1982-present) for the Bobcats since Dave Gantt's squad went 21-10 during the 2002 season. MSU's 12 Big Sky Conference victories this season were the most for a Montana State team in Big Sky Conference play.
SIMPLY THE BEST: Kira Thomsen's first kill against Northern Colorado Nov. 2 was a hard swing that deflected off the block out-of-bounds. It gave the Parker, Colo., product 1,452 career kills and the all-time MSU career kills record, moving her ahead of Diane Terrall who had held the record since 1981. Thomsen's current total stands at 1,677 career kills, which ranks fourth in the Big Sky Conference era. Thomsen has also registered a career 4,791 attacks, which ranks fifth in Big Sky history. Her 157 career aces rank 10th in league history. Thomsen is a three-time First Team All-Big Sky pick and was a Second Team All-Big Sky choice in the fall of 2021. Off the court, she will become a rare five-time All-Big Sky Conference Academic honoree.
NCAA VOLLEYBALL RPI RANKINGS: Through matches of Nov. 26 the highest ranked Big Sky team is tournament champion Weber State at No. 106. The Wildcats are followed by Northern Colorado (115), Montana State (140), Sacramento State (149), Montana (185), Portland State (187), Northern Arizona (257), Idaho State (266), Eastern Washington (271), and Idaho (333). Looking at Montana State's NIVC opponents, Pacific was listed No. 120 - the fourth highest ranked team in the WCC, while Wyoming is listed No. 98 - the third highest in the Mountain West. Wichita State is listed No. 62 in the AAC.
MONTANA STATE/NIVC NOTEBOOK:
*Montana State is playing in its first-ever national postseason tournament defeating Pacific & Sacramento State in the first two rounds and Wyoming in the Great 8. All three wins came on the road where the Bobcats sport an 8-4 away record.
*Montana State had a November to remember. After losing 3-1 at home to Northern Colorado on Nov. 2, the Bobcats rattled off seven consecutive wins defeating Northern Arizona, Idaho State, Weber State, Sacramento State, Portland State, Montana, and Eastern Washington, before dropping a 3-2 decision to Weber State in the Big Sky Championship. MSU went 8-2 in the month.
*Montana State won a school-record 12 Big Sky Conference matches this season under first year head coach Matt Houk. The Bobcats were 7-1 at home in Big Sky matches, and 5-3 on the road, which included road sweeps at Northern Arizona/Northern Colorado and Idaho State/Weber State.
*Overall, the Bobcats have won 24 matches on the season, which is the most in program history, surpassing the 2002 Dave Gantt-led Bobcats that went 21-10 overall.
*The Bobcats made their 17th appearance at the Big Sky Conference Tournament, and its seventh consecutive. Since its first tournament appearance in 1996, Montana State is 13-17 overall, but have gone 1-12 in semifinal action. The Bobcats played in their first-ever Big Sky Conference championship match against Weber State on November 24.
*Montana State enjoyed home-cooking this season, going a school-record 12-1 inside the warm confines of Shroyer Gym. Its lone loss was a 3-1 setback to Northern Colorado on Nov. 2, 2023.
*Part of MSU's run in the Big Sky Tournament had a lot to do with its service game. The Bobcats averaged 1.92 aces in its three matches in Greeley, well above its season mark of 1.64 aces per set. Kira Thomsen dished out seven aces during tourney played followed by Lauren Lindseth six, and Joudain Kamps four. In her last 15 matches, Thomsen has recorded 31 aces (.49 aps). The product of Parker, Colo., finished third in the Big Sky averaging .44 per outing. Lindseth has notched 22 service aces in her last 15 matches, and averages .30 on the season.
*Offensively, Montana State is hitting its stride. In its first three NIVC matches, the Bobcats hit .283 from the field and averaged 12.38 kps. During its three-matches at the Big Sky tourney they averaged 13.67 kills per set, while hitting .259 from the field. MSU entered the BSC tournament averaging 12.81 kps and hitting .213. Thomsen paced the Bobcats in tourney action averaging 4.92 kills per set, while hitting .255. She closed out tournament play matching her season-high of 28 kills against Weber State.
*Junior setter Nellie Stevenson played a big role in MSU's success at the Big Sky Tournament. The transfer from Feather River College dished out 10.25 assists per set against Montana, Eastern Washington, and Weber State. The product of San Leandro, Calif., entered tournament action averaging 8.41 aps. Stevenson dished out a season-high 51 assists in MSU's 3-1 win over Sacramento State on Nov. 16 in Shroyer Gym.
*Nationally, the Bobcats are ranked 12th in team total attacks (4,495), 21st in team kills (1,644), 22nd in team service aces (216), 30th in team assists (1,509), 35th in win/loss% (.750), and 37th in team total blocks (289)
*Nationally, Bobcat standout Kira Thomsen ranks 6th in total attacks (1,494), 6th in points (614.5) 7th in total kills (539), 12th in service aces (56), 14th in attacks per set (11.67), 26th in kills per set (4.21), 31st in points per set (4.80), 44th in aces per set (.44).
*Matt Houk, who served the past nine seasons at the University of Minnesota, including the last four years as associate head coach, was named the 12th head coach in Montana State volleyball history on Friday, January 13, 2023. Houk, who began his stint with the Gophers in the spring of 2014, played an integral role assisting former UMN head coach Hugh McCutcheon, in guiding Minnesota to three Final Fours, four Elite Eight's and eight Sweet 16 appearances. During that span, the Gophers captured the 2015 and 2018 Big Ten titles. Houk was also instrumental in recruiting multiple top 10-ranked classes, including the No. 1 overall class in 2020.
ON A ROLL: Montana State, with its 3-2 loss to Weber State in the Big Sky championship match on Nov. 24, saw its seven-match win streak end. MSU notched victories over Sacramento State, Weber State, Portland State, Montana, Eastern Washington, Idaho State, and Northern Arizona. The streak was MSU's longest since the 2021 Bobcats won nine straight during the spring Covid season. MSU has won 10 of its last 11 matches heading into Saturday.
MAKING HISTORY: Montana State has won 24 matches following its 3-2 win over Wyoming on Wednesday night in Laramie. The 24 wins are the most (modern era - 1982-present) for the Bobcats since Dave Gantt's squad went 21-10 during the 2002 season. MSU's 12 Big Sky Conference victories this season were the most for a Montana State team in Big Sky Conference play.
SIMPLY THE BEST: Kira Thomsen's first kill against Northern Colorado Nov. 2 was a hard swing that deflected off the block out-of-bounds. It gave the Parker, Colo., product 1,452 career kills and the all-time MSU career kills record, moving her ahead of Diane Terrall who had held the record since 1981. Thomsen's current total stands at 1,677 career kills, which ranks fourth in the Big Sky Conference era. Thomsen has also registered a career 4,791 attacks, which ranks fifth in Big Sky history. Her 157 career aces rank 10th in league history. Thomsen is a three-time First Team All-Big Sky pick and was a Second Team All-Big Sky choice in the fall of 2021. Off the court, she will become a rare five-time All-Big Sky Conference Academic honoree.
NCAA VOLLEYBALL RPI RANKINGS: Through matches of Nov. 26 the highest ranked Big Sky team is tournament champion Weber State at No. 106. The Wildcats are followed by Northern Colorado (115), Montana State (140), Sacramento State (149), Montana (185), Portland State (187), Northern Arizona (257), Idaho State (266), Eastern Washington (271), and Idaho (333). Looking at Montana State's NIVC opponents, Pacific was listed No. 120 - the fourth highest ranked team in the WCC, while Wyoming is listed No. 98 - the third highest in the Mountain West. Wichita State is listed No. 62 in the AAC.
MONTANA STATE/NIVC NOTEBOOK:
*Montana State is playing in its first-ever national postseason tournament defeating Pacific & Sacramento State in the first two rounds and Wyoming in the Great 8. All three wins came on the road where the Bobcats sport an 8-4 away record.
*Montana State had a November to remember. After losing 3-1 at home to Northern Colorado on Nov. 2, the Bobcats rattled off seven consecutive wins defeating Northern Arizona, Idaho State, Weber State, Sacramento State, Portland State, Montana, and Eastern Washington, before dropping a 3-2 decision to Weber State in the Big Sky Championship. MSU went 8-2 in the month.
*Montana State won a school-record 12 Big Sky Conference matches this season under first year head coach Matt Houk. The Bobcats were 7-1 at home in Big Sky matches, and 5-3 on the road, which included road sweeps at Northern Arizona/Northern Colorado and Idaho State/Weber State.
*Overall, the Bobcats have won 24 matches on the season, which is the most in program history, surpassing the 2002 Dave Gantt-led Bobcats that went 21-10 overall.
*The Bobcats made their 17th appearance at the Big Sky Conference Tournament, and its seventh consecutive. Since its first tournament appearance in 1996, Montana State is 13-17 overall, but have gone 1-12 in semifinal action. The Bobcats played in their first-ever Big Sky Conference championship match against Weber State on November 24.
*Montana State enjoyed home-cooking this season, going a school-record 12-1 inside the warm confines of Shroyer Gym. Its lone loss was a 3-1 setback to Northern Colorado on Nov. 2, 2023.
*Part of MSU's run in the Big Sky Tournament had a lot to do with its service game. The Bobcats averaged 1.92 aces in its three matches in Greeley, well above its season mark of 1.64 aces per set. Kira Thomsen dished out seven aces during tourney played followed by Lauren Lindseth six, and Joudain Kamps four. In her last 15 matches, Thomsen has recorded 31 aces (.49 aps). The product of Parker, Colo., finished third in the Big Sky averaging .44 per outing. Lindseth has notched 22 service aces in her last 15 matches, and averages .30 on the season.
*Offensively, Montana State is hitting its stride. In its first three NIVC matches, the Bobcats hit .283 from the field and averaged 12.38 kps. During its three-matches at the Big Sky tourney they averaged 13.67 kills per set, while hitting .259 from the field. MSU entered the BSC tournament averaging 12.81 kps and hitting .213. Thomsen paced the Bobcats in tourney action averaging 4.92 kills per set, while hitting .255. She closed out tournament play matching her season-high of 28 kills against Weber State.
*Junior setter Nellie Stevenson played a big role in MSU's success at the Big Sky Tournament. The transfer from Feather River College dished out 10.25 assists per set against Montana, Eastern Washington, and Weber State. The product of San Leandro, Calif., entered tournament action averaging 8.41 aps. Stevenson dished out a season-high 51 assists in MSU's 3-1 win over Sacramento State on Nov. 16 in Shroyer Gym.
*Nationally, the Bobcats are ranked 12th in team total attacks (4,495), 21st in team kills (1,644), 22nd in team service aces (216), 30th in team assists (1,509), 35th in win/loss% (.750), and 37th in team total blocks (289)
*Nationally, Bobcat standout Kira Thomsen ranks 6th in total attacks (1,494), 6th in points (614.5) 7th in total kills (539), 12th in service aces (56), 14th in attacks per set (11.67), 26th in kills per set (4.21), 31st in points per set (4.80), 44th in aces per set (.44).
*Matt Houk, who served the past nine seasons at the University of Minnesota, including the last four years as associate head coach, was named the 12th head coach in Montana State volleyball history on Friday, January 13, 2023. Houk, who began his stint with the Gophers in the spring of 2014, played an integral role assisting former UMN head coach Hugh McCutcheon, in guiding Minnesota to three Final Fours, four Elite Eight's and eight Sweet 16 appearances. During that span, the Gophers captured the 2015 and 2018 Big Ten titles. Houk was also instrumental in recruiting multiple top 10-ranked classes, including the No. 1 overall class in 2020.
Players Mentioned
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