MSU’s Blue-Gold Scrimmage Goes the Distance

Photo by: courtesy Noah Syverson/Bobcat Athletics

8/16/2023 10:03:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Montana State senior Kira Thomsen recorded 20 kills and added 11 digs to lead her team to an 18-25, 25-21, 27-25, 21-25, 15-7 victory in MSU’s annual Blue-Gold scrimmage on Wednesday night in Shroyer Gym.

By: Tom Schulz

Montana State senior Kira Thomsen recorded 20 kills and added 11 digs to lead her team to an 18-25, 25-21, 27-25, 21-25, 15-7 victory in MSU's annual Blue-Gold scrimmage on Wednesday night in Shroyer Gym.

For first-year head coach Matt Houk going through the match-day process was an important part of fall drills as the team prepares for its season-opener against Pac-12 foe Oregon State on Aug. 25.

"I thought we had a good, competitive atmosphere and having it go five sets gives us a really good look at some statistical things we can dive in to," he said. "There is enough data now to see how things are matching up – who's hitting well off which setter – so my initial take is that it was great. A good scrimmage with a nice crowd was important to give our athletes a chance to play in front of people before having to do it for real."

Thomsen, a senior all-Big Sky Conference performer from Parker, Colo., rallied the Blue team with nine kills in the pivotal third set. "Kira is no doubt one of the best undersized outsides I've been around in my 20-year career," Houk commented. "She is a really good, put together, all-around volleyball player. She can do ot all – she can pass, she can dig, she can serve, and she can clearly attack. She gives you every ounce of what she's got, and I love that about her."

Houk also received contributions from a plethora of veteran players as Jourdain (Klein) Kamps totaled 10 kills and three blocks, while Madilyn Siebler posted 11 kills and 16 digs, and Jordan Radick and Camryn Greenwald added eight and seven kills, respectively.

"Our veterans are playing solid volleyball and are really low error," Houk said. "We're not giving up freebies. We're starting to see parts of our depth coming together."

Houk was also impressed with his four freshmen. Karli Heidemann finished with nine kills, while middle blockers Joelie Spelts and Erika Gustafson combined for 13 blocks. "I thought our freshmen didn't back down and they stayed assertive. I thought they all handled the scrimmage very well."

Junior transfer Nellie Stevenson paced MSU's four setters with 32 assists, while Audrey Hofer, Nellie Reese, and Delaney Shearan added 23, 19, and 15 assists, respectively. Hofer, a product of Helena Capital, also added 13 digs.

"The nice thing about our setters is that they all bring something a little bit different from each other," Houk said. "It adds layers to the things we can do."

Sophomore Lauren Lindseth led all players on the defensive end with 21 digs, while Shayla Webber also posted 12 saves from the back row. "Lauren had a really good night, her numbers were there," Houk stated. "And what's great is that Shay's nipping at her heels."

Houk's first take from Wednesday's scrimmage also included areas that need fine-tuning over the course of the next two weeks. "We need to shore-up inconsistencies with the block," he said. "There were some relationship things to clean up between blockers. We were also high error from the service line to start, and it came along as the match went on, but we need to be ready out of the gate."

The Bobcats' next opportunity to see the court in a match-like setting happens on Saturday when it faces Wyoming in exhibition play at 5 p.m. at the Cody (Wyo.) High School gym.