Thursday, September 21
Moscow, ID
7 p.m. (MT)
Montana State University
at
Idaho
Kira Thomsen
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Cats at Idaho for Big Sky Opener
9/20/2023 4:06:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Montana State opens its 2023 Big Sky Conference schedule on Thursday, Sept. 21 against Idaho in Moscow.
NEXT UP:
Montana State opens its 2023 Big Sky Conference schedule on Thursday, Sept. 21 against Idaho in Moscow. The match with the Vandals is slated for 7 p.m. (MT) in Memorial Gym. MSU will make the quick trek back to Bozeman for its league home opener against Idaho State on Saturday, Sept. 23 in Shroyer Gym. The match against the Bengals starts at 7 p.m.
BIG SKY OPENERS:
Since the inception of the Big Sky Conference for women in the fall of 1988, Montana State is 15-20 in league openers, including a 3-0 victory over Eastern Washington last September in Shroyer Gym. The Bobcats have won five consecutive Big Sky Conference openers.
QUICK RESET:
The Bobcats dropped their first match of the season last Thursday when Nevada handed MSU a 23-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-18 setback in the Virginia Street Gym. Kira Thomsen and Madilyn Siebler paced the Bobcats with 15 and 14 kills, respectively. Defensively, MSU had three players in double-digit digs led by Siebler with 20 saves. Jordan Radick paced the Cats at the net with a team-high six blocks. Undefeated Cal swept Montana State on Friday afternoon 25-19, 25-18, 25-23 to remain just one of six NCAA Division I programs with an unblemished mark. Jourdain Kamps and Camryn Greenwald guided MSU with 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Greenwald, a sophomore from Woodbury, Minn., finished the match with a .421 (11-3-19) attack mark, while Kamps, a junior from Ennis, hit .455 (12-2-22) and added one block assist.
AMONG THE NATION'S ELITE:
After the non-conference portion of the season, Bobcat senior outside hitter Kira Thomsen has established herself as one of the elite offensive players in the nation. The 5-10 product of Parker, Colo., leads the Big Sky averaging 4.15 kills per set. That mark also ranks her 30th in the country. Her 11.87 attacks per set rank 9th in the nation and tops in the Big Sky. Thomsen's 4.72 points per game ranks her 34th in the country. In all, she is listed among the top 10 in ten different NCAA statistical categories.
AMONG THE NATION'S ELITE x 2:
As a team the Cats rank 13th in the country and first in the Big Sky averaging 37.49 attacks per set and are 57th in the nation with 13.41 kills per set.
SCOUTING REPORT:
Idaho is 1-11 heading into its Big Sky Conference opener with the Bobcats. The Vandals lone win was a 3-0 decision over UC Riverside on Aug. 27 in Memorial Gym. Idaho and MSU have played one common opponent - Seattle U. The Bobcats defeated the Redhawks twice two weeks ago, 3-1 & 3-0 - in Shroyer Gym. Idaho dropped a 3-0 decision to SU in its home-opener on Aug. 25. On the season, Idaho has been led by Taryn Vrieling, a 6-0 sophomore outside hitter from Kennewick, Wash., who is averaging 2.54 kills per set with a .134 attack mark. Defensively, Aine Doty, a 5-7 sophomore libero from Colorado Springs, Colo., guides the Vandals averaging 4.82 digs per set, which is tops in the Big Sky. Chris Gonzalez is in his second season at Idaho. Idaho State is 2-9 overall and hosts Portland State on Thursday night before making the trek to Bozeman. The Bengals' two victories have come against UC Davis (3-1) and Tennessee Tech (3-1). Its win over Tennessee Tech came last weekend at the Wyoming Tournament in a 25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 25-17 decision over the Golden Eagles. Jamie Streit paces ISU in the victory with 16 kills, a .333 attack mark and eight digs, while Sadie Bluth and Jaydin Watts chipped in 12 kills apiece. On the season, Streit, a 5-9 junior outside hitter from Pinedale, Wyo., leads the Bengals averaging 3.00 kills per set with a .237 attack mark. She also chips in 2.49 digs per contest and is third on the team with six aces. Bluth and Watts also contribute to the ISU offense, averaging 2.69 and 2.11 kills per set, respectively. Defensively, Lilly Liekweg, a 5-7 grad transfer libero from Wichita State, paces Idaho State averaging 3.26 digs per set. The Bengals are under the leadership of Sean Carter, who is in his second season in Pocatello.
YOU'RE KILLIN' ME SMALLS:
Montana State leads the Big Sky in kills, averaging 13.41 per set. In addition, two Bobcats are ranked among the league's top 10 as Kira Thomsen is listed No. 1 at 4.15 kps, while Jourdain Kamps is No. 10 at 2.95 kps.
PACKING THE PLACE:
Montana State finished 39th in the nation averaging 1,292 fans per game, last fall. On Sept. 30, 2022, Montana State set a Big Sky Conference and State of Montana record when 6,457 fans jammed Worthington Arena. MSU's average attendance was higher than notable programs such as Indiana, UCLA, LSU, and Notre Dame.
WE GET THE POINT:
As a team, Montana State leads the Big Sky Conference averaging 17.31 points per set. Senior Kira Thomsen is second in the league and 33rd in the nation, averaging 4.79 per contest. Junior Jourdain Kamps is eighth in the Big Sky averaging 3.55 points per set.
GOTTA DIG IT:
After non-conference play MSU libero Lauren Lindseth ranks third in the Big Sky averaging 4.13 saves per game. Last week at the Nevada Tournament she totaled 20 digs, averaging 2.86 per set. Her streak of nine double-figure dig matches was snapped after recording six saves in MSU's 3-0 loss to Cal. Three weeks ago, Lindseth recorded a career-high 34 saves against St. Thomas (MN). Last season, she played in all 30 matches and 122 sets and was in double-digit digs in 22 matches, including a streak of 13 consecutive matches in double-figures. In addition, she went over the 20-dig plateau on nine occasions. Her 475 digs last fall ranks fifth in a single season at MSU. Lindseth earned All-Big Sky Tournament honors after averaging 3.56 digs in two matches, which included 24 digs in MSU's quarterfinal upset over Weber State in Ogden, Utah. She also guided the Cats from the service line with a team-best 33 aces.
TOUTING THOMSEN:
Senior outside hitter Kira Thomsen, a three-time all-Big Sky Conference selection, is off to an impressive start for the Bobcats. Thomsen currently leads the league in kills per set (4.15) and is second in points (4.72). Thomsen's 2.54 digs per set is third on the Bobcat squad, while her .220 attack mark is second best. This season, Thomsen has been in double-digit kills in nine of ten matches, including a season-high 28 kills against St. Thomas (MN). She had a 19-match streak of double-figure kills dating back to Oct. 22, 2022, snapped after recording four against Cal last Friday afternoon. Last season, Thomsen recorded a career-high 32 kills in MSU's 3-2 win over Portland State. Her 1,300 career kills rank fourth on MSU's all-time kills chart and her 3,760 total career attacks ranks second. Last week, Thomsen's 15 digs against Nevada put her over the 1,000-career dig milestone, becoming the tenth member of MSU's 1,000-Dig Club. She is now just one of four players in Montana State history to record 1,000 kills/digs - joining Meggie Malyurek, Stephanie Laya, and Mindy Nowak. On Nov. 18, 2022, Thomsen was named the GameChanger/AVCA Division National Player of the Week (the first in MSU history) after averaging 6.0 kills and 6.4 points per set as MSU knocked off Portland State and Sacramento State. Last weekend, she totaled 19 kills and 19 digs with a .039 attack mark.
THE MENACE FROM ENNIS:
Jourdain (Klein) Kamps is another Bobcat to get out of the gates early. On the season, she is averaging 2.95 kills per set, while hitting a team-best .292 from the floor. In addition, she is averaging 1.69 digs and .79 blocks per contest and has chipped in seven aces. The product of Ennis, Mont., has been in double-figure kills in nine of ten matches, including a season-best 14 kills on two occasions. Last week at the Nevada Tournament, she averaged 2.43 kills per set, while hitting .191. In addition, she added six blocks. Kamps is currently ranked seventh in the Big Sky Conference with a .292 attack mark and is eighth in points (3.55 ppg) and tenth in kills (2.95 kps). Kamps was a Second Team All-Big Sky pick in the spring of 2021 after averaging 1.49 kills and .97 blocks per set in the shortened 15-match season. Last year, she played in all 30 matches and 122 sets, totaling 242 kills (1.98 kps). She recorded a career-high 23 kills at Eastern Washington and had six matches hitting .300 or better. Kamps also posted 100 blocks, averaging .82 per contest.
LINDSETH LEGACY:
Sophomore libero Lauren Lindseth is part of Bobcat history as one-half of the first mother/daughter duo to play volleyball at MSU. Lindseth's mother - Kelly Modrow - played for the Blue and Gold from 1992-1996. The native of Minnetonka, Minn., (Hopkins HS) played in 110 matches and 359 sets. In all, Modrow's career totals include: 889 kills, 733 digs, 128 blocks and 87 service aces wearing the No. 2 jersey, as well.
HARD BLOCK CAFE`:
Montana State finished last week averaging 1.71 blocks per set against Nevada and Cal. MSU middle blocker Avery Turnage currently ranks second in the Big Sky Conference averaging 1.10 blocks per set. Turnage, a senior from Idaho Falls, recorded a career-high 10 blocks in Montana State's 3-1 win over North Dakota on Aug. 26. As a team, the Bobcats are ranked fourth in the Big Sky (2.13 bps), behind Weber State, Sac State and E. Wash.
LENDING A HAND:
Junior college transfer Nellie Stevenson averaged 7.67 assists per set against Nevada and Cal, last week. For the two matches, the transfer from Feather River (CA) College also 1.67 digs per set. In addition, Stevenson recorded three service aces. Junior setter Audrey Hofer played in seven sets last week and averaged 2.29 assists and 1.00 digs per set. The Helena Capital product posted a season-best 35 assists in MSU's win over Kennesaw State. Sophomore Nellie Reese saw action at the setting spot in three sets and averaged 2.67 assists per set, last week. She also recorded a season-high eight assists against Cal along with an ace and kill.
Montana State opens its 2023 Big Sky Conference schedule on Thursday, Sept. 21 against Idaho in Moscow. The match with the Vandals is slated for 7 p.m. (MT) in Memorial Gym. MSU will make the quick trek back to Bozeman for its league home opener against Idaho State on Saturday, Sept. 23 in Shroyer Gym. The match against the Bengals starts at 7 p.m.
BIG SKY OPENERS:
Since the inception of the Big Sky Conference for women in the fall of 1988, Montana State is 15-20 in league openers, including a 3-0 victory over Eastern Washington last September in Shroyer Gym. The Bobcats have won five consecutive Big Sky Conference openers.
QUICK RESET:
The Bobcats dropped their first match of the season last Thursday when Nevada handed MSU a 23-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-18 setback in the Virginia Street Gym. Kira Thomsen and Madilyn Siebler paced the Bobcats with 15 and 14 kills, respectively. Defensively, MSU had three players in double-digit digs led by Siebler with 20 saves. Jordan Radick paced the Cats at the net with a team-high six blocks. Undefeated Cal swept Montana State on Friday afternoon 25-19, 25-18, 25-23 to remain just one of six NCAA Division I programs with an unblemished mark. Jourdain Kamps and Camryn Greenwald guided MSU with 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Greenwald, a sophomore from Woodbury, Minn., finished the match with a .421 (11-3-19) attack mark, while Kamps, a junior from Ennis, hit .455 (12-2-22) and added one block assist.
AMONG THE NATION'S ELITE:
After the non-conference portion of the season, Bobcat senior outside hitter Kira Thomsen has established herself as one of the elite offensive players in the nation. The 5-10 product of Parker, Colo., leads the Big Sky averaging 4.15 kills per set. That mark also ranks her 30th in the country. Her 11.87 attacks per set rank 9th in the nation and tops in the Big Sky. Thomsen's 4.72 points per game ranks her 34th in the country. In all, she is listed among the top 10 in ten different NCAA statistical categories.
AMONG THE NATION'S ELITE x 2:
As a team the Cats rank 13th in the country and first in the Big Sky averaging 37.49 attacks per set and are 57th in the nation with 13.41 kills per set.
SCOUTING REPORT:
Idaho is 1-11 heading into its Big Sky Conference opener with the Bobcats. The Vandals lone win was a 3-0 decision over UC Riverside on Aug. 27 in Memorial Gym. Idaho and MSU have played one common opponent - Seattle U. The Bobcats defeated the Redhawks twice two weeks ago, 3-1 & 3-0 - in Shroyer Gym. Idaho dropped a 3-0 decision to SU in its home-opener on Aug. 25. On the season, Idaho has been led by Taryn Vrieling, a 6-0 sophomore outside hitter from Kennewick, Wash., who is averaging 2.54 kills per set with a .134 attack mark. Defensively, Aine Doty, a 5-7 sophomore libero from Colorado Springs, Colo., guides the Vandals averaging 4.82 digs per set, which is tops in the Big Sky. Chris Gonzalez is in his second season at Idaho. Idaho State is 2-9 overall and hosts Portland State on Thursday night before making the trek to Bozeman. The Bengals' two victories have come against UC Davis (3-1) and Tennessee Tech (3-1). Its win over Tennessee Tech came last weekend at the Wyoming Tournament in a 25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 25-17 decision over the Golden Eagles. Jamie Streit paces ISU in the victory with 16 kills, a .333 attack mark and eight digs, while Sadie Bluth and Jaydin Watts chipped in 12 kills apiece. On the season, Streit, a 5-9 junior outside hitter from Pinedale, Wyo., leads the Bengals averaging 3.00 kills per set with a .237 attack mark. She also chips in 2.49 digs per contest and is third on the team with six aces. Bluth and Watts also contribute to the ISU offense, averaging 2.69 and 2.11 kills per set, respectively. Defensively, Lilly Liekweg, a 5-7 grad transfer libero from Wichita State, paces Idaho State averaging 3.26 digs per set. The Bengals are under the leadership of Sean Carter, who is in his second season in Pocatello.
YOU'RE KILLIN' ME SMALLS:
Montana State leads the Big Sky in kills, averaging 13.41 per set. In addition, two Bobcats are ranked among the league's top 10 as Kira Thomsen is listed No. 1 at 4.15 kps, while Jourdain Kamps is No. 10 at 2.95 kps.
PACKING THE PLACE:
Montana State finished 39th in the nation averaging 1,292 fans per game, last fall. On Sept. 30, 2022, Montana State set a Big Sky Conference and State of Montana record when 6,457 fans jammed Worthington Arena. MSU's average attendance was higher than notable programs such as Indiana, UCLA, LSU, and Notre Dame.
WE GET THE POINT:
As a team, Montana State leads the Big Sky Conference averaging 17.31 points per set. Senior Kira Thomsen is second in the league and 33rd in the nation, averaging 4.79 per contest. Junior Jourdain Kamps is eighth in the Big Sky averaging 3.55 points per set.
GOTTA DIG IT:
After non-conference play MSU libero Lauren Lindseth ranks third in the Big Sky averaging 4.13 saves per game. Last week at the Nevada Tournament she totaled 20 digs, averaging 2.86 per set. Her streak of nine double-figure dig matches was snapped after recording six saves in MSU's 3-0 loss to Cal. Three weeks ago, Lindseth recorded a career-high 34 saves against St. Thomas (MN). Last season, she played in all 30 matches and 122 sets and was in double-digit digs in 22 matches, including a streak of 13 consecutive matches in double-figures. In addition, she went over the 20-dig plateau on nine occasions. Her 475 digs last fall ranks fifth in a single season at MSU. Lindseth earned All-Big Sky Tournament honors after averaging 3.56 digs in two matches, which included 24 digs in MSU's quarterfinal upset over Weber State in Ogden, Utah. She also guided the Cats from the service line with a team-best 33 aces.
TOUTING THOMSEN:
Senior outside hitter Kira Thomsen, a three-time all-Big Sky Conference selection, is off to an impressive start for the Bobcats. Thomsen currently leads the league in kills per set (4.15) and is second in points (4.72). Thomsen's 2.54 digs per set is third on the Bobcat squad, while her .220 attack mark is second best. This season, Thomsen has been in double-digit kills in nine of ten matches, including a season-high 28 kills against St. Thomas (MN). She had a 19-match streak of double-figure kills dating back to Oct. 22, 2022, snapped after recording four against Cal last Friday afternoon. Last season, Thomsen recorded a career-high 32 kills in MSU's 3-2 win over Portland State. Her 1,300 career kills rank fourth on MSU's all-time kills chart and her 3,760 total career attacks ranks second. Last week, Thomsen's 15 digs against Nevada put her over the 1,000-career dig milestone, becoming the tenth member of MSU's 1,000-Dig Club. She is now just one of four players in Montana State history to record 1,000 kills/digs - joining Meggie Malyurek, Stephanie Laya, and Mindy Nowak. On Nov. 18, 2022, Thomsen was named the GameChanger/AVCA Division National Player of the Week (the first in MSU history) after averaging 6.0 kills and 6.4 points per set as MSU knocked off Portland State and Sacramento State. Last weekend, she totaled 19 kills and 19 digs with a .039 attack mark.
THE MENACE FROM ENNIS:
Jourdain (Klein) Kamps is another Bobcat to get out of the gates early. On the season, she is averaging 2.95 kills per set, while hitting a team-best .292 from the floor. In addition, she is averaging 1.69 digs and .79 blocks per contest and has chipped in seven aces. The product of Ennis, Mont., has been in double-figure kills in nine of ten matches, including a season-best 14 kills on two occasions. Last week at the Nevada Tournament, she averaged 2.43 kills per set, while hitting .191. In addition, she added six blocks. Kamps is currently ranked seventh in the Big Sky Conference with a .292 attack mark and is eighth in points (3.55 ppg) and tenth in kills (2.95 kps). Kamps was a Second Team All-Big Sky pick in the spring of 2021 after averaging 1.49 kills and .97 blocks per set in the shortened 15-match season. Last year, she played in all 30 matches and 122 sets, totaling 242 kills (1.98 kps). She recorded a career-high 23 kills at Eastern Washington and had six matches hitting .300 or better. Kamps also posted 100 blocks, averaging .82 per contest.
LINDSETH LEGACY:
Sophomore libero Lauren Lindseth is part of Bobcat history as one-half of the first mother/daughter duo to play volleyball at MSU. Lindseth's mother - Kelly Modrow - played for the Blue and Gold from 1992-1996. The native of Minnetonka, Minn., (Hopkins HS) played in 110 matches and 359 sets. In all, Modrow's career totals include: 889 kills, 733 digs, 128 blocks and 87 service aces wearing the No. 2 jersey, as well.
HARD BLOCK CAFE`:
Montana State finished last week averaging 1.71 blocks per set against Nevada and Cal. MSU middle blocker Avery Turnage currently ranks second in the Big Sky Conference averaging 1.10 blocks per set. Turnage, a senior from Idaho Falls, recorded a career-high 10 blocks in Montana State's 3-1 win over North Dakota on Aug. 26. As a team, the Bobcats are ranked fourth in the Big Sky (2.13 bps), behind Weber State, Sac State and E. Wash.
LENDING A HAND:
Junior college transfer Nellie Stevenson averaged 7.67 assists per set against Nevada and Cal, last week. For the two matches, the transfer from Feather River (CA) College also 1.67 digs per set. In addition, Stevenson recorded three service aces. Junior setter Audrey Hofer played in seven sets last week and averaged 2.29 assists and 1.00 digs per set. The Helena Capital product posted a season-best 35 assists in MSU's win over Kennesaw State. Sophomore Nellie Reese saw action at the setting spot in three sets and averaged 2.67 assists per set, last week. She also recorded a season-high eight assists against Cal along with an ace and kill.
Players Mentioned
MB/OH
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
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