Bobcats Sweep Vandals

Thursday, September 21

Moscow, ID

7 p.m. (MT)

Montana State University

8-3,1-0Big Sky

Idaho

1-12,0-1Big Sky

Montana St.

Idaho

Cats celebrate a point against Idaho on Thursday night in Memorial Gym.

Photo by: Idaho Sports Information

9/21/2023 9:48:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

“It’s a nice win to start conference,” Houk said. “Each conference match is a roadblock, and we have to figure out a way to go over, around or through to do that.”

By: Tom Schulz

Montana State opened its Big Sky Conference volleyball slate with a straight set 25-23, 25-22, 25-15 victory over Idaho on Thursday night in Memorial Gym.

Montana State (8-3, 1-0) got off to a quick start in the opening set, then suffered a mid-match lull, before finding itself posting its eighth consecutive win over Idaho (1-12, 0-1).

"Half of the match we were really in good control of ourselves, and I'm talking about all points of contact," said MSU head coach Matt Houk. "We showed a lot of range and were finding ways to score points.

"Half the match we were scrambling," he added. "We played outside of what we were trying to do. It felt like we allowed the other side to dictate the pace. But, with a mature team we got control of the tempo and at the right time, we made the plays."

MSU owned a 20-13 advantage in the first frame before the Vandals went on a 10-4 run. Idaho fought off three sets points before Camryn Greenwald's kill out of the middle gave the Bobcats the win.

The Vandals maintained their momentum in the second set taking a 17-13 lead. MSU responded with a 5-1 to even the contest at 18-all. The set was tied five times down the stretch, before the Bobcats used a Vandal hitting miscue combined with a Kira Thomsen kill to go up 2-0 in the match.

"Idaho mixed things up in the second set and knocked us out of system and we didn't respond as quickly as we needed, too," Houk said. "However, we stayed in it, did a nice job serving down the stretch."

MSU held a 9-3 advantage in the final stanza before receiving three consecutive service aces from senior Delaney Shearan to put the contest away as the Bobcats built a double-digit lead.

"Delaney came off the bench a did her job," Houk said. "Being a serving sub is one of the hardest things to do. She sat for over fifty points before coming in and giving us three great serves and a big spark."

Thomsen paced the Bobcats with a match-high 12 kills, while posting a .323 attack mark, three aces, seven digs and a block. Greenwald also posted a strong stat line with seven kills and a .400 attack mark.

"Kira got stronger as the match went on," Houk said. "She wasn't getting her typical shots, but really expanded her range to score points. Cam is becoming one of our steady offensive threats."

For the match, MSU outhit Idaho .273 to .218 and held advantages in kills, aces, and blocks.

"It's a nice win to start conference," Houk said. "Each conference match is a roadblock, and we have to figure out a way to go over, around or through to do that."

MSU hosts Idaho State in its Big Sky home opener on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Shroyer Gym.