Thursday, September 7
BOZEMAN
7 p.m.
Montana State University
vs
Seattle U
Bobcats Host Seattle U
9/6/2023 2:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Montana State hosts Seattle U in a pair of matches this week in Shroyer Gym. The Bobcats and Redhawks play Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m., and Friday, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m.
SEATTLE U x 2:
Montana State hosts Seattle U in a pair of matches this week in Shroyer Gym. The Bobcats and Redhawks play Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m., and Friday, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m.
QUICK RESET:
The Bobcats went 2-1 at the St. Thomas Tommie Invitational last week in St. Paul, Minn. MSU avenged a 2022 loss to St. Thomas in the opener, taking down the host school 25-17, 25-21, 23-25, 29-27 behind 28 kills from Kira Thomsen and 34 digs via libero Lauren Lindseth. The Cats suffered their first loss of the season as Milwaukee handed MSU a 26-24, 22-25, 25-16, 25-22 setback on Friday afternoon. Montana State closed out the tournament with a 21-25, 25-23, 29-27, 25-23 win over Cal Baptist.
BIG SKY OFFENSIVE POW:
For the second consecutive week, senior outside hitter Kira Thomsen is the Big Sky's top offensive player. In three matches, Thomsen, a product of Parker, Colo., totaled 71 kills, averaging 5.92 per set. She notched a weekend-best 28 kills against St. Thomas and went over the 20-kill plateau against Milwaukee and Cal Baptist, as well. Thomsen recorded a .268 attack mark for the tournament, including finishing with a .283 percentage as MSU defeated Cal Baptist 3-1. In addition, she posted five service aces. For the weekend, Thomsen totaled 77 points, averaging 6.42 per set. For her efforts, she was named to the all-tournament team.
BIG SKY DEFENSIVE POW:
Sophomore libero Lauren Lindseth was tabbed top defensive performer. Lindseth, a Great Falls native, led the Bobcats from the back row registering 67 digs in three matches, averaging 5.58 per set. The CMR graduate logged a career-high 34 digs (8.5 dps) as Montana State defeated St. Thomas 3-1 on Thursday night. The mark fell just four shy of the school record. Against Milwaukee and Cal Baptist, she added 18 and 15 digs, respectively. In addition, Lindseth added 11 assists and tallied six aces.
AMONG THE NATION'S ELITE:
Senior outside hitter Kira Thomsen is ranked third in the nation among all NCAA Division I players with 116 total kills to date. Temple's Taylor Davenport has the nation's top mark with 123 kills. Thomsen also ranks third in the country in total points 132.5, and total attacks 317. Her total attacks per set (12.68) ranks eighth overall, while her kills per set (4.64) is 14th in the nation.
SERVING NOTICE:
As a team, Montana State is ranked tenth in the nation with 52 service aces, and their 2.08 aces per set leads the Big Sky and ranks 37th in the country.
SCOUTING REPORT:
Seattle U enters Thursday night's contest 3-3 overall after going 1-2 at the Eastern Washington Invitational, last weekend in Cheney. The Redhawks dropped its first two matches to Eastern Washington 3-1, and Pacific 3-0, before rebounding with a 3-2 (22-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-23, 15-12) decision over future Montana State opponent, Nevada. Under the direction of third-year head coach Michelle Cole, SU opened the season 2-1 with victories over Idaho (3-0) and UC Riverside (3-0). The Redhawks have been led by the one-two punch of Arianna Bilby and Naima Foster. Bilby, a 5-9 junior outside hitter from Arlington, Wash., averages 3.82 kills and 2.41 digs per set, while putting up a .206 attack mark. Foster, a 5-10 freshman outside hitter from Beaverton, Oregon, chips in 3.32 kills and 2.14 digs per set, while hitting .152 from the field. In its win over Nevada on Saturday, Bilby recorded 18 kills and 16 digs, while Foster added 18 kills and eight digs. Against Big Sky opponent Eastern Washington on Friday afternoon, Bilby recorded 21 kills and 11 digs, and Foster 17 kills and 15 digs. The last time Montana State and Seattle U met was Sept. 17, 2019, as the Redhawks came out on top 25-22, 20-25, 25-17, 19-25, 15-11 in Shroyer Gym. Current Bobcat Kira Thomsen recorded 13 kills, 11 digs, two blocks and an ace in the loss.
YOU'RE KILLIN' ME SMALLS:
Montana State has three players ranked among the top 10 in the Big Sky Conference for kills per set. Senior Kira Thomsen leads the league averaging 4.64 per set, while Jourdain Kamps (2.96 kps) and Madilyn Siebler (2.84) rank ninth and tenth, respectively. As a team, the Bobcats rank second in the Big Sky at 13.20 kills per set, just behind Sacramento State (13.42 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:
Montana State has two players ranked among the Big Sky's top 10 in points per set after two weekends of play. Senior Kira Thomsen is currently first in the league averaging 5.30 per contest, while junior Jourdain (Klein) Kamps averages 3.66 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.
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 (4.64) and points (5.30). She also ranks fifth in service aces at .48 per contest. Thomsen's 2.56 digs per set is second on the Bobcat squad, while her .249 attack mark is also second best. This season, Thomsen has been in double-digit kills in all six matches, including a season-high 28 kills against St. Thomas (MN). She is currently on a 16-match streak of double-figure kills dating back to Oct. 22, 2022. Last season, Thomsen recorded a career-high 32 kills in MSU's 3-2 win over Portland State. Her 1,254 career kills rank sixth on MSU's all-time kills chart and her 3,614 total career attacks ranks sixth, as well. Last week, Thomsen broke into the top 10 in career aces with 113. She is now just 24 digs shy of becoming the fourth player in Montana State history to record 1,000kills/1,000 digs - and 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 71 kills, five aces, two blocks and 42 digs, en route to being named to the all-tournament team at the Tommie Invitational.
THE MENACE FROM ENNIS:
Jourdain (Klein) Kamps is another Bobcat to get out of the gates early. On the season, she is averaging 2.96 kills per set, while hitting a team-best .307 from the floor. In addition, she is averaging 1.84 digs and .88 blocks per contest and has chipped in six aces. The product of Ennis, Mont., has been in double-figure kills in all six matches, including a season-best 14 kills as the Bobcats defeated Kennesaw State on Aug. 26. Last weekend at the Tommie Invitational, Kamps averaged 2.92 kills and 1.92 digs per set, while hitting .276 and posting 12 blocks. She is currently ranked tenth in the Big Sky Conference with a .307 attack mark and is seventh in points (3.66 ppg) and ninth in kills (2.96 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.
GOTTA DIG IT:
After two weekends of play MSU libero Lauren Lindseth ranks second in the Big Sky averaging 4.36 saves per game. She was in double-digits digs in all three matches last weekend, including a career-high 34 saves against St. Thomas (MN). On the weekend, the native of Great Falls averaged 5.58 digs per set, registered 18 assists and had six aces on her way to being named Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week. 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 ranked 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.
HARD BLOCK CAFE`:
Montana State finished last weekend averaging 2.28 blocks per set, which included a match-best 14 blocks (1 BS, 26 BA) against Cal Baptist. MSU middle blocker Avery Turnage currently ranks third in the Big Sky Conference averaging 1.36 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 third in the Big Sky, behind Weber State (2.68 bps) and Sacramento State (2.48 bps).
LENDING A HAND:
Junior college transfer Nellie Stevenson had a solid weekend for the Bobcats at the Tommie Invitational in St. Paul, Minn. For the three matches, the transfer from Feather River (CA) College averaged 9.67 assists and 2.08 digs per set. In addition, Stevenson recorded seven kills, seven aces and had three blocks as the Bobcats went 2-1 over the three-day period. She had her best outing against Cal Baptist with 39 assists, 14 digs, and three aces. Junior setter Audrey Hofer played in 10 of 12 sets at the Tommie Invitational and averaged 2.50 assists and 2.20 digs per set. She had 14 saves against Cal Baptist.
Montana State hosts Seattle U in a pair of matches this week in Shroyer Gym. The Bobcats and Redhawks play Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m., and Friday, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m.
QUICK RESET:
The Bobcats went 2-1 at the St. Thomas Tommie Invitational last week in St. Paul, Minn. MSU avenged a 2022 loss to St. Thomas in the opener, taking down the host school 25-17, 25-21, 23-25, 29-27 behind 28 kills from Kira Thomsen and 34 digs via libero Lauren Lindseth. The Cats suffered their first loss of the season as Milwaukee handed MSU a 26-24, 22-25, 25-16, 25-22 setback on Friday afternoon. Montana State closed out the tournament with a 21-25, 25-23, 29-27, 25-23 win over Cal Baptist.
BIG SKY OFFENSIVE POW:
For the second consecutive week, senior outside hitter Kira Thomsen is the Big Sky's top offensive player. In three matches, Thomsen, a product of Parker, Colo., totaled 71 kills, averaging 5.92 per set. She notched a weekend-best 28 kills against St. Thomas and went over the 20-kill plateau against Milwaukee and Cal Baptist, as well. Thomsen recorded a .268 attack mark for the tournament, including finishing with a .283 percentage as MSU defeated Cal Baptist 3-1. In addition, she posted five service aces. For the weekend, Thomsen totaled 77 points, averaging 6.42 per set. For her efforts, she was named to the all-tournament team.
BIG SKY DEFENSIVE POW:
Sophomore libero Lauren Lindseth was tabbed top defensive performer. Lindseth, a Great Falls native, led the Bobcats from the back row registering 67 digs in three matches, averaging 5.58 per set. The CMR graduate logged a career-high 34 digs (8.5 dps) as Montana State defeated St. Thomas 3-1 on Thursday night. The mark fell just four shy of the school record. Against Milwaukee and Cal Baptist, she added 18 and 15 digs, respectively. In addition, Lindseth added 11 assists and tallied six aces.
AMONG THE NATION'S ELITE:
Senior outside hitter Kira Thomsen is ranked third in the nation among all NCAA Division I players with 116 total kills to date. Temple's Taylor Davenport has the nation's top mark with 123 kills. Thomsen also ranks third in the country in total points 132.5, and total attacks 317. Her total attacks per set (12.68) ranks eighth overall, while her kills per set (4.64) is 14th in the nation.
SERVING NOTICE:
As a team, Montana State is ranked tenth in the nation with 52 service aces, and their 2.08 aces per set leads the Big Sky and ranks 37th in the country.
SCOUTING REPORT:
Seattle U enters Thursday night's contest 3-3 overall after going 1-2 at the Eastern Washington Invitational, last weekend in Cheney. The Redhawks dropped its first two matches to Eastern Washington 3-1, and Pacific 3-0, before rebounding with a 3-2 (22-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-23, 15-12) decision over future Montana State opponent, Nevada. Under the direction of third-year head coach Michelle Cole, SU opened the season 2-1 with victories over Idaho (3-0) and UC Riverside (3-0). The Redhawks have been led by the one-two punch of Arianna Bilby and Naima Foster. Bilby, a 5-9 junior outside hitter from Arlington, Wash., averages 3.82 kills and 2.41 digs per set, while putting up a .206 attack mark. Foster, a 5-10 freshman outside hitter from Beaverton, Oregon, chips in 3.32 kills and 2.14 digs per set, while hitting .152 from the field. In its win over Nevada on Saturday, Bilby recorded 18 kills and 16 digs, while Foster added 18 kills and eight digs. Against Big Sky opponent Eastern Washington on Friday afternoon, Bilby recorded 21 kills and 11 digs, and Foster 17 kills and 15 digs. The last time Montana State and Seattle U met was Sept. 17, 2019, as the Redhawks came out on top 25-22, 20-25, 25-17, 19-25, 15-11 in Shroyer Gym. Current Bobcat Kira Thomsen recorded 13 kills, 11 digs, two blocks and an ace in the loss.
YOU'RE KILLIN' ME SMALLS:
Montana State has three players ranked among the top 10 in the Big Sky Conference for kills per set. Senior Kira Thomsen leads the league averaging 4.64 per set, while Jourdain Kamps (2.96 kps) and Madilyn Siebler (2.84) rank ninth and tenth, respectively. As a team, the Bobcats rank second in the Big Sky at 13.20 kills per set, just behind Sacramento State (13.42 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:
Montana State has two players ranked among the Big Sky's top 10 in points per set after two weekends of play. Senior Kira Thomsen is currently first in the league averaging 5.30 per contest, while junior Jourdain (Klein) Kamps averages 3.66 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.
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 (4.64) and points (5.30). She also ranks fifth in service aces at .48 per contest. Thomsen's 2.56 digs per set is second on the Bobcat squad, while her .249 attack mark is also second best. This season, Thomsen has been in double-digit kills in all six matches, including a season-high 28 kills against St. Thomas (MN). She is currently on a 16-match streak of double-figure kills dating back to Oct. 22, 2022. Last season, Thomsen recorded a career-high 32 kills in MSU's 3-2 win over Portland State. Her 1,254 career kills rank sixth on MSU's all-time kills chart and her 3,614 total career attacks ranks sixth, as well. Last week, Thomsen broke into the top 10 in career aces with 113. She is now just 24 digs shy of becoming the fourth player in Montana State history to record 1,000kills/1,000 digs - and 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 71 kills, five aces, two blocks and 42 digs, en route to being named to the all-tournament team at the Tommie Invitational.
THE MENACE FROM ENNIS:
Jourdain (Klein) Kamps is another Bobcat to get out of the gates early. On the season, she is averaging 2.96 kills per set, while hitting a team-best .307 from the floor. In addition, she is averaging 1.84 digs and .88 blocks per contest and has chipped in six aces. The product of Ennis, Mont., has been in double-figure kills in all six matches, including a season-best 14 kills as the Bobcats defeated Kennesaw State on Aug. 26. Last weekend at the Tommie Invitational, Kamps averaged 2.92 kills and 1.92 digs per set, while hitting .276 and posting 12 blocks. She is currently ranked tenth in the Big Sky Conference with a .307 attack mark and is seventh in points (3.66 ppg) and ninth in kills (2.96 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.
GOTTA DIG IT:
After two weekends of play MSU libero Lauren Lindseth ranks second in the Big Sky averaging 4.36 saves per game. She was in double-digits digs in all three matches last weekend, including a career-high 34 saves against St. Thomas (MN). On the weekend, the native of Great Falls averaged 5.58 digs per set, registered 18 assists and had six aces on her way to being named Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week. 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 ranked 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.
HARD BLOCK CAFE`:
Montana State finished last weekend averaging 2.28 blocks per set, which included a match-best 14 blocks (1 BS, 26 BA) against Cal Baptist. MSU middle blocker Avery Turnage currently ranks third in the Big Sky Conference averaging 1.36 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 third in the Big Sky, behind Weber State (2.68 bps) and Sacramento State (2.48 bps).
LENDING A HAND:
Junior college transfer Nellie Stevenson had a solid weekend for the Bobcats at the Tommie Invitational in St. Paul, Minn. For the three matches, the transfer from Feather River (CA) College averaged 9.67 assists and 2.08 digs per set. In addition, Stevenson recorded seven kills, seven aces and had three blocks as the Bobcats went 2-1 over the three-day period. She had her best outing against Cal Baptist with 39 assists, 14 digs, and three aces. Junior setter Audrey Hofer played in 10 of 12 sets at the Tommie Invitational and averaged 2.50 assists and 2.20 digs per set. She had 14 saves against Cal Baptist.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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