Photo by: Yesenia Enriquez
Bobcats Finish Spring Drills with Cat-Griz Scrimmage
4/25/2024 3:46:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
“Saturday is the last day we can train, and it brings to a conclusion a really good spring season for us,” said second-year head coach Matt Houk.
The Montana State volleyball team finishes its spring drills hosting Montana, Saturday, with a practice session from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., and a scrimmage from 2-4 p.m. in Shroyer Gym. Both sessions are free and open to the public.
"Saturday is the last day we can train, and it brings to a conclusion a really good spring season for us," said second-year head coach Matt Houk. "Getting to play against somebody else is always a good test. Spring can get long when you're only seeing your own team across the other side of the net.
"Seeing how someone else plays and seeing us react to those things, as well as getting to work on all the new things we're trying to put into the system against an opponent, is an important step," he added. "We know what we're doing, and all of a sudden you do it against someone else, and you see the advantages they take of you, or how well something works, is great feedback."
The Bobcats played scrimmages against Idaho State and Boise State in the past month, coming out on the winning end of both contests. MSU went 4-1 against the Broncos in Idaho Falls, Idaho, last week. "The Boise State match was a really good day for us," Houk said. "I thought we played quite well. We were clean and in control of ourselves for big chunks of it, and the times where we weren't, we were able to shift it quite quickly."
Saturday's morning practice session features competitive scrimmage-type drills. "We really like the format of a practice session followed by a scrimmage," Houk commented. "It gives us a ton of good opportunities to mix and match the line up. We're running kids in and out, looking at every combo with every hitter, with every setter, and with different liberos, so it ends up giving us good look at how things are shaping up and coming together."
Montana State returns 12 players from last season's roster, including First Team All-Big Sky Conference opposite side hitter Jourdain Kamps. Kamps recorded 337 kills, 249 digs, and 119 blocks last fall as the Bobcat went 24-9 overall and advanced to the Fab Four of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship.
Houk is happy with the progression of the team over the spring season and is eager to show the community what next year's team could look like. "Heart, grit, toughness," he said. "If someone walks in off the street, I hope they walk away knowing this team
plays every point like it matters. That point 25 is the same as point one.
"I want them to see a team that is quite connected, supporting each other, and communicating really well."
"Saturday is the last day we can train, and it brings to a conclusion a really good spring season for us," said second-year head coach Matt Houk. "Getting to play against somebody else is always a good test. Spring can get long when you're only seeing your own team across the other side of the net.
"Seeing how someone else plays and seeing us react to those things, as well as getting to work on all the new things we're trying to put into the system against an opponent, is an important step," he added. "We know what we're doing, and all of a sudden you do it against someone else, and you see the advantages they take of you, or how well something works, is great feedback."
The Bobcats played scrimmages against Idaho State and Boise State in the past month, coming out on the winning end of both contests. MSU went 4-1 against the Broncos in Idaho Falls, Idaho, last week. "The Boise State match was a really good day for us," Houk said. "I thought we played quite well. We were clean and in control of ourselves for big chunks of it, and the times where we weren't, we were able to shift it quite quickly."
Saturday's morning practice session features competitive scrimmage-type drills. "We really like the format of a practice session followed by a scrimmage," Houk commented. "It gives us a ton of good opportunities to mix and match the line up. We're running kids in and out, looking at every combo with every hitter, with every setter, and with different liberos, so it ends up giving us good look at how things are shaping up and coming together."
Montana State returns 12 players from last season's roster, including First Team All-Big Sky Conference opposite side hitter Jourdain Kamps. Kamps recorded 337 kills, 249 digs, and 119 blocks last fall as the Bobcat went 24-9 overall and advanced to the Fab Four of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship.
Houk is happy with the progression of the team over the spring season and is eager to show the community what next year's team could look like. "Heart, grit, toughness," he said. "If someone walks in off the street, I hope they walk away knowing this team
plays every point like it matters. That point 25 is the same as point one.
"I want them to see a team that is quite connected, supporting each other, and communicating really well."
Players Mentioned
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