Friday, August 30
BOZEMAN
7 p.m.
Montana State University
vs
(RV) Washington
Bobcats Open with Big Ten Newcomer Washington
8/29/2024 3:56:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Montana State volleyball team opens its 2024 slate hosting the second MSU/Blackridge Invitational this weekend in Shroyer Gym.
NEXT UP: The Montana State volleyball team opens its 2024 slate hosting the second MSU/Blackridge Invitational this weekend in Shroyer Gym. MSU opens against Big 10 newcomer Washington. The Huskies received top 25 votes in the preseason AVCA poll. The match is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. Washington and Middle Tennessee meet on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., before the tournament concludes on Sunday with the Bobcats hosting the Blue Raiders at 3 p.m.
SEASON OPENERS: Since the 1980 campaign the Bobcats are 25-19 all-time in season openers. Last fall, Montana State upset Pac-12 rival Oregon State 3-2 in Shroyer Gym on the first night of the Blackridge Invitational.
WELCOME BACK: Second-year head coach Matt Houk welcomes back nine letterwinners, including five starters and libero Lauren Lindseth, that led the Bobcats to its best season in school history last fall. MSU posted a 24-9 overall record, went 12-4 in Big Sky Conference play, and won three postseason matches before falling to Wichita State in the Fab Four of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship.
BACK TO THE FUTURE: Matt Houk made his first season at Montana State a memorable one as MSU finished 24-9 overall and 12-4 in Big Sky play. Both marks are the best in Bobcat volleyball history. MSU finished second in the league standings, its highest showing ever. MSU entered the Big Sky Tournament as the #3 seed and dispatched Montana in straight sets. The Cats downed Eastern Washington 3-1 in semifinal action to set up MSU's first ever appearance in a Big Sky title match. The Bobcats came up short in its search for the program's first ever NCAA bid falling to Weber State in five sets. With its successful 2023 resume', Montana State played in its first postseason national tournament and advanced to the Fab Four of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship with victories over Pacific, Sacramento State, and Wyoming. MSU lost to eventual champion Wichita State in semifinal play. On the court, Houk mentored Kira Thomsen and Jourdain Kamps to First Team All-Big Sky honors. Thomsen led the Big Sky in total kills, kills per set, points, points per set, service aces, and total attacks. Her 550 total kills ranked sixth in the country. Houk's team ranked among the top 25 in the nation in total attacks (4,613), team kills (1,685), team service aces (220), and team assists (1,546). Off the court, he saw ten Bobcats earn Big Sky Conference All-Academic mention.
ON THE AIR: Both MSU matches on Friday and Sunday will be streamed on ESPN+ - a subscription is necessary. Veteran broadcaster Noah Syverson will handle the play-by-play duties.
SCOUTING REPORT: Washington, who begins its first season of Big Ten play this fall, went 16-15 overall and 7-13 in Pac-12 play during the 2023 campaign. The Huskies were led by Madi Endsley, a 6-2 senior outside hitter, who averaged 3.10 kills per set. Endsley was the 2020-21 AVCA Pacific North Region Freshman of the Year. Also returning to the Washington rotation is 6-3 outside hitter Emoni Bush. Bush missed the 2023 season after having shoulder surgery. As a sophomore, she was an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention pick after averaging 3.13 kills and 3.64 points per set. The Huskies are under the direction of Leslie Gabriel, who is in her second season at the helm of the UW program. She is a former player and assistant with the Huskies. The former Leslie Tuiasosopo, she was the 2020 AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year. Gabriel has a strong athletic pedigree as brother Marques played in the NFL for eight seasons, and brother Matt in MLB for five years. Middle Tennessee posted a 20-10 overall record and an 11-5 mark in C-USA action. The Blue Raiders advanced to the NIVC Tournament where it lost in the first round to Ball State, 3-1. Adri Rhoda, a 6-3 junior outside hitter from Hutchinson, Minn., led MTSU averaging 3.47 kills per set, while hitting .284 from the field. The Blue Raiders are under the direction of Chuck Crawford, who is in his eighth season in Murfreesboro. Crawford previously coached at Auburn, Georgia Tech, and Miami (OH).
SEASON OPENERS: Since the 1980 campaign the Bobcats are 25-19 all-time in season openers. Last fall, Montana State upset Pac-12 rival Oregon State 3-2 in Shroyer Gym on the first night of the Blackridge Invitational.
WELCOME BACK: Second-year head coach Matt Houk welcomes back nine letterwinners, including five starters and libero Lauren Lindseth, that led the Bobcats to its best season in school history last fall. MSU posted a 24-9 overall record, went 12-4 in Big Sky Conference play, and won three postseason matches before falling to Wichita State in the Fab Four of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship.
BACK TO THE FUTURE: Matt Houk made his first season at Montana State a memorable one as MSU finished 24-9 overall and 12-4 in Big Sky play. Both marks are the best in Bobcat volleyball history. MSU finished second in the league standings, its highest showing ever. MSU entered the Big Sky Tournament as the #3 seed and dispatched Montana in straight sets. The Cats downed Eastern Washington 3-1 in semifinal action to set up MSU's first ever appearance in a Big Sky title match. The Bobcats came up short in its search for the program's first ever NCAA bid falling to Weber State in five sets. With its successful 2023 resume', Montana State played in its first postseason national tournament and advanced to the Fab Four of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship with victories over Pacific, Sacramento State, and Wyoming. MSU lost to eventual champion Wichita State in semifinal play. On the court, Houk mentored Kira Thomsen and Jourdain Kamps to First Team All-Big Sky honors. Thomsen led the Big Sky in total kills, kills per set, points, points per set, service aces, and total attacks. Her 550 total kills ranked sixth in the country. Houk's team ranked among the top 25 in the nation in total attacks (4,613), team kills (1,685), team service aces (220), and team assists (1,546). Off the court, he saw ten Bobcats earn Big Sky Conference All-Academic mention.
ON THE AIR: Both MSU matches on Friday and Sunday will be streamed on ESPN+ - a subscription is necessary. Veteran broadcaster Noah Syverson will handle the play-by-play duties.
SCOUTING REPORT: Washington, who begins its first season of Big Ten play this fall, went 16-15 overall and 7-13 in Pac-12 play during the 2023 campaign. The Huskies were led by Madi Endsley, a 6-2 senior outside hitter, who averaged 3.10 kills per set. Endsley was the 2020-21 AVCA Pacific North Region Freshman of the Year. Also returning to the Washington rotation is 6-3 outside hitter Emoni Bush. Bush missed the 2023 season after having shoulder surgery. As a sophomore, she was an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention pick after averaging 3.13 kills and 3.64 points per set. The Huskies are under the direction of Leslie Gabriel, who is in her second season at the helm of the UW program. She is a former player and assistant with the Huskies. The former Leslie Tuiasosopo, she was the 2020 AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year. Gabriel has a strong athletic pedigree as brother Marques played in the NFL for eight seasons, and brother Matt in MLB for five years. Middle Tennessee posted a 20-10 overall record and an 11-5 mark in C-USA action. The Blue Raiders advanced to the NIVC Tournament where it lost in the first round to Ball State, 3-1. Adri Rhoda, a 6-3 junior outside hitter from Hutchinson, Minn., led MTSU averaging 3.47 kills per set, while hitting .284 from the field. The Blue Raiders are under the direction of Chuck Crawford, who is in his eighth season in Murfreesboro. Crawford previously coached at Auburn, Georgia Tech, and Miami (OH).
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
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