Cats Come Up Short in South Dakota

Friday, September 13

Vermillion, SD

6 p.m. (MT)

Montana State University

1-5,0-0Big Sky

South Dakota

4-2,0-0Summit League

Montana St.

South Dakota

Jourdain Kamps (9) and Camryn Greenwald go up for a block against South Dakota on Friday night. (photo courtesy of USD Athletics)

9/13/2024 10:15:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

“I made it very apparent to the team, and what I hope they understand, is that we wanted our non-conference to be hard, we put it together deliberately with the goal in taking the next step,” Houk added.

By: Tom Schulz

Montana State's come back effort fell short at the University of South Dakota Classic as the Bobcats dropped a 26-28, 25-19, 25-21, 23-25, 15-10 decision to the Coyotes on Friday night in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.

"South Dakota is another team that has NCAA Tournament experience," said MSU head coach Matt Houk. "They have built a great program, and they're someone we can look to (as a model).

"I made it very apparent to the team, and what I hope they understand, is that we wanted our non-conference to be hard, we put it together deliberately with the goal in taking the next step," Houk added. "This group is mature enough to see that they need to do things consistently against teams that do things consistently. We might have to take a few on the chin to learn to become better."

Montana State (1-5) found itself down in all five sets but was able to overcome adversity in sets one and four to take South Dakota (4-2) to a fifth and deciding frame.

Trailing 17-11 midway through the opening set, the Bobcats rattled off a 9-2 run taking a 23-22 lead following a USD service error. MSU held three set points before finally putting the game away on a kill by redshirt freshman Karli Heidemann. Heidemann, a product of Diller, neb., paced MSU in the first set with six kills.

South Dakota held sizeable advantages midway through both sets two and three, winning each on kills by Kylen Sealock. USD outhit MSU .180 to .116 over the course of the two sets.

The Coyotes continued holding the momentum building a 20-16 lead in set four. The Bobcats mounted a late surge with a 7-2 run, taking a 23-22 lead on a kill by Jourdain Kamps. Sealock evened the set at 23, before MSU closed out the stanza on a USD hitting error and a block by Kamps and Jordan Radick. The Bobcats hit an impressive .390 in the set, committing just one error on 41 attempts.

South Dakota jumped out quick in the final frame cruising to a 12-4 advantage. MSU drew within 13-9 but would get no closer as Audrey Nelson put an exclamation point on USD's home-opener.

"We were much more consistent in this match than what we were last weekend," Houk said. "We'll continue to compete, grow, and get better."

Kamps led MSU with 17 kills, eight digs and three blocks. Also in double figure kills were Heidemann 13, and Madilyn Siebler 11. Lauren Lindseth was solid in the backrow for the Bobcats posting a match-high 32 digs. Radick and Camryn Greenwald added six blocks apiece.

Lauren Medeck led the Coyotes with 20 kills and 18 digs.

Montana State meets UTEP on Saturday at 1 p.m. (MT).