Cats Fall in Big Sky Opener

Thursday, September 26

Sacramento, CA

8 p.m. (MT)

Montana State University

2-10,0-1Big Sky

Sacramento State

8-6,1-0Big Sky

Montana St.

Sacramento St.

9/26/2024 11:38:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Montana State hosts Northern Arizona on Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Shroyer Gym to open its Big Sky home slate.

By: Tom Schulz

In a battle between the two teams picked to finish atop the league standings in the Big Sky Conference Preseason Coach's poll, Sacramento State got the better of Montana State, knocking the Bobcats off in four sets 25-19, 21-25, 25-22, 25-17 on Thursday night at The Nest.

"Give credit where credit is due," said MSU head coach Matt Houk. "Sacramento State is a very good program. We played some good volleyball, here and there, and did a nice job being assertive in the second set, but unfortunately, we've not been a team to stay consistent outside of a set or two. That's the piece we need to learn to get better at."

Sacramento State (8-6, 1-0) broke away from 13-all with a 4-0 run in the opening set and cruised down the stretch outhitting Montana State (2-10, 0-1) .303 to .079, and outblocking the Bobcats 5-1.

MSU grabbed the momentum in the second frame taking a 23-14 lead following a Hornet hitting error. Sacramento State fought off six set points before Madilyn Siebler ended the Hornet comeback with a kill. Siebler, a junior outside hitter from Omaha, Neb., paced MSU with five kills in the set.

Set three was a back-and-forth affair. Even at 19-all following a service ace by MSU's Lauren Lindseth, Sacramento State went on a 4-1 run. The Bobcats closed within 23-22 on a Joelie Spelts kill, but back-to-back Hornet winners gave Sacramento State a 2-1 match advantage.

Siebler got the Bobcats out to a 12-10 lead in the fourth stanza, before the Hornets reeled off a 7-2 stretch. Sacramento State outhit Montana State .317 to .029, as Caitlin Volkmann's kill finished the match.

Siebler led MSU with a team-high 13 kills, while senior setter Audrey Hofer dished out 18 assists and added 13 digs. Defensively, Lindseth guided the Bobcats with 20 digs, while Jordan Radick posted a team best five blocks.

"We ask Madilyn (Siebler) to carry a heavy load," Houk said. "She's one of a few kids that is on the court all the way around. It's a tough position, but she's doing great and continues to grow in the roll.

"We have a lot of kids playing," Houk added. "We're constantly adjusting and shifting the line up because of injury or illness. I'm not sure if we've had the same line up in back-to-back matches, which is a tough situation, but allows for formative moments."

Volkmann led Sacramento State with 19 kills, eight digs, and four blocks.

Montana State hosts Northern Arizona on Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Shroyer Gym to open its Big Sky home slate. "It's going to be a quick turnaround, but we're excited to be home," Houk stated.