Saturday, September 28
BOZEMAN
7 p.m.
Montana State University
3-10,1-1Big Sky
3
vs
0
Northern Arizona
7-6,0-2Big Sky
1
2
3
F
Northern Ariz.
22
21
20
0
Montana St.
25
25
25
3
Redshirt freshman Karli Heidemann
Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann
Cats Take Down Lumberjacks
9/28/2024 10:17:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
“There’s always something good about being home,” said MSU head coach Matt Houk.
Montana State hadn't played on its home court since defeating Middle Tennessee State on Sept. 1. The Bobcats enjoyed being back in the warm confines of Shroyer Gym opening its Big Sky Conference home slate with a 25-22, 25-21, 25-20 victory over Northern Arizona, Saturday night.
"There's always something good about being home," said MSU head coach Matt Houk.
Montana State (3-10, 1-1) took advantage of the home hardwood getting out to a 15-11 lead in the first frame. Northern Arizona (7-6, 0-2) chipped away at the deficit and grabbed a 20-19 lead heading down the stretch. The Bobcats received a kill by Karli Heidemann and a block from Jourdain Kamps and Joelie Spelts to go back on top for good. MSU closed out the set on a Madilyn Siebler kill.
"Closing out a set hasn't been a strength of ours this season," Houk said. "It's something the group has struggled with a little bit and it's something we've been addressing and working on in practice. They've been taking it on and understand that's something they have to do when we're in the redzone of the set.
"They made plays (tonight)," Houk added. "That's what it comes down too. We got swings and were able to keep pressure on Northern Arizona. Kudos to our athletes for showing that they're growing."
MSU jumped out in the second set building a 21-15 margin on a Heidemann kill and closed out the game on back-to-back kills off the arms of Spelts and Camryn Greenwald.
The Lumberjacks turned the momentum in set three holding two five-point leads, the last at 13-8. The Bobcats righted the ship with a 7-1 run sparked by a block and kill by senior Courtney Weatherby. Tied at 14-all, Montana State scored four unanswered points and NAU would get no closer than three in the waning moments before a costly blocking error gave the Bobcats the sweep.
"The last set showed how hard this game is," Houk said. "You reset every twenty-five points and it's a fresh start. NAU came out and hit some good serves and they put us into some tough situations, but the nice thing is we never hit the panic button and that's a nice sign."
Heidemann led three Bobcats in double-figures with a match-high 15 kills, while Greenwald and Siebler added ten apiece. Defensively, junior libero Lauren Lindseth recorded a match best 21 digs, while Spelts paced MSU at the net with a career-high eight blocks.
MSU held advantages in kills, hitting percentage, assists, service aces, digs and blocks over the course of the one-hour, 38-minute match.
Northern Arizona was led by Savanah Bloom with eight kills and four blocks.
The Bobcats travel to Idaho State next Thursday night in Pocatello.
"There's always something good about being home," said MSU head coach Matt Houk.
Montana State (3-10, 1-1) took advantage of the home hardwood getting out to a 15-11 lead in the first frame. Northern Arizona (7-6, 0-2) chipped away at the deficit and grabbed a 20-19 lead heading down the stretch. The Bobcats received a kill by Karli Heidemann and a block from Jourdain Kamps and Joelie Spelts to go back on top for good. MSU closed out the set on a Madilyn Siebler kill.
"Closing out a set hasn't been a strength of ours this season," Houk said. "It's something the group has struggled with a little bit and it's something we've been addressing and working on in practice. They've been taking it on and understand that's something they have to do when we're in the redzone of the set.
"They made plays (tonight)," Houk added. "That's what it comes down too. We got swings and were able to keep pressure on Northern Arizona. Kudos to our athletes for showing that they're growing."
MSU jumped out in the second set building a 21-15 margin on a Heidemann kill and closed out the game on back-to-back kills off the arms of Spelts and Camryn Greenwald.
The Lumberjacks turned the momentum in set three holding two five-point leads, the last at 13-8. The Bobcats righted the ship with a 7-1 run sparked by a block and kill by senior Courtney Weatherby. Tied at 14-all, Montana State scored four unanswered points and NAU would get no closer than three in the waning moments before a costly blocking error gave the Bobcats the sweep.
"The last set showed how hard this game is," Houk said. "You reset every twenty-five points and it's a fresh start. NAU came out and hit some good serves and they put us into some tough situations, but the nice thing is we never hit the panic button and that's a nice sign."
Heidemann led three Bobcats in double-figures with a match-high 15 kills, while Greenwald and Siebler added ten apiece. Defensively, junior libero Lauren Lindseth recorded a match best 21 digs, while Spelts paced MSU at the net with a career-high eight blocks.
MSU held advantages in kills, hitting percentage, assists, service aces, digs and blocks over the course of the one-hour, 38-minute match.
Northern Arizona was led by Savanah Bloom with eight kills and four blocks.
The Bobcats travel to Idaho State next Thursday night in Pocatello.
Team Stats
NAU
MSU
Kills
34
53
Errors
15
25
Attempts
125
137
Hitting %
.152
.204
Points
43.0
65.0
Assists
32
48
Aces
2
3
Blocks
7
9
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
10
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
MB/OH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballMatt Houk Introductory Press Conference
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Monday, November 15
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Bobcat Classic: Arkansas vs. Utah State
Friday, September 03
