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WHO: Montana State at Portland State
WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Portland, Oregon – Viking Pavilion
RECORDS: Montana St. 13-12, 9-5; Portland St. 17-8, 11-3
SERIES: Portland State leads all-time series 24-45-1
LAST MTG: Oct. 16, 2021 – Portland St. 3, @ Montana St. 1
WHO: Montana State at Sacramento State
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021 at 2 p.m. (MT)
WHERE: Sacramento, California – The Nest
RECORDS: Montana State 13-12, 9-5; Sac State 14-11, 8-6
SERIES: Sacramento State leads all-time series 45-9
LAST MTG: Oct. 14, 2021 – @ Montana St. 3, Sac State 1
LIVE STATS: Live statistics of MSU’s matches at Portland State and Sacramento State can be accessed at msubobcats.com
LIVE VIDEO: MSU’s matches at Portland State and Sacramento State will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription necessary).
NEXT UP: The Bobcat volleyball team will conclude its 2021 fall regular season schedule this week when it travels west to Oregon and California. MSU opens play, Thursday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. (MT) against league-leading Portland State. The Bobcats close regular season action at Sacramento State on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. (MT) at The Nest.
BOBCAT BITES: MSU is ranked #167 in this week’s RPI…the highest ranked team the Bobcats have defeated this fall is #115 Boise State (3-1), followed by #121 North Texas (3-2)…MSU is 2-6 in five-set matches, including losses to #18 Washington, #33 Arkansas, #94 Weber State, #113 Utah State and #203 Long Beach State…other Big Sky rankings in the RPI include #63 Northern Colorado, #101 Portland State, #183 Northern Arizona, #191 Sacramento State, #221 Montana, #247 Eastern Washington, #264 Idaho State, #297 Southern Utah, and #307 Idaho.
TOURNEY TALK: Eight teams secured berths for the Big Sky tournament slated for Nov. 18 in Ogden, Utah. The teams include Northern Colorado, Portland State, Weber State, MSU, Northern Arizona, Sacramento State, Eastern Washington and Montana. This weekend’s matches will determine the seedings for the tournament. Currently, Northern Colorado, Portland State and Weber State sit in the driver’s seat for a regular-season title tied at 9-3 in league action. Montana State cannot finish lower than a No. 6 seed. MSU and NAU are currently 9-5 overall with the Bobcats holding the head-to-head tiebreaker. Sacramento State lurks one game back at 8-6. In addition, the Bobcats still have an outside shot to win its first-ever regular season title but would need some help.
SIDE OUTS:
* MSU is 2-6 in five setters with two losses to Power 5 schools – Arkansas & #7 Washington
* Hannah Scott now has 1,236 career kills, which ranks fifth all-time at Montana State
* Kira Thomsen paced the Bobcats last weekend averaging 3.42 kills and 2.86 digs per set
* MSU ranks #1 in the Big Sky and #27 in the country in total team blocks (233)
* The Cats rank #2 in the Big Sky & #66 in the nation averaging 2.38 blocks per set
* Montana State ranks #3 in the Big Sky and #104 in the country in hitting percentage (.224)
* The Bobcats rank #1 in the Big Sky and #65 in the nation with 1,152 team assists
* Emma Pence’s 133 total blocks rank #1 in the Big Sky and #2 in the country this week
* Pence is also ranked #1 in the Big Sky and #7 in the nation, averaging 1.40 bps
* Freshman Jordan Radick is #6 in the Big Sky and #155 in the nation with 89 total blocks
THE SCOUTING REPORT: Portland State is 17-8 overall and 11-3 in Big Sky play after splitting a pair of matches last weekend. The Vikings dropped a 3-1 decision to Sacramento State last Thursday in the Rose City, before turning the table with a 3-1 win over Southern Utah in Cedar City. Two wins this weekend secures at least a share of the Big Sky regular-season title for the Vikings for the first time since 2013. Besides a share of the Big Sky regular-season title, two wins this weekend could also secure the Vikings the No. 1 seed at the upcoming Big Sky tournament, as well as hosting rights for next season’s Big Sky tournament. If the three teams finish tied with one another, then the tiebreaker goes to head-to-head record among the three teams. That favors the Vikings because they went 2-1 combined against Weber State and Northern Colorado, while Weber State went 2-2 and Northern Colorado went 1-2. If it ends up a two-way tie, then the Vikings’ seeding would depend on the team they end up tied with. The Vikings would lose the head-to-head tiebreaker with Weber State due to total points scored in their two matches (183-179 Weber State), while the Vikings would win the head-to-head tiebreaker with Northern Colorado due to their 3-1 win over the Bears on Oct. 23. In mid-October, the Vikings swept the Montana road trip for the first time since 2013. In its meeting with the Bobcats on Oct. 16, PSU handed MSU a 34-32, 17-25, 27-25, 25-17 setback in Shroyer Gym. Makayla Lewis and Gabby Hollins paced the Vikings with 18 kills, apiece, while Parker Webb chipped in 16 kills and 12 digs. The Bobcats were led by Kira Thomsen and Hannah Scott with 15 and 13 kills, respectively. Sacramento State is 14-11 overall and 8-6 in league action after defeating Portland State (3-1), before losing at Northern Arizona (3-0). The Hornets will face Montana on Thursday, before its match vs. MSU on Saturday. The Cats handed the Hornets a 25-22, 23-25, 25-14, 25-13 defeat on Oct. 14 in Bozeman. MSU was paced by Thomsen and Scott with 18 and 14 kills. Sacramento State was led by Bridgette Smith with 13 kills and 12 digs.
HARD BLOCK CAFE: The Bobcats’ 233 total blocks leads the Big Sky Conference and ranks #27 in the nation. Montana State is also ranked second in the Big Sky averaging 2.38 blocks per set, which ranks #66 in the nation. Individually, Emma Pence leads the Big Sky averaging 1.40 blocks per contest. That number ranks #7 in the country. Pence’s 133 total blocks also ranks first in the Big Sky and ranks an impressive #2 in the nation. MSU had a season-best 18 team blocks in its match with Arkansas on Sept. 2 in Bozeman.
GREAT SCOTT: Senior Hannah Scott went over the 1,000-kill mark with her fourth block against Portland on Sept. 3. The Hawthorne, Calif, product became the 16th member of MSU’s prestigious 1000-kill club. Her 1,236 career kills rank fifth on Montana State’s all-time kills’ chart. On the season, she is averaging 3.02 kills per set. Last weekend, Scott averaged 3.01 kills and 2.31 digs per set. Against Weber State on Sept. 30, Scott had a season-best 22 kills. She had a season-best 15 digs against Montana on Oct. 26. Scott’s best performance came against #7 Washington on Sept. 16 with 17 kills, while hitting .400 (17-3-35) from the floor. In addition, Scott added nine digs, five blocks and an ace as the Bobcats almost pulled the upset over the Huskies. Scott was named to the Boise State All-Tournament team to open this season. She has been in double-figure kills in 16-of-25 matches. Scott is currently first on the squad with 330 points. During the spring season, Scott had a breakout campaign which culminated in being named to the All-Big Sky First-Team as she averaged 2.89 kills, while hitting .232 from the floor.
Career Kills Watch:
Kills:
1. Diane Terrall, 78-81 1,451
2. Brandy Anderson, 95-98 1,380
3. Maggie Koughan, 82-85 1,328
4. Stephanie Laya, 97-00 1,260
5. Hannah Scott, 17-21 1,236
CLIMBING THE LADDER: As the MSU program continues to improve, its numbers within the Big Sky statistical categories have shown remarkable improvement, as well. In the 15 team statistical categories, the Cats rank among the top three of the league in seven categories, including #1 in total blocks (233), team assists (1,152), and team kills (1,241), #2 in blocks per set (2.38 bps), and #3 in hitting percentage (.224), assists per set (11.76) and total attacks (3,307).
A LENDING HAND: Former Bozeman High product Allie Lynch is averaging 5.33 assists per game running MSU’s 6-2 offense. Lynch dished out a season-high 33 assists against Montana on Oct. 26. Last week, Lynch averaged 6.86 aps. On the season, she is also averaging 1.85 digs per set, including a season-best 13 saves, twice, the last against Portland State. Freshman Audrey Hofer has started eight times and has played in 23 of MSU’s 25 matches. The Helena Capital grad dished out a season-high 28 assists at North Texas and matched a career-high 11 digs against Eastern Washington, last Saturday. Last week, Hofer dished out 66 assists and added 20 digs against Idaho and EWU. On the season, she is averaging 5.21 assists per set. Hofer also chips in 1.52 digs per set. Hofer’s registered two double-double and is fourth on the team with 15 aces. Delaney Shearan is averaging 4.62 assists and 1.88 digs per set on the season. Shearan dished out a season-high 26 against Long Beach State in the first match of the season. Against Montana and Northern Colorado two weeks ago, she averaged 3.33 assists and 4.33 digs per set.
MAY I ASSIST YOU?: Senior setter Allie Lynch is steadily creeping up the all-time Montana State assists chart. The Bozeman native went over the 1,000-assist plateau against Portland State on Oct. 24, 2019. Former Bobcat standout Brooke Olsen-Roush (1996-99) holds the all-time Bobcats record set back in the old 15-point sideout scoring era. Here’s a look at MSU’s all-time Top 10, and where Lynch stands:
1. Brooke Olsen, 1996-99 4,712
2. Kamber Kelly, 2001-04 3,751
3. Jennifer Lundquist, 2009-12 2,500
4. Lorraine Morrison, 1999-01 2,293
5. Allie Lynch, 2017-21 2,169
TOOL TIME: In two matches last week, Kira Thomsen totaled 24 kills and 20 digs, while hitting .367 and adding three aces and two block assists. On the season, she has been in double-figure kills on 17 occasions and has produced nine double-doubles. She matched a season-best 18 kills in MSU’s 3-1 win over Sacramento State on Oct. 14. Thomsen currently ranks first on the team in digs with 242 (2.49 dps) and service aces (29). She is second on the squad with 287 kills (2.96 kps). On Sept. 30 against Weber State, Thomsen notched a season-high 24 digs. Her 330.5 points is top on the team, with Hannah Scott second at 330. Thomsen earned tournament MVP honors at the Boise State Invitational to open the season after posting a .337 attack mark and averaging 3.42 kills, 2.83 digs and .58 aces per set. At the Bobcat Classic, the Parker, Colo., product averaged 3.00 kills and 1.64 digs per set with a .260 attack mark. And, at the North Texas Challenge, she averaged 2.55 kills and 1.18 digs per game. Last spring, Thomsen earned First-Team All-Big Sky honors.
THE GREAT WALL OF BOZEMAN: Sophomore Emma Pence currently ranks first in the Big Sky in blocks per set (1.40 bps), which ranks 7th in the nation. Pence’s 133 total blocks also tops the league and ranks second in the country. The Carson City, Nevada product has been in double-figure kills five times, matching a season-best 11 against Weber State on Sept. 30. Pence has matched a season-high nine blocks on three occasions this season, coming against Montana, Idaho State and Boise State. Last week, she averaged 2.57 kills and .57 blocks per set against Idaho and Eastern Washington. Pence, who was one of two players in the league that garnered #BigSkyVB Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week accolades during the spring, earned #BigSkyVB Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 4.
Single-Season Block Watch:
Block Assists:
1. Ana Schanze, 2002 169
2. Megan Zanto, 2003 144
3. Karen Weyler, 1994 138
4. Karin Lundqvist, 2000 137
Julia Handwerk, 2000 137
— Emma Pence, 2021 123
Total Blocks:
1. Ana Schanze, 2002 191
2. Karen Weyler, 1994 175
3. Kim Steffel, 1992 171
4. Megan Zanto, 2003 161
Karin Lundqvist, 2000 161
— Emma Pence, 2021 133
Career Block Watch:
Block Assists:
1. Megan Zanto, 02-05 511
2. Karen Weyler, 94-97 460
3. Cori Carper, 96-99 425
4. Angela Wiebe, 03-06 394
5. Emma Pence, 2019– 313
Total Blocks:
1. Megan Zanto, 02-05 592
2. Karen Weyler, 94-97 570
3. Cori Carper, 96-99 490
4. Angela Wiebe, 03-06 416
5. Kim Steffel, 89-92 356
6. Emma Pence, 2019– 349
THE MENACE FROM ENNIS: Jourdain Klein, a 6-1 outside hitter from Ennis, Mont., averaged 3.29 kills and hit. 477 (23-2-44) against Idaho and Eastern Washington, last weekend. Against the Eagles, Klein recorded a career-high 16 digs, while hitting .556 (16-1-27) from the field. Three weeks ago, she was named #BigSkyVB Offensive Player of the Week after averaging 3.13 kills, 1.50 blocks and 1.13 aces, while hitting .358 from the field last week against No. Arizona and Southern Utah. At the North Texas Challenge in mid-September, Klein had a very efficient tournament hitting, recording a .444 (17-1-36) attack for the three matches. She tallied a season-high eight blocks against Arkansas. Last spring, she was named All-Big Sky Second-Team.
OPPOSITE DAY: Rightside hitters Avery Turnage, Kaycee O’Dell and Emma West have all played this season. West, a senior from Tempe, Ariz., started both matches last week and combined for 11 kills in seven sets. Turnage, a product of Idaho Falls, Idaho has played in 71 sets and is averaging 1.42 kills and .66 blocks per outing. She had a career-high 11 kills against Fresno State and a career-best seven blocks as MSU defeated Boise State in August. O’Dell, a sophomore from Glendale, Arizona, has played in 26 sets and is averaging 1.12 kps. She had 11 kills against North Texas in September.
JORDAN IN THE MIDDLE: Freshman Jordan Radick posted 10 kills (1.43 kps) and three blocks, while hitting .250 against Idaho and Eastern Washington. Radick, a graduate of Bozeman High, had her best outing against EWU on Saturday, recording six kills, a .286 attack mark and a block. Radick recorded a season-high 11 kills against Portland State and a season-high 12 blocks vs. Arkansas. She has tallied six matches hitting .400 or better.
TO BE OR NOT TO BE: Freshman Courtney Weatherby started both matches last week against Idaho and Eastern Washington. She averaged 4.0 digs per set. The matches were her first in a different colored jersey.
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