Montana Rallies to Defeat Portland State in Five Games
10/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
The University of Montana volleyball team rallied from a two-game deficit to defeat Portland State University 27-30, 27-30, 30-18, 30-26, 15-10 Friday night at the West Auxiliary Gym.
With the win Montana snapped a four-match losing streak and improved to 5-10 overall, 2-6 in the Big Sky Conference. Portland State lost its seventh straight match in falling to 4-9, 1-7 in the Big Sky.
"Physically we were fit enough to play five games," UM head coach Nikki Best said. "In the first two games we thought too much and got caught making mistakes. Between Games 2 and 3 I told them we could win because we had the momentum. We just needed to limit our unforced errors and be more aggressive."
Montana committed 21 attack errors in the first two games, but only 15 in the final three games. Conversely, Portland State committed 22 errors in the last three games after making 17 in the first two. The Grizzlies' defense had something to do with that. UM collected 80 digs and had 14 blocks, both season highs.
"We played the best defense we have played in the past few weeks," Best said.
Lizzie Wertz, playing in her first match since Sept. 8, led Montana with a match-high 18 kills and 16 digs. She had been sidelined with a stress fracture in her leg. Joy Pierce added 16 kills and 16 digs, while Lindsay Kaiser and Mary Forrest each tallied 12 kills.
Kristina Thom led the Vikings with 15 kills.
Montana will be at home again Saturday night as the Grizzlies entertain Eastern Washington in a 7:30 p.m. match. EWU defeated Montana State in five games in Bozeman Friday night.
With the win Montana snapped a four-match losing streak and improved to 5-10 overall, 2-6 in the Big Sky Conference. Portland State lost its seventh straight match in falling to 4-9, 1-7 in the Big Sky.
"Physically we were fit enough to play five games," UM head coach Nikki Best said. "In the first two games we thought too much and got caught making mistakes. Between Games 2 and 3 I told them we could win because we had the momentum. We just needed to limit our unforced errors and be more aggressive."
Montana committed 21 attack errors in the first two games, but only 15 in the final three games. Conversely, Portland State committed 22 errors in the last three games after making 17 in the first two. The Grizzlies' defense had something to do with that. UM collected 80 digs and had 14 blocks, both season highs.
"We played the best defense we have played in the past few weeks," Best said.
Lizzie Wertz, playing in her first match since Sept. 8, led Montana with a match-high 18 kills and 16 digs. She had been sidelined with a stress fracture in her leg. Joy Pierce added 16 kills and 16 digs, while Lindsay Kaiser and Mary Forrest each tallied 12 kills.
Kristina Thom led the Vikings with 15 kills.
Montana will be at home again Saturday night as the Grizzlies entertain Eastern Washington in a 7:30 p.m. match. EWU defeated Montana State in five games in Bozeman Friday night.
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