Grizzlies Fall to Montana State in Four Games
11/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
The University of Montana volleyball team had its 2001 season end on a disappointing note as the Grizzlies dropped a four-game decision to intrastate rival Montana State University Friday night in the Montana Power Classic before a West Auxiliary Gym record crowd of 723. The game scores were 30-17, 31-33, 30-17, 30-18.
Montana (5-16, 2-12 Big Sky) did not go down without a fight however. The Grizzlies played well early in Game 1. Then with Montana State (17-5, 8-6 Big Sky) leading 16-14, the Bobcats outscored UM 14-2 to close out the game. Montana committed six various errors during that time.
But the Grizzlies battled back in the second game. Trailing 29-26, Montana saved three game points by forcing three straight Bobcat errors. After the teams traded the next four points to make the score 31-31, Montana closed out the game with an attack error by MSU's Julia Handwerk and a kill by Lizzie Wertz.
"Throughout the second game our block setup was much better," UM head coach Nikki Best said. "We forced them into some errors. That has been an area in which we have been struggling with all year. But I thought what made the difference was we were able to block a ball or two and we made them think about their shots and force some errors.
However, Montana State quickly regained the momentum in the third game. The Bobcats committed only two attack errors in the game for a .467 attack percentage. The turning point came with the score tied 13-13. MSU reeled off seven straight points to gain control of the game at 20-13.
It was much the same in Game 4 as Montana State scored the first four points of the game and never looked back.
"Ultimately, they were able to turn up the heat offensively and we were unable to block their outside hitters," Best said. "Anne Watts and Falin Schaefer were dominant."
Schaefer and Watts combined for 39 of MSU's 68 total kills, with Schaefer tallying 21 and Watts 18.
The match was the final contest for UM's two seniors, Lindsay Kaiser and Joy Pierce. Kaiser ended the night with nine kills and 16 digs, while Pierce had 10 kills, six digs and six blocks.
Lizzie Wertz paced Montana with 17 kills and 17 digs.
Montana (5-16, 2-12 Big Sky) did not go down without a fight however. The Grizzlies played well early in Game 1. Then with Montana State (17-5, 8-6 Big Sky) leading 16-14, the Bobcats outscored UM 14-2 to close out the game. Montana committed six various errors during that time.
But the Grizzlies battled back in the second game. Trailing 29-26, Montana saved three game points by forcing three straight Bobcat errors. After the teams traded the next four points to make the score 31-31, Montana closed out the game with an attack error by MSU's Julia Handwerk and a kill by Lizzie Wertz.
"Throughout the second game our block setup was much better," UM head coach Nikki Best said. "We forced them into some errors. That has been an area in which we have been struggling with all year. But I thought what made the difference was we were able to block a ball or two and we made them think about their shots and force some errors.
However, Montana State quickly regained the momentum in the third game. The Bobcats committed only two attack errors in the game for a .467 attack percentage. The turning point came with the score tied 13-13. MSU reeled off seven straight points to gain control of the game at 20-13.
It was much the same in Game 4 as Montana State scored the first four points of the game and never looked back.
"Ultimately, they were able to turn up the heat offensively and we were unable to block their outside hitters," Best said. "Anne Watts and Falin Schaefer were dominant."
Schaefer and Watts combined for 39 of MSU's 68 total kills, with Schaefer tallying 21 and Watts 18.
The match was the final contest for UM's two seniors, Lindsay Kaiser and Joy Pierce. Kaiser ended the night with nine kills and 16 digs, while Pierce had 10 kills, six digs and six blocks.
Lizzie Wertz paced Montana with 17 kills and 17 digs.
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