Notes from UM Griz volleyball, soccer
9/20/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
She may not be a "Bond" girl, and she doesn't carry a golden gun, but Heather Olson certainly does have a golden leg. Olson, who has one goal this season after a slow start, is on pace to become the premier goal scorer not only in Montana history, but also in the Big Sky Conference. Olson has 30 career goals, three behind Big Sky leader Raegin Eyre, who played for Northern Arizona from 1997 to 2000. Olson also has her sights set on the UM mark, which is 43 goals, set by Courtney Mathieson.
Betsy Duersken is nearing the century mark. Not in age, but in wins. Duerksen has amassed 95 wins in her eight seasons at the helm of the Griz, and is inching her way toward the century club. Overall, she is 95-41-4 at Montana and was the Big Sky coach of the year in 1999. Duersken has coached four Big Sky Conference regular season crown winners and three Big Sky Championship teams. Her career record sits at 139-61-6.
The week off has came at the right time for both UM soccer and volleyball. Nursing injuries last week, Nikki Bolstad and Katie Peck are now 100 percent for this weekend's games against Boise State and Cal Poly. Both Peck and Bolstad were expected to play last weekend before those games were canceled.
Also, after making a successful return from Mononucleosis two weeks ago, Joy Pierce has been cleared to play without restrictions. Pierce played very little in the first three matches of the week at the Hampton Inn/Jayhawk Invitational before returning to the starting lineup against Georgia Southern. Showing no signs of rust, Pierce recorded 13 kills and made no errors on 19 attacks.
Overall, assistant coach Dave Best said the team, along with the coaches, took advantage of the unforeseen week of rest.
"We worked out over last weekend, but for the most part rested the team," Best said. "After swinging the arms so much in the first part of the season, we needed a break."
The break was also a pleasant gift for head coach Nikki Best, who was recovering from being sick as well.
Sophomore slump and Lizzie Wertz, hardly the case. Wertz, the ultra-talented outside hitter from Oakland, Calif., has been afflicting punishment on opposing spikers all season long. She is leading the Griz in kills, knocking down 3.7 and digs with 3.5 a game. Wertz's play has landed her on two all-tournament teams this season. After slamming down a career-high 22 kills against Kansas last weekend, Wertz leads Montana into Big Sky Conference play this weekend as the ladies open up against Eastern Washington and Portland State.
Sisters Lindsay and Marci Kaiser certainly are quite the dealers for Montana. The duo leads the Grizzlies in aces, handing out 27 between them. Lindsay has dealt out 17 while Marci has served 10. Overall, Montana has 58 aces.
If Montana is to walk out of Cheney with a win, the nation's third longest home winning streak will have to come to an end first. Eastern Washington has not fallen at home in 28 matches and have started the season on fire at 7-0, including 2-0 at home. The Eagles took all three matches from the Griz last year, including a five-game marathon in the Big Sky Tournament. History is on UM's side. Montana has dominated the overall series, posting a 37-16 mark since the two teams begin playing each other in 1976.
It may be early in the season but a critical battle could be brewing when Eastern Washington and Montana State tangle Saturday night in Cheney. If EWU can get by Montana and MSU can get by Portland State, then both teams will be entering the gym undefeated and wanting to make a huge statement about who will wear this year's Big Sky crown.
Betsy Duersken is nearing the century mark. Not in age, but in wins. Duerksen has amassed 95 wins in her eight seasons at the helm of the Griz, and is inching her way toward the century club. Overall, she is 95-41-4 at Montana and was the Big Sky coach of the year in 1999. Duersken has coached four Big Sky Conference regular season crown winners and three Big Sky Championship teams. Her career record sits at 139-61-6.
The week off has came at the right time for both UM soccer and volleyball. Nursing injuries last week, Nikki Bolstad and Katie Peck are now 100 percent for this weekend's games against Boise State and Cal Poly. Both Peck and Bolstad were expected to play last weekend before those games were canceled.
Also, after making a successful return from Mononucleosis two weeks ago, Joy Pierce has been cleared to play without restrictions. Pierce played very little in the first three matches of the week at the Hampton Inn/Jayhawk Invitational before returning to the starting lineup against Georgia Southern. Showing no signs of rust, Pierce recorded 13 kills and made no errors on 19 attacks.
Overall, assistant coach Dave Best said the team, along with the coaches, took advantage of the unforeseen week of rest.
"We worked out over last weekend, but for the most part rested the team," Best said. "After swinging the arms so much in the first part of the season, we needed a break."
The break was also a pleasant gift for head coach Nikki Best, who was recovering from being sick as well.
Sophomore slump and Lizzie Wertz, hardly the case. Wertz, the ultra-talented outside hitter from Oakland, Calif., has been afflicting punishment on opposing spikers all season long. She is leading the Griz in kills, knocking down 3.7 and digs with 3.5 a game. Wertz's play has landed her on two all-tournament teams this season. After slamming down a career-high 22 kills against Kansas last weekend, Wertz leads Montana into Big Sky Conference play this weekend as the ladies open up against Eastern Washington and Portland State.
Sisters Lindsay and Marci Kaiser certainly are quite the dealers for Montana. The duo leads the Grizzlies in aces, handing out 27 between them. Lindsay has dealt out 17 while Marci has served 10. Overall, Montana has 58 aces.
If Montana is to walk out of Cheney with a win, the nation's third longest home winning streak will have to come to an end first. Eastern Washington has not fallen at home in 28 matches and have started the season on fire at 7-0, including 2-0 at home. The Eagles took all three matches from the Griz last year, including a five-game marathon in the Big Sky Tournament. History is on UM's side. Montana has dominated the overall series, posting a 37-16 mark since the two teams begin playing each other in 1976.
It may be early in the season but a critical battle could be brewing when Eastern Washington and Montana State tangle Saturday night in Cheney. If EWU can get by Montana and MSU can get by Portland State, then both teams will be entering the gym undefeated and wanting to make a huge statement about who will wear this year's Big Sky crown.
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