Griz volleyball drops close one to Bobcats
10/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Fans who watched the Griz face off against their in-state rival Montana State last Friday got a good show.
"The game was definitely worth the price of admission," said University of Montana head coach Nikki Best after the Griz lost a five-game scorcher to MSU.
If fans didn't get to the West Auxiliary Gym earlier than five minutes before the game Friday night, there was no place to sit. A record 985 fans attended, crushing the old record by nearly 200.
The gym was packed, and the Griz fed off the fans' energy in the first game, beating the 'Cats 30-28. Montana had all cylinders firing heading into the second game.
But the 'Cats responded with a 30-20 victory in game two.
In game three, the statistics for both teams looked nearly identical in every category: kills, digs, assists and blocks. But the 30-26 score gave the Griz the advantage as they headed into game four.
In game four, the Griz let Montana State get ahead just enough to have an edge throughout the game. The Grizzlies couldn't quite catch up, with the game ending 30-27 in MSU's favor and forcing a fifth and final game.
Fifteen quick points later in game five, Montana State fed the Griz defeat.
And, it was particularly hard to swallow as the loss was be the Grizzlies fifth in a row.
"It pains me that the girls continue to put themselves in the position to win and just can't deliver," Best said after the game. "We won on paper, we should have won according to the stats, and it's sad that the scoreboard doesn't tell the whole story."
The whole story includes the fact that the Griz continue to play long, physical matches to five games and can't come out on the winning end.
The last three teams the Griz have played are ranked first through third in the conference (Sacramento State, Northern Arizona and Montana State.) But the Griz could have just as easily won those games as lost.
"Yes, it is disheartening for us to lose these close ones," Best said. "But, they know they're gaining ground, and they have big hearts so bouncing back shouldn't be a problem."
With a midseason record of 1-6, tied for last place in the conference, the Griz will have to pick up some wins on the road to vie for a spot in the six-team Big Sky championship next month.
But last Friday against Montana State, MSU head coach, Dave Gantt didn't treat UM like a team at the bottom of the barrel.
"The thing you have to realize about the Griz is that their record doesn't show how good they are," Gantt said. "They are a well-coached, intense team that could just as easily be 5-1 instead of the other way around."
Montana did a good job of taking out MSU senior outside hitter Aimee Halyk, Gantt said, as UM held MSU's offensive instigator to fewer than three kills in each game.
But the Griz had trouble getting a hand on MSU's 6-foot-2-inch freshman Megan Zanto.
Zanto averaged about eight kills a game, but it was her blocking that threw a wrench in Montana's offensive attack.
"MSU's blockers like Zanto can dictate a game because they control how we place our hits," Best said.
Overanticipating blocks could have accounted for some of the Griz's 50 attack errors, compared to the Bobcats' 21.
Despite the hitting errors, Montana was able to strategically place certain hits at crucial moments of the game.
One reason for this was accurate setting by Griz sisters Claire and Dianna Thompson. Agile movement and smart play from those two accounted for more than 90 percent of the Griz's assists and a handful of points off quick dump plays.
But after the Griz's passing broke down in games two and four, Montana lost the flow and polish of its game.
"When the passing goes, everything goes haywire," Best said. "We sent over too many freeballs, and they capitalized on that."
Coach Best reminded her team Friday night that the members played better Friday than they did the week before.
"That's all I can ask is that we continue to improve," Best said. "They know they can be better, and we're in it as long as we stay positive and continue to improve."
The Grizzlies' next three games are on the road. Montana's next home game is against Idaho State on Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the West Auxiliary Gym.
"The game was definitely worth the price of admission," said University of Montana head coach Nikki Best after the Griz lost a five-game scorcher to MSU.
If fans didn't get to the West Auxiliary Gym earlier than five minutes before the game Friday night, there was no place to sit. A record 985 fans attended, crushing the old record by nearly 200.
The gym was packed, and the Griz fed off the fans' energy in the first game, beating the 'Cats 30-28. Montana had all cylinders firing heading into the second game.
But the 'Cats responded with a 30-20 victory in game two.
In game three, the statistics for both teams looked nearly identical in every category: kills, digs, assists and blocks. But the 30-26 score gave the Griz the advantage as they headed into game four.
In game four, the Griz let Montana State get ahead just enough to have an edge throughout the game. The Grizzlies couldn't quite catch up, with the game ending 30-27 in MSU's favor and forcing a fifth and final game.
Fifteen quick points later in game five, Montana State fed the Griz defeat.
And, it was particularly hard to swallow as the loss was be the Grizzlies fifth in a row.
"It pains me that the girls continue to put themselves in the position to win and just can't deliver," Best said after the game. "We won on paper, we should have won according to the stats, and it's sad that the scoreboard doesn't tell the whole story."
The whole story includes the fact that the Griz continue to play long, physical matches to five games and can't come out on the winning end.
The last three teams the Griz have played are ranked first through third in the conference (Sacramento State, Northern Arizona and Montana State.) But the Griz could have just as easily won those games as lost.
"Yes, it is disheartening for us to lose these close ones," Best said. "But, they know they're gaining ground, and they have big hearts so bouncing back shouldn't be a problem."
With a midseason record of 1-6, tied for last place in the conference, the Griz will have to pick up some wins on the road to vie for a spot in the six-team Big Sky championship next month.
But last Friday against Montana State, MSU head coach, Dave Gantt didn't treat UM like a team at the bottom of the barrel.
"The thing you have to realize about the Griz is that their record doesn't show how good they are," Gantt said. "They are a well-coached, intense team that could just as easily be 5-1 instead of the other way around."
Montana did a good job of taking out MSU senior outside hitter Aimee Halyk, Gantt said, as UM held MSU's offensive instigator to fewer than three kills in each game.
But the Griz had trouble getting a hand on MSU's 6-foot-2-inch freshman Megan Zanto.
Zanto averaged about eight kills a game, but it was her blocking that threw a wrench in Montana's offensive attack.
"MSU's blockers like Zanto can dictate a game because they control how we place our hits," Best said.
Overanticipating blocks could have accounted for some of the Griz's 50 attack errors, compared to the Bobcats' 21.
Despite the hitting errors, Montana was able to strategically place certain hits at crucial moments of the game.
One reason for this was accurate setting by Griz sisters Claire and Dianna Thompson. Agile movement and smart play from those two accounted for more than 90 percent of the Griz's assists and a handful of points off quick dump plays.
But after the Griz's passing broke down in games two and four, Montana lost the flow and polish of its game.
"When the passing goes, everything goes haywire," Best said. "We sent over too many freeballs, and they capitalized on that."
Coach Best reminded her team Friday night that the members played better Friday than they did the week before.
"That's all I can ask is that we continue to improve," Best said. "They know they can be better, and we're in it as long as we stay positive and continue to improve."
The Grizzlies' next three games are on the road. Montana's next home game is against Idaho State on Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the West Auxiliary Gym.
National Girls and Women in Sports Day 2026
Monday, March 30
Student-Athlete Spotlight: Maddie Pyles (Griz Volleyball)
Thursday, January 15
Griz Volleyball: Name The Person
Tuesday, December 30
Griz Volleyball: Name The Object
Tuesday, December 30
