Montana
Wyoming
Montana falls at Wyoming, still winless
9/6/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Box Score
The Montana volleyball team lost at Wyoming Saturday afternoon in the final match of the Cowgirl Classic, 25-14, 26-24, 25-8.
The Grizzlies (0-6), who dropped a pair of five-set decisions on Friday, went winless at the tournament and finished in fourth place behind champion Wyoming (7-0), South Alabama and Ball State.
Sophomore Michelle Robinson was named all-tournament for the second straight weekend. The right-side hitter averaged 2.46 kills on .277 hitting, with 15 digs (1.15/s), five blocks (0.38/s) and a team-best four service aces.
The Grizzlies lost to the Cowgirls last Saturday in Missoula at the Montana Invitational in three sets, 25-17, 25-12, 25-20. The second meeting allowed UM coach Jerry Wagner to see what type of steps his team has taken in the days and matches in between.
The results of the first and third sets were mostly a repeat, but in the second set Montana pushed a team that has dropped only two sets all season.
The Grizzlies held leads of 23-22 and 24-23, but Kayla Henderson had two kills and block assist as the Cowgirls scored the final three points to pull out the win.
In the final set Wyoming hit .722, with 13 kills and no attack errors on just 18 swings.
"This match was going to be a measuring stick for us to see if we could put ourselves in a position where we could break through and finalize on a set, because we didn't do that the last time we played them," said Wagner.
"The second set, with our passing and hitting, was what I was hoping to see a lot more of today. The second set was an indication that if we do some things offensively, we're going to be okay."
Bridget Shanahan, who was named tournament MVP, had 12 kills on .407 hitting. Laura Beach, an all-tournament selection, had 10 kills on .588 hitting and a match-high five blocks.
Nobody for Montana, which hit a season-low .095 and did not record a service ace, had more than five kills.
Redshirt junior Capri Richardson had four kills on .571 hitting and a team-high three blocks, and freshman Taylor Schile had a match-high 14 digs.
Montana will face St. Francis, Seton Hall, Kent State and West Virginia next weekend at WVU's tournament in Morgantown, W.V.
