Bengals rally past Grizzlies, win in four

Thursday, October 6

Missoula, Mont.

7:00 PM

Montana

4-11, 1-4BSC

Idaho State

7-11, 2-3BSC

Idaho State

Montana

10/6/2016 10:11:00 PM | Volleyball

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By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana volleyball team held one of the Big Sky Conference's top offensive threats down for a set, but it was only going to be a matter of time before Chloe Hirst finally got rolling.

Held to just two kills in the first set, Hirst finished the match with 24 on .440 hitting as Idaho State rallied past the Grizzlies Thursday night at the West Auxiliary Gym in Missoula, 17-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-20.

Montana (4-11, 1-4 BSC) won the opening set for the third time in its last four matches in large part because Hirst was held in check, as were the Bengals (7-11, 2-3 BSC), who hit .000.

Then it turned into the Hirst Show. The junior outside hitter had 22 kills and just one attack error on 44 swings the final three sets as ISU won its second straight match.

"We did a nice job handling their power in the first set," said UM coach Brian Doyon. "Then they made their normal switch to their lineup, and we did too, and we weren't able to get out on them like we did in the first set.

"They're a good team, and they challenged us. Their hot hitter started to go off a little bit, and we just weren't able to slow her down. She mixes up her shots well. It was a good experience for us to face a team that plays that kind of offense."

Even with the loss, Montana played one of its better matches of the year. The Grizzlies hit better than their season average, and behind Mykaela Hammer's career-high eight blocks, Montana finished with an 11-6 advantage at the net.

Hammer added eight kills on .333 hitting. She was one of four attackers to put down seven or more kills for Montana.

"Both setters did a really nice job running the court for us and keeping everything on an even keel," said Doyon. "We didn't really have any lulls when we weren't playing well. We came out and were consistent, and we were battling. I was happy with our performance and how we played."

Montana controlled play from start to finish in the opener, but that changed in set two. Hirst had eight kills, then added five more in set three as the Bengals took charge.

The final set was back-and-forth, with neither team holding more than a two-point lead through a deadlock at 19-19. A kill by Hirst, her eighth of the set, gave ISU the lead for good, and three straight errors by Montana put Idaho State up 23-19. Hirst finished with nine kills in the set.

"There were a few pivotal points where it could have swung either way. We weren't quite able to get that big swing we needed," said Doyon.

"It was really important for us to come out and play at that level in the fourth set. In some of our other matches when we've lost those second and third sets, we didn't come out and be aggressive. Tonight we did."

Behind Hirst's big night and Abby Jensen's 14, the Bengals had a 57-38 advantage in kills.

Missy Huddleston, a freshman who is starting to attack the ball with more confidence, led Montana with 10 kills. Alexis Urbach had nine on .240 hitting.

Sadie Ahearn matched her season high with 20 digs, and Raegan Lindsey had 20 assists, with Ashley Watkins adding 16.

Montana will host Weber State (11-3, 2-3 BSC) Saturday at 7 p.m. The Wildcats lost in five sets at Montana State Thursday night.