Idaho snaps Montana’s home winning streak

Saturday, October 13

Missoula, Mont.

2:00 PM

Montana

8-12, 5-3BSC

Idaho

12-8, 6-2BSC

Idaho

Montana

10/13/2018 4:51:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Statistics

By: Montana Sports Information

MISSOULA, Mont. – For the most part Saturday, Montana fought point for point with preseason favorite Idaho. One bad rotation in each set, however, proved to be the difference in a 3-0 loss to the Vandals (25-18, 25-23, 25-20).

The Grizzlies trailed early in the opening frame, but fought back to get within a single point at multiple occasions, including 17-16. At that point, however, Idaho would go on a 5-0 run to put the set out of reach. The Grizzlies led early in Set 2, holding an advantage for 11 total points in the set. Trailing 14-13, however, Montana saw the visitors score five consecutive points to build a six-point advantage.

This time, Montana was able to claw back into the second frame, fighting off two set points to get within one, 24-23, before an Idaho kill on the ensuing point closed the set.

Montana held multiple leads in the third set and trailed just 16-15 before Idaho scored eight of the next 11 points.

"When we were executing, we were putting consistent pressure on them and it was really hard for them to score and for them to slow us down in those moments," head coach Allison Lawrence said. "It felt like it was really close, and then we'd have moments of a few errors strung together.

"If we're going to beat a team that's at the top of our conference and executes to that degree, we have to play to our absolute best. We can't have those little lapses."

Lawrence afterward was quick to praise the play of junior setter Ashley Watkins, who dished out 28 assists and kept the Vandals' defense off-balance.

"Offensively, I was proud of Ashley," Lawrence said. "I thought she really changed a lot of her patterns. She used the middles way more in transition, and I thought she did a really good job of taking risks and making changes against a good team and when everything was on the line."

Watkins' top target was senior outside hitter Cassie Laramee, who tallied nine kills. More impressive than the kill count, was Laramee's efficiency. She swung just 19 times, recording the nine kills without an error (career-best .474 hitting percentage).

"When she's in rhythm with her feet, she has such good vision and can hit balls that other people can't," Lawrence said of Laramee. "She's a very smart player, and I thought she played great today."

How about @claramee2? The senior had 9 kills and 0 errors, hitting a career-best .474!#GrizVB #GoGriz #MontanaTough pic.twitter.com/2hg6QXKWqf
— Montana Griz VB (@MontanaGrizVB) October 14, 2018

The Grizzlies, however, didn't have an answer for Reece Carman, who had 15 kills on .520 hitting, or Sarah Sharp (12 kills at a .393 clip). Overall, Idaho hit .306.

The loss is Montana's first at home since Aug. 31, snapping the team's five-match home winning streak. Montana entered the day in a five-way tie for second place in the Big Sky standings, and despite the loss is still 5-3 in Big Sky play.

"That was our first time seeing them, and our biggest test will be who we are when we see them a second time," Lawrence said.

Next up, the Grizzlies will travel to Sacramento State (Thursday) and Portland State (Saturday). The Grizzlies beat both teams last month in Missoula.