Grizzlies take Bears to the brink

Saturday, October 27

Missoula, Mont.

7:00 PM

Montana

8-16, 5-7BSC

Northern Colorado

12-9, 8-4BSC

Northern Colorado

Montana

10/27/2018 10:23:00 PM | Volleyball

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By: Montana Sports Information

MISSOULA, Mont. – Montana held a two-sets-to-one lead on Northern Colorado on Saturday evening, before the Bears stormed back to win sets 4 and 5 (25-22, 15-25, 24-26, 25-20, 15-5).

After beginning Big Sky play 5-2, Montana has lost five in a row, but this one felt different. The four previous losses were in straight sets. This one went the distance, against one of the league's better teams.

"We wanted to respond from the Montana State match and be a better, more cohesive team," second-year head coach Allison Lawrence said. "I thought we did that overall tonight. I thought we served and passed better. Northern Colorado is a team that's so fast and in system, that you have to serve really well to get them out of system."

Montana's 10-point win in Set 2 was the team's largest set victory of the season. The Grizzlies and Bears were locked in a tight set early, but after a 10-10 tie, Montana scored five of the next six points to create some separation. UNC would get within three, 17-14, before Montana used an 8-1 run to even the match.

UNC erased Montana's momentum early in the third set, jumping out to a 13-8 lead, before the Grizzlies fought back to get within one or two points several times, eventually tying the match at 20-20. The teams were tied again at 22-22, 23-23 and 24-24 after Montana fought off a UNC set point. The Grizzlies then scored the next two points to win the set, 26-24.

"It was nice to get back to finishing sets, like we did earlier in the year, after struggling a bit the last few matches," Lawrence said. "It felt like we found our game again. We know that when we execute we can put pressure on every team in the conference."

After fending off set point and tying the frame at 24-24, senior Silerolia Gaogao, who has begun seeing time as a serving specialist, entered the match for the first time. Her first serve was an ace, giving Montana its first lead since 1-0. One point later, her serve got UNC out of system, resulting in a huge stuff from Mykaela Hammer and Baily Permann.

Montana WINS Set 3! The Grizzlies closed the set on a 10-5 run after once trailing by five. Let's go!!#GrizVB #GoGriz #MontanaTough pic.twitter.com/84IafNBG4S
— Montana Griz VB (@MontanaGrizVB) October 28, 2018

In the fourth set, Montana was within a point at 15-14 before UNC went on a run to create a cushion. The Bears would lead by as many as six points, winning 25-20. Then things began to unravel in the fifth frame.

The Grizzlies entered the match 5-2 in five-set matches, winning four in a row. Often times, the fifth set has been the team's top set statistically, but that wouldn't be the case Saturday.

Montana had to burn a timeout just six points into the frame, trailing 5-1, and used its second timeout moments later down 9-2. The Grizzlies could never get into a rhythm, hitting -.103 (2-5-29) in the frame, and falling 15-5.

"We just had trouble scoring," Lawrence said. "They were digging everything, and they're a smart team that makes adjustments, and when we allow them to do what they do best it makes it really limiting for us."

UNC's Kortney Lockey led all players with 19 kills on .294 hitting. Five of her 19 kills came in the fifth set alone.

Montana out-blocked UNC, 8 to 4, and led the Bears in hitting for most of the night before hitting negative in the fifth set. The Grizzlies were led by senior Alexis Urbach, who tallied 18 kills on .333 hitting. Ashley Watkins dished out 38 assists and 11 digs, while Sarina Moreno totaled 18 digs. Permann had eight blocks in addition to a team-high five blocks.

Oh my, Alexis Urbach! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/c35yHsV5h1
— Montana Griz VB (@MontanaGrizVB) October 28, 2018

Despite the loss, Montana remains tied for seventh place in the Big Sky Conference standings with three weeks to play. The Grizzlies need to finish in the top eight to make the Big Sky tournament for the first time since 2014; they currently have a two-game lead over ninth-place Portland State. Montana's next two matches will be at home – Thursday vs. Northern Arizona and Saturday vs. Southern Utah (Senior Night).