Griz host pair of teams on crucial homestand

Montana vs. Northern Arizona / Thursday / 7 p.m. / Missoula, Mont.

Montana vs. Southern Utah / Saturday / 7 p.m. / Missoula, Mont. - Senior Night

The Montana volleyball team remains home this week, hosting a pair of key conference matches. First comes Northern Arizona on Thursday, one of the top teams in the conference. That sets up Saturday's match vs. Southern Utah, which is big – for multiple reasons.

To begin, let's look at what will happen before the match. Saturday isn't Montana's final home match of the season (that will come Nov. 15 vs. Weber State), but it will mark the night the team recognizes its senior class. After having zero seniors a year ago, Montana will recognize six student-athletes prior to first serve on Saturday.

The senior class includes defensive specialist Silerolia Gaogao, setter Brittany Gay, outside hitter Mykaela Hammer, middle blocker McKenzie Kramer, outside hitter Cassie Laramee and outside hitter Alexis Urbach.

"It's going to be a really memorable night," head coach Allison Lawrence said. "For me to go through my transition with this team, I know it will be emotionally for me. They've done an incredible job getting this thing on the right path, and they should be celebrated and honored."

If the emotions of celebrating the senior class in front of family and friends isn't enough, consider this: A win Saturday would put Montana one step closer to reaching the Big Sky Conference tournament for the first time since 2014.

The last few weeks have been challenging for the Griz, with Montana currently in the midst of a five-match slide. However, thanks to a 5-2 start – something that has been accomplished just twice in the past two decades – Montana is still in the driver's seat.

Entering play this week, the Grizzlies are tied with the Bobcats for seventh place. The top eight teams advance to the conference tournament. Montana currently has a two-match lead over Portland State. Southern Utah is one game back from the Vikings, but a loss to the Griz on Saturday would all-but-mathematically eliminate the Thunderbirds from the conversation. Eastern Washington is currently in 11^th place at 0-12.

"Even though we're a little bit unsatisfied with the things that have happened over the last two weeks, I think we're still so hungry to show that we're a tournament team," Lawrence said. "The Big Sky is such a tight, close volleyball conference, and people are fighting it out for the last few spots, us included."

Another week at home. Two big opportunities in front of us, and we need the support of #GrizNation!#GrizVB #GoGriz #MontanaTough pic.twitter.com/D9oMwnkSNr
— Montana Griz VB (@MontanaGrizVB) October 30, 2018

Idaho (10-2) and Northern Arizona (9-3) have punched their tickets to the tournament, which will be held Nov. 22-24 in Greeley, Colo. Sacramento State (9-3), Northern Colorado (8-4), Idaho State (8-5) and Weber State (8-5) are also in good position with winning records.

With three weeks to play, here's a look at the next four teams:

With six matches to play, Montana (5-7) still has home contests vs. Northern Arizona, Southern Utah and Weber State, and road matches vs. Idaho, Eastern Washington and Idaho State. The Griz defeated Southern Utah on the road last month and beat Eastern Washington at home. They have not faced Idaho State or Weber State.
Montana State (5-7) has a similar outlook as the Griz, holding a two-match lead over Portland State. The Bobcats play the same teams as UM, except for traveling to Weber State and hosting Idaho State.
Portland State (3-9) is the closest competitor, sitting two matches behind Montana and Montana State. PSU hosts Idaho and Eastern Washington this weekend, and Sacramento State on Nov. 13. It has road matches at Idaho State, Weber State and Northern Colorado.
Southern Utah (2-10) needs to pass two teams in order to reach the tournament, and is currently three matches behind Montana and Montana State. However, the Thunderbirds have the best opportunity to make up ground, facing both the Griz and Bobcats this weekend. After, they still have home matches vs. Northern Colorado and Eastern Washington and road matches at Northern Arizona and Idaho.

Despite the recent outcomes, Lawrence feels confident with her team and their determination.

"I've never seen our team so motivated to keep going and keep responding," Lawrence said. "We're at the part of our season where you have to find that extra gear, and we're working to find that. Everybody's getting better, and we've got to do the same."

Montana is continuing its university-wide week of service by offering free admission to both matches this week in exchange for five canned-food items.

In this week's Senior Sessions video, Cassie Laramee talks about the time she sang karaoke to win concert tickets, plus one of her favorite Halloween costumes!#GrizVB #GoGriz #MontanaTough pic.twitter.com/8aXha1zgO3
— Montana Griz VB (@MontanaGrizVB) October 29, 2018

SCOUTING NORTHERN ARIZONA

The Lumberjacks have won four consecutive matches, topping Sacramento State and Portland State at home last weekend. They are 17-8 overall, including 9-3 in Big Sky play.
NAU swept the Big Sky Player of the Week awards this week. Senior OH Kaylie Jorgenson earned offensive honors for the fourth time this season. Senior DS Jordan Anderson was named the top defensive player. Jorgenson ranks in the top 10 in conference play for service aces (0.42; second), kills (3.16; ninth) and digs (4.27; 10^th).
Junior MB Abby Akin has the league's top hitting percentage, hitting at a .462 clip during Big Sky action. She also ranks in the top 10 for service aces (0.38; sixth) and blocking (1.05; eighth). She has twice been named the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week.
NAU ranks sixth in the NCAA with 1,756 digs. The team averages 18.20 digs per set during league play.
In addition to the top digs average, NAU ranks second in Big Sky play for hitting percentage (.263), opponent hitting percentage (.160), kills (13.60) and assists (12.98). The Lumberjacks rank in the top half of the standings for every statistical category.

"NAU can be deadly when they're in system and in rhythm," Lawrence said. "They're a fun team to play against, but we have to be at our absolute best. We matched up well against them for two sets in Flagstaff, and I think we've shown to be a little bit of a team that plays above our level at home."

SERIES VS. THE LUMBERJACKS
Montana first played NAU in 1980, and the two teams have played each year since 1987. The Grizzlies hold a 33-32 advantage overall and are 17-13 in Missoula. UM, though, has lost five in a row in the series. On Oct. 6 in Flagstaff, Montana pushed the Lumberjacks to in two sets (25-23 in Set 1 and 26-24 in Set 3), but lost 25-9 in the second set. The Lumberjacks hit .287 in the match.

SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH

SUU is just 3-21 on the season but two of those wins have come in the past month and both were on the road. The Thunderbirds own Big Sky victories over Portland State and Idaho State.
SUU has one of the most dynamic offensive players in Janet Kalaniuvalu. The sophomore OH leads the league with 4.61 kills per set and has twice as many attacks as her next-closest teammate.
Freshman OH/MB Emma Mangum has 2.26 kills per set, starting 10 contests for the Thunderbirds.
SUU has five players with at least 13 service aces.
Freshman L Miahna Waters is averaging 4.83 digs per set during Big Sky play, fifth in the conference.
SUU doesn't rank in the top half of the league for any statistical category, but ranks sixth for hitting percentage (.205), kills (12.85), assists (12.22) and blocks (1.98).
Sophomore MB Miranda Canez averages 1.00 blocks per set, the ninth-best average in Big Sky play.

"Southern Utah is a team that can get hot on any night," Lawrence said. "They beat Idaho State a couple weeks ago, and they have one outside hitter (Kalaniuvalu) who is absolutely deadly. If she's effective, they're a hard team to beat, and if we can slow her down I think good things can happen."

SERIES VS. THE THUNDERBIRDS
The Grizzlies and Thunderbirds have played each season since 2011, with Montana going 6-4 during that span, including 3-2 in Missoula. Montana has won back-to-back matches overall in the series, both coming in five sets. On Oct. 4, Montana rallied from an 0-2 deficit, winning the final three sets by two points apiece. Mykaela Hammer had 21 kills, including eight in the fifth set alone. Last year in Missoula, Hammer had 20 kills, while Missy Huddleston totaled 22, Maddy Marshall had 16 and Baily Permann added 10. Setter Ashley Watkins had a career-high 66 assists and Montana hit .281 as a team.

TALKING HISTORY

Still with at least six matches to play, Montana has already matched last season's win total (8) and is currently tied for its most total wins since 2013.
With five Big Sky wins already under its belt, Montana has matched its conference win total from 2016 and 2017 combined.
The Grizzlies opened Big Sky Conference play with three consecutive victories, marking their best start since 2006. With five wins through their first seven conference matches entering mid-October, Montana's 5-2 start had only been accomplished one other time since 1995.
Montana won five consecutive home matches from Sept. 1 through Oct. 11, its longest home winning streak since 2011. Overall, the team's five home wins are its most in a season since 2013. The Grizzlies are nearing the home win total from 2015-17 combined (six).
The Grizzlies have won two true road matches, matching their total from 2016 and 2017 combined.
From Sept. 15-25, Montana won four consecutive matches overall, its longest winning streak since 2013.

IN THE RANKINGS
Several Grizzlies rank among the Big Sky leaders for several statistical categories:

Olivia Bradley's .381 Big Sky hitting percentage ranks fourth in the league and first among freshman attackers. She has UM's top-two individual hitting percentages this season, including a .625 clip (10-0-16) vs. Eastern Washington.
Mykaela Hammer's 3.84 kills-per-set average in Big Sky play ranks third.
Ashley Watkins ranks fifth in Big Sky play with 10.59 assists per set.
Sarina Moreno ranks seventh in Big Sky play with 4.49 digs per set.
Missy Huddleston's 24 kills vs. Gonzaga are the fourth-most by a Big Sky athlete this season. Hammer's 23 vs. Sacramento State rank fifth.
Ashley Watkins' 46 assists vs. Portland State are the most in a three-set match this season.

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Players Mentioned

Olivia Bradley

Silerolia Gaogao

Brittany Gay

Mykaela Hammer

Missy Huddleston

McKenzie Kramer

Cassie Laramee

Maddy Marshall

Sarina Moreno

Baily Permann

Alexis Urbach

Ashley Watkins

University of Montana Athletics