Memorable season comes to a close at Big Sky tournament

Thursday, November 22

Greeley, Colo.

4:30 PM

Montana

10-21

Idaho

22-9

Montana

Idaho

Memorable season comes to a close at Big Sky tournament

11/22/2018 8:08:00 PM | Volleyball

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By: Montana Sports Information

GREELEY, Colo. – Mykaela Hammer waited five years for her opportunity to compete in the Big Sky tournament, and when she finally got her chance, the redshirt senior did not disappoint. Playing in her final collegiate match, Hammer finished with 16 kills on .353 hitting, in addition to eight digs and three blocks.

In the end, it wasn't enough as Montana fell to co-regular-season champion Idaho, 3-0, in the quarterfinals of the Big Sky Championship Thursday afternoon (25-19, 25-20, 25-22).

Montana was looking to become the first No. 7 seed to advance to the semifinals.

"I'm just really proud of our team," head coach Allison Lawrence said. "For us to be as resilient as we have been and to keep fighting the way that we have, and to show the amount of belief in ourselves in this environment that none of these players have been in, is a big testament to who they are as competitors. I think we fought and we wanted it and we laid it all out on the line."

(11/22/2018) VB: vs. Idaho - Big Sky QF (11.22.18)

The end result was frustrating, particularly because Montana hung with the No. 2-seed Vandals for much of all three sets. Montana was within a point, 17-16, in the first set, before Idaho closed on an 8-3 run. In the second, the Grizzlies closed to within two as late as 21-19. Montana led the third set for a good portion of the frame, and the two teams were tied at 22-22 before Idaho earned the final three points.

Idaho, a team with seven seniors – many who have started for several seasons – showed why it was picked as the preseason favorites to win the league. Thursday was the first time any Montana player had played in a Big Sky tournament match.

But, as Lawrence noted, the path has now been paved by this senior class, allowing future Montana teams to get back to this position again, and hopefully take the next step. Hired in January 2017 to rebuild the program, both on and off the court, Lawrence took a five-win team in 2016 to eight victories in 2017 before winning 10 matches in 2018.

The win total is the highest since 2013, as are Montana's seven Big Sky wins, five home wins and four true road victories.

"I'm proud of them for the legacy that our seniors have left," Lawrence said. "They've left the door open for such a healthy next group to walk through."

Match Notes:

Montana made its 18^th Big Sky tournament appearance, third-most among all current and former Big Sky teams.
Montana recorded more kills than Idaho (38 to 36), thanks to a 49-41 advantage in digs.
Idaho recorded six team blocks, its third-lowest total of the season. The Vandals had five blocks (second-fewest) in Montana's match at Idaho earlier this month.
Lawrence noted earlier this week that the game would likely come down to serving and passing. Montana had eight service errors, in addition to being aced five times.
Hammer recorded seven kills (.538 hitting) in Set 1, accounting for more than half of UM's kills in that set. She had 10 kills on 18 swings before making her first error.
Montana and Idaho were tied at 6-6 in Set 2 before the Vandals used a 6-1 run, taking advantage of five UM errors. Still, the Grizzlies fought back to get within two points on several occasions.
Montana led Set 3 by as many as four points, and led as late as 18-17.
Hammer finished her career with 939 kills, 641 digs, 209 blocks and 54 service aces. She is one of eight players in school history to reach the 900/600/200/50 milestone.
Freshman Olivia Bradley finished the season with a .291 hitting percentage, among the top single-season percentages in school history. Fellow freshman Sarina Moreno's 429 digs were six outside of the single-season top 10.
Thursday was the final match for Montana seniors Silerolia Gaogao, Brittany Gay, Mykaela Hammer, McKenzie Kramer, Cassie Laramee and Alexis Urbach.

Have a night, Mykaela Hammer. The senior has 10 kills and 0 errors on .588 hitting! pic.twitter.com/cXyOV8RkLD
— Montana Griz VB (@MontanaGrizVB) November 23, 2018

Quoting Lawrence
(on the 2018 season coming to a close)
"We had some pieces missing at times. We weren't scoring enough – some of it was ball control, some of it was Idaho doing a nice job with their blocking. If there is one thing we've learned how to do it's how to fight for each other, and I think we did that. They're hurting right now. This doesn't hurt unless you're completely exposed and going for it 100 percent. They're in pain right now, and that's OK. Part of that pain is the growth of our program. Their pain is opening the door for next year and the years to come to learn form that and to fuel their progress."

(on being in the Big Sky tournament for the first time since 2014)
"Being in a championship environment has taught our program and our team more than any other match could have taught us, or anything that the coaches could have said or tried to instill. There's something about this environment that makes you walk a little taller and want it a little more. The team, collectively, will create a memory out of this that will make them hungrier. When you know that this is the reward for the hard work and diligence during the offseason, I don't know what's more rewarding than that."

(on Idaho's performance)
"Idaho played really well. They played like a championship team, and we were right there. They played with that kind of poise. We hoped they would get a little tight down the stretch, but they played loose and handled the pressure."