Tuesday, September 25
Missoula, Mont.
7:00 PM
Montana
vs
Montana State
Photo by: Derek Johnson
Montana hosts rival Montana State Tuesday night, looks to stay unbeaten
9/24/2018 5:03:00 PM | Volleyball
Montana vs. Montana State / Tuesday / 7 p.m. / Missoula, Mont. / Dahlberg Arena
The truth is, Tuesday is not 'just another game', so while she wants her team to stay even-keeled and focused on the big picture, she's not trying to hide the excitement surrounding the program ahead of Tuesday's rivalry match vs. Montana State.
Montana is coming off of a 2-0 weekend, defeating Sacramento State and Portland State. Sacramento State won the league a year ago, and was picked to finish third in the 2018 preseason poll. Portland State advanced to the semifinals in 2017 and is expected to get back there again, picked to finish fourth.
On Thursday, the Grizzlies came from behind, overcoming an 0-2 deficit to knock off the defending champs. On Saturday, Montana basically led from start to finish, making clean work of the Vikings.
"This weekend meant the world to our program," Lawrence said. "It was really, really rewarding to see our team go out and play to win. I got so much response from people who have been watching our program for many years who said we looked like we wanted to take charge of our matches, and that we weren't playing with any fear.
"That's something we've been talking about, not only this preseason and this season but last year and all spring. To see that come into being right in front of our home crowd, it was a really special night."
Now, the next test: the Cats.
"You can't go into Montana State saying it's just the same old game," Lawrence said. "The emotion surrounding this rivalry is one of the most unique, coolest things you can be a part of, and it's a pure rivalry. Our emotions are different for this match."
The emotions are different, but the key is to keep the focus the same.
"It's whether or not we choose to use our emotions to focus on the same things that we always need to focus on that is going to be the difference," Lawrence said. "Griz-Cat is unique, and it's a different environment, but we have to execute the same."
For the first time in a long time, Montana is visibly building momentum. Montana had one of its largest crowds in recent memory on Saturday, and Tuesday's rivalry match will be held inside Dahlberg Arena. It's a Maroon Out, with the first 150 students receiving free T-shirts and pizza. Additionally, Montana is offering a buy-one-get-one-free ticket offer.
Just like the focus didn't change through early-season struggles, it hasn't changed after a successful weekend. Regardless of Tuesday's result, that mantra will remain, as the Grizzlies get on a plane and travel south for their first conference road test of the season.
Montana will play a strong Northern Colorado team on Thursday, and then, finally, after four matches in eight days to begin Big Sky, it will get a breather.
"This doesn't mean we're going to have a winning streak and never lose a match again, but I think this weekend showed that we know what works and we know how to get there, and now we have to keep chipping away so the results continue to come."
WITH A WIN TUESDAY...
ABOUT MONTANA STATE
In late 2016, Montana swept Montana State to take the series lead over the Bobcats. MSU won both meetings in 2017 to recapture the series lead, 56-55. Montana is 28-21 at home, however, winning two of the last three. In last year's home match vs. MSU, Mykaela Hammer had 18 kills and 22 digs while Maddy Marshall had 17 kills. In four career matches, Missy Huddleston has 39 kills.
ABOUT NORTHERN COLORADO
Montana is 9-17 all-time vs. Northern Colorado, and is looking for its first win in the series since 2013. The Bears have won eight in a row and are 10-2 overall vs. UM on their home court. Maddy Marshall recorded 18 kills over two matches vs. UNC as a freshman in 2017. Missy Huddleston has been in double figures for kills twice in her career.
HAMMER NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior outside hitter was named the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. Hammer averaged a double-double with 19.5 kills and 10.0 digs over two matches, doing so on at an impressive .443 efficiency. Her 4.88 kills-per-set average was nearly double the next-closest Grizzly.
In a come-from-behind victory over Sacramento State, Hammer recorded a career-high 23 kills on .409 hitting, eclipsing her previous high for kills on the final swing of the match. The Grizzlies found themselves trailing two sets to none, but closed the third set on a 10-5 run to extend the match. Hammer had three kills during that stretch. Trailing 15-11 in the fourth set, Montana used a 9-4 run to take the lead. During that period, Hammer had four kills. The Grizzlies then scored three of the final four points to earn a 25-23 advantage, with a pair of kills coming from Hammer. In the deciding fifth frame, the Grizzlies jumped out to a 5-0 lead and never trailed. Hammer had two kills during the 5-0 run, plus the final point of the match.
Two nights later vs. Portland State, Hammer again led the Grizzlies, this time with 16 kills on .500 hitting. The outside hitter also recorded three service aces.
Montana jumped out to an 11-5 lead in the first set, with Hammer recording four kills and serving five points during the run. Leading by just one, 13-12, in the second set, Hammer had three consecutive points – a kill and back-to-back service aces – to force a Vikings timeout. She had seven kills, an ace and a block in Montana's Set-3 victory to seal the match.
For the first time in more than a decade, Montana hosted an alumni weekend, welcoming back 13 former players – including All-Americans, school record-holders, conference champions and some of the top students and athletes in school history.
"That was one of the highlights of my whole coaching career, not just as a head coach," Lawrence said. "The moment that the alumni saw each other, to see them and feel their energy and hear their stories was really special for me and for our team."
The past and present Grizzlies ate dinner together last Friday night, reminiscing and sharing stories, in addition to passing along advice to the younger group.
"The biggest thing was to see their relationships now," Lawrence continued. "I don't think they talk very frequently; they have their own busy lives. But the way those bonds come back when they're in this environment I think made our team realize what the bigger picture is and what this is all about, which is who you are for your teammates."
SETTING UP THE GRIZ
Setter Ashley Watkins moved into 10th place in Montana history earlier this month with more than 1,800 career assists. Making the feat even more impressive, Watkins is just a junior, and she spent her freshman season hitting during half of the team's rotations. At her current pace, Watkins could finish her career near the top five in school history.
Complete Match Notes (PDF)
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- Tickets
- Watch / Pluto TV
- Live Stats
The truth is, Tuesday is not 'just another game', so while she wants her team to stay even-keeled and focused on the big picture, she's not trying to hide the excitement surrounding the program ahead of Tuesday's rivalry match vs. Montana State.
Montana is coming off of a 2-0 weekend, defeating Sacramento State and Portland State. Sacramento State won the league a year ago, and was picked to finish third in the 2018 preseason poll. Portland State advanced to the semifinals in 2017 and is expected to get back there again, picked to finish fourth.
On Thursday, the Grizzlies came from behind, overcoming an 0-2 deficit to knock off the defending champs. On Saturday, Montana basically led from start to finish, making clean work of the Vikings.
"This weekend meant the world to our program," Lawrence said. "It was really, really rewarding to see our team go out and play to win. I got so much response from people who have been watching our program for many years who said we looked like we wanted to take charge of our matches, and that we weren't playing with any fear.
"That's something we've been talking about, not only this preseason and this season but last year and all spring. To see that come into being right in front of our home crowd, it was a really special night."
Now, the next test: the Cats.
"You can't go into Montana State saying it's just the same old game," Lawrence said. "The emotion surrounding this rivalry is one of the most unique, coolest things you can be a part of, and it's a pure rivalry. Our emotions are different for this match."
The emotions are different, but the key is to keep the focus the same.
"It's whether or not we choose to use our emotions to focus on the same things that we always need to focus on that is going to be the difference," Lawrence said. "Griz-Cat is unique, and it's a different environment, but we have to execute the same."
For the first time in a long time, Montana is visibly building momentum. Montana had one of its largest crowds in recent memory on Saturday, and Tuesday's rivalry match will be held inside Dahlberg Arena. It's a Maroon Out, with the first 150 students receiving free T-shirts and pizza. Additionally, Montana is offering a buy-one-get-one-free ticket offer.
Montana's rivalry with Montana State dates back to 1975 – its first year as a program – and the two teams have played at least twice every year since. Montana has played – and beaten – the Cats more than any other opponent, and a win on Tuesday would even the all-time ledger at 56-56.Are you as excited as we are for TOMORROW NIGHT?! 🏐🐻
— Montana Grizzlies (@UMGRIZZLIES) September 24, 2018
Help us Maroon out the Cats and get Buy One Get One Free on tickets! 🎟️
Griz/Cat Volleyball | 7 p.m. | Dahlberg Arena | See you there #GrizNation 😿 pic.twitter.com/JtUqrvJCc3
Just like the focus didn't change through early-season struggles, it hasn't changed after a successful weekend. Regardless of Tuesday's result, that mantra will remain, as the Grizzlies get on a plane and travel south for their first conference road test of the season.
Montana will play a strong Northern Colorado team on Thursday, and then, finally, after four matches in eight days to begin Big Sky, it will get a breather.
"This doesn't mean we're going to have a winning streak and never lose a match again, but I think this weekend showed that we know what works and we know how to get there, and now we have to keep chipping away so the results continue to come."
WITH A WIN TUESDAY...
- A win Tuesday over Montana State would be significant on many levels:
- Montana would even the all-time series ledger at 56-56. The series dates back to 1975, UM's first as a program, and has been played at least twice every year since then. Montana has more wins over Montana State than any other opponent.
- The Grizzlies would improve to 3-0 to begin Big Sky play for the first time since 2006, and just the second time in more than two decades.
- Montana would extend its winning streak to four matches, the longest since November 2013.
- Montana would run its home winning streak to four matches, the longest streak since 2011.
- Montana would match last year's conference win total for the entire season.
- Montana had a good weekend overall, defeating Sacramento State and Portland State to start Big Sky Conference play hot.
- Montana is 2-0 to open conference for the first time since 2014.
- Montana has won three consecutive matches overall for the first time since 2014.
- Montana has won three home matches in a row, also for the first time since 2014.
- Mykaela Hammer was named the Big Sky Offensive Player of Week, UM's first honoree since 2014.
- Nearly 800 fans were in attendance for UM's match vs. Portland State, the largest crowd in the WAG since 2014.
ABOUT MONTANA STATE
- MSU is 6-7 on the season, including 1-1 in Big Sky play. The Bobcats beat Portland State (3-2) and lost to Sacramento State (3-1) at home last week.
- The Bobcats also have wins over Binghampton, Canisius, Seattle, SMU and Tennessee Tech.
- Junior Allyssa Rizzo's 5.66 digs per set rank No. 11 nationally. She is seventh in MSU history with more than 1,000 career digs. She also leads the Bobcats with 20 service aces this season.
- Junior OH Evi Wilson (3.06 kills per set) and Rizzo were named the Big Sky offensive and defensive player-of-the-week honorees last week. Rizzo again earned co-defensive honors this week.
- Sophomore Hannah Scott (2.89 kills, 2.16 digs) and senior Natalie Passeck (2.70, 2.16) each average at least 2.0 kills and 2.0 digs per set.
- The Bobcats have used two setters in 2018, including sophomore Allie Lynch (8.92 assists per set).
- MSU went 10-15 in 2017, returning four starters and its libero from last year's roster.
In late 2016, Montana swept Montana State to take the series lead over the Bobcats. MSU won both meetings in 2017 to recapture the series lead, 56-55. Montana is 28-21 at home, however, winning two of the last three. In last year's home match vs. MSU, Mykaela Hammer had 18 kills and 22 digs while Maddy Marshall had 17 kills. In four career matches, Missy Huddleston has 39 kills.
ABOUT NORTHERN COLORADO
- UNC enters the week with a 5-6 mark, splitting with Idaho (L, 3-0) and Eastern Washington (W, 3-0) at home last week.
- The Bears also own wins over Alabama State, Northeastern, Pacific and UNC-Wilmington.
- The Bears lost 3-1 at South Dakota, a team the Grizzlies defeated on a neutral court in five sets.
- UNC leads the Big Sky for assists and kills, and ranks second for service aces and third for digs.
- OH Kortney Lockey recorded her 1,000th career kill last weekend. The senior leads the Bears with 3.66 kills per set. She also ranks second on the team with 3.18 digs per set.
- Running a high-powered offense, sophomore setter Daisy Schultz ranks 31st nationally with 10.83 assists per set. Sophomores Lauren Hinrichs (2.71 on .366 hitting), Taylor Muff (2.63) and Jadyn McCartney (2.08) are also averaging better than 2.0 kills per set.
- Junior libero Taylor Els averages 5.13 digs per set, a figure which ranks 35th nationally.
Montana is 9-17 all-time vs. Northern Colorado, and is looking for its first win in the series since 2013. The Bears have won eight in a row and are 10-2 overall vs. UM on their home court. Maddy Marshall recorded 18 kills over two matches vs. UNC as a freshman in 2017. Missy Huddleston has been in double figures for kills twice in her career.
HAMMER NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior outside hitter was named the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. Hammer averaged a double-double with 19.5 kills and 10.0 digs over two matches, doing so on at an impressive .443 efficiency. Her 4.88 kills-per-set average was nearly double the next-closest Grizzly.
In a come-from-behind victory over Sacramento State, Hammer recorded a career-high 23 kills on .409 hitting, eclipsing her previous high for kills on the final swing of the match. The Grizzlies found themselves trailing two sets to none, but closed the third set on a 10-5 run to extend the match. Hammer had three kills during that stretch. Trailing 15-11 in the fourth set, Montana used a 9-4 run to take the lead. During that period, Hammer had four kills. The Grizzlies then scored three of the final four points to earn a 25-23 advantage, with a pair of kills coming from Hammer. In the deciding fifth frame, the Grizzlies jumped out to a 5-0 lead and never trailed. Hammer had two kills during the 5-0 run, plus the final point of the match.
Two nights later vs. Portland State, Hammer again led the Grizzlies, this time with 16 kills on .500 hitting. The outside hitter also recorded three service aces.
Montana jumped out to an 11-5 lead in the first set, with Hammer recording four kills and serving five points during the run. Leading by just one, 13-12, in the second set, Hammer had three consecutive points – a kill and back-to-back service aces – to force a Vikings timeout. She had seven kills, an ace and a block in Montana's Set-3 victory to seal the match.
CELEBRATING ITS PASTCongratulations to Mykaela Hammer, the #BigSkyVB Offensive Player of the Week!
— Montana Griz VB (@MontanaGrizVB) September 24, 2018
📰 https://t.co/pNkyKFnUaR#GrizVB #GoGriz #HammerTime pic.twitter.com/e9v7eveO7V
For the first time in more than a decade, Montana hosted an alumni weekend, welcoming back 13 former players – including All-Americans, school record-holders, conference champions and some of the top students and athletes in school history.
"That was one of the highlights of my whole coaching career, not just as a head coach," Lawrence said. "The moment that the alumni saw each other, to see them and feel their energy and hear their stories was really special for me and for our team."
The past and present Grizzlies ate dinner together last Friday night, reminiscing and sharing stories, in addition to passing along advice to the younger group.
"The biggest thing was to see their relationships now," Lawrence continued. "I don't think they talk very frequently; they have their own busy lives. But the way those bonds come back when they're in this environment I think made our team realize what the bigger picture is and what this is all about, which is who you are for your teammates."
SETTING UP THE GRIZ
Setter Ashley Watkins moved into 10th place in Montana history earlier this month with more than 1,800 career assists. Making the feat even more impressive, Watkins is just a junior, and she spent her freshman season hitting during half of the team's rotations. At her current pace, Watkins could finish her career near the top five in school history.
Complete Match Notes (PDF)
Players Mentioned
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