Thursday, October 24
Sacramento, Calif.
8 PM (MT)
Montana
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Sacramento State
11-11, 6-3BSC
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Montana
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Sacramento State
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Hornets fend off Grizzlies in Sacramento
10/24/2019 11:31:00 PM | Volleyball
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Allison Lawrence know she sounds cliché, but she can feel her volleyball team turning a corner, and Thursday was another example of that, despite a 3-1 loss at Sacramento State (25-14, 25-17, 24-26, 26-24).
Montana played two of its best sets of the season on Thursday, nearly sending its match against the preseason No. 3 team to a fifth set.
"These moments that we're sitting in are equal parts heartbreaking, frustrating and encouraging," Lawrence said." "We're seeing these small steps forward and we're gaining confidence."
Following a 7-6 lead in the opening frame, Montana was blown out by the Hornets, allowing the home team to go on a 16-2 run. The two teams were tied at 16-16 in the second set before the Griz again fell apart, allowing Sacramento State to score nine of the final 10 points to win Set 2.
At that point, it would have been easy to call it a night. It would have been even easier to do so once the Griz found themselves down 18-13 in the third set, just seven points away from defeat.
Instead, a senior stepped up.
"I am so proud of Missy Huddleston," Lawrence said. "She pours her heart and soul into this program, and she put her team on her back and pulled us through in that third set."
Playing without Janna Grimsrud – the team's leading blocker and a player who ranks in the top 12 in the Big Sky Conference for both blocking and hitting percentage – Huddleston was asked to fill in at middle blocker, a position she hadn't played since high school. Huddleston finished the night with a career-high six blocks, but it was her serving that turned the tide in the third set.
Trailing 18-13, Montana went on a 6-0 run to take a 20-19 lead. The run featured Huddleston at the service line, with the senior recording one of her three aces.
After falling apart late in Set 2, Montana showed it had the toughness to close out the set, even once the Hornets scored two in a row to close within 23-22, or a few points later when the set was tied at 24-24.
At that point, Montana went to its freshman attacker Amethyst Harper – who finished with a team-best 15 kills – who terminated the final two points and gave the Grizzlies a 26-24 victory.
"I felt like in the third set we settled in and started playing really good volleyball," Lawrence said. "We played that way in the fourth set, too, aside from one stretch."
A Sarina Moreno ace – one of eight on the night for the Griz – forced a Sacramento State timeout, with the Griz leading 18-15. Montana led moments later, 19-16, before the Hornets scored the next four points. At 20-19, it was the first time all set Montana trailed.
The Grizzlies scored three in a row to regain the lead, but Sacramento State scored the next four points to put the Grizzlies on their heels again. After fighting off two match-point opportunities, Montana couldn't keep it going, falling 26-24.
There was plenty to be encouraged by on Thursday. For one, there were the eight service aces. Secondly, there were the 13 blocks, a season high, despite playing without Grimsrud.
"There is belief and hope that we can get over the hump," Lawrence said. "We've been talking so much about risking it all and putting ourselves in position to win, and I thought we did that tonight. We didn't end up winning, but we weren't tentative. We stepped up, we passed really well down the stretch and had swings to win it, which is where we want to be."
Harper had a team-high 15 kills, the fourth time in the past five matches she has reached that number, as the freshman has become one of the most feared attackers in the Big Sky Conference. After hitting negative early on, Harper found her rhythm. Through one set, she had three kills but six attack errors. Over the final three frames, she had a dozen kills and just two errors. She also added 15 digs.
Godwin added a career-most 13 kills, in addition to a service ace. Six of her kills came in the Set-3 victory.
With Huddleston filling in in the middle, freshman Catie Semadeni started at opposite hitter. She had two blocks and a kill in the closing points of the third set. In addition to her career-high six blocks and career-high-tying three service aces, Huddleston had six kills, despite not recording her first until midway through the third set.
(on setter Ashley Watkins)
"I thought Ashley had a good match. She served well, she dug and she set a really composed match. Even in the moments where we were bleeding points a bit in serve-receive, she stayed calm and composed."
(more on Huddleston)
"We lose a starter who has produced at an unreal rate for us, and we ask Missy to do something she hadn't done since she was 17 years old. We needed her quickness and explosiveness, and she was unbelievable. She has this ability to give so much of herself every time she does something, and it's so inspiring for her teammates. She can change matches with her consistency and by the way she risks it."
Looking Ahead
Montana will travel home on Friday before hosting Portland State on Saturday evening. The Vikings surprisingly knocked off Montana State in four sets on Thursday evening. It was a wild night in the Big Sky Conference, with Eastern Washington sweeping Idaho State and Northern Arizona handing Northern Colorado its first loss of the conference season. Fans who attend Montana's football game vs. Eastern Washington on Saturday can bring their ticket for free admission to the volleyball match.
Montana played two of its best sets of the season on Thursday, nearly sending its match against the preseason No. 3 team to a fifth set.
"These moments that we're sitting in are equal parts heartbreaking, frustrating and encouraging," Lawrence said." "We're seeing these small steps forward and we're gaining confidence."
Following a 7-6 lead in the opening frame, Montana was blown out by the Hornets, allowing the home team to go on a 16-2 run. The two teams were tied at 16-16 in the second set before the Griz again fell apart, allowing Sacramento State to score nine of the final 10 points to win Set 2.
At that point, it would have been easy to call it a night. It would have been even easier to do so once the Griz found themselves down 18-13 in the third set, just seven points away from defeat.
Instead, a senior stepped up.
"I am so proud of Missy Huddleston," Lawrence said. "She pours her heart and soul into this program, and she put her team on her back and pulled us through in that third set."
Playing without Janna Grimsrud – the team's leading blocker and a player who ranks in the top 12 in the Big Sky Conference for both blocking and hitting percentage – Huddleston was asked to fill in at middle blocker, a position she hadn't played since high school. Huddleston finished the night with a career-high six blocks, but it was her serving that turned the tide in the third set.
Trailing 18-13, Montana went on a 6-0 run to take a 20-19 lead. The run featured Huddleston at the service line, with the senior recording one of her three aces.
After falling apart late in Set 2, Montana showed it had the toughness to close out the set, even once the Hornets scored two in a row to close within 23-22, or a few points later when the set was tied at 24-24.
At that point, Montana went to its freshman attacker Amethyst Harper – who finished with a team-best 15 kills – who terminated the final two points and gave the Grizzlies a 26-24 victory.
"I felt like in the third set we settled in and started playing really good volleyball," Lawrence said. "We played that way in the fourth set, too, aside from one stretch."
Montana started strong in the fourth set, doubling up the Hornets at 8-4. Sacramento State fought back to a 10-10 tie, but the Grizzlies always stayed one step in front. For every punch, there was a counterpunch.Elsa Godwin finishes it off!
— Montana Griz VB (@MontanaGrizVB) October 25, 2019
Once down seven, Montana comes all the way back to win the third set! #GrizVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/FeqssSCiVK
A Sarina Moreno ace – one of eight on the night for the Griz – forced a Sacramento State timeout, with the Griz leading 18-15. Montana led moments later, 19-16, before the Hornets scored the next four points. At 20-19, it was the first time all set Montana trailed.
The Grizzlies scored three in a row to regain the lead, but Sacramento State scored the next four points to put the Grizzlies on their heels again. After fighting off two match-point opportunities, Montana couldn't keep it going, falling 26-24.
There was plenty to be encouraged by on Thursday. For one, there were the eight service aces. Secondly, there were the 13 blocks, a season high, despite playing without Grimsrud.
"There is belief and hope that we can get over the hump," Lawrence said. "We've been talking so much about risking it all and putting ourselves in position to win, and I thought we did that tonight. We didn't end up winning, but we weren't tentative. We stepped up, we passed really well down the stretch and had swings to win it, which is where we want to be."
Harper had a team-high 15 kills, the fourth time in the past five matches she has reached that number, as the freshman has become one of the most feared attackers in the Big Sky Conference. After hitting negative early on, Harper found her rhythm. Through one set, she had three kills but six attack errors. Over the final three frames, she had a dozen kills and just two errors. She also added 15 digs.
Godwin added a career-most 13 kills, in addition to a service ace. Six of her kills came in the Set-3 victory.
With Huddleston filling in in the middle, freshman Catie Semadeni started at opposite hitter. She had two blocks and a kill in the closing points of the third set. In addition to her career-high six blocks and career-high-tying three service aces, Huddleston had six kills, despite not recording her first until midway through the third set.
Match NotablesWhat. A. Play.
— Montana Griz VB (@MontanaGrizVB) October 25, 2019
All-out effort from Harper and Moreno, capped with a Huddleston solo stuff! #SCTop10 #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/ssYiEH6933
- Senior Missy Huddleston (six), freshman Kelly Horning (six, tied) and freshman Catie Semadeni (five) all had career highs for blocking. As a team, Montana recorded 13 stuffs, its highest total of the season.
- The Grizzlies recorded eight service aces, including three from Huddleston and two each from Sarina Moreno and Ashley Watkins.
- Montana recorded just 11 total kills through the first two sets, and was hitting .000 (11-11-52) at that point, including a -.136 percentage in the first set. The Grizzlies rebounded to hit .272 over the final two sets, including a .324 clip in their Set-3 victory.
- Amethyst Harper had a team-high 15 kills, including three during Montana's 6-0 run to take the lead in Set 3. Over the past five matches, Harper has recorded at least 15 kills four times. The freshman also led the Griz with 15 digs on Thursday for her second career double-double.
- Freshman Elsa Godwin had a career-high 13 kills. She had six kills in the third set alone, including one on set point to give Montana a 26-24 victory.
- Watkins had a strong all-around game. She filled the stats sheet with 36 assists, eight digs, three kills, three blocks and two service aces.
- Freshman Isabelle Garrido had 11 digs on the night, her highest total since early September when she played as libero.
- Set 1: Montana took a 6-5 lead following back-to-back service aces from Huddleston… The Grizzlies led 7-6 before the Hornets scored the next nine points – and 16 of the next 18 – to take a 22-9 lead… Montana was out-hit .455 to -.136 as the Grizzlies recorded just six kills.
- Set 2: The two teams were tied at nine of 10 points from 7-7 through 16-16, before Sacramento State closed on a 9-1 run… The run featured five Hornet kills and two aces… Montana's lone lead came at 10-9, following a Moreno ace… Harper had four of Montana's five kills in the set.
- Set 3: After recording just 11 kills on .000 hitting through two sets, Montana tallied 16 kills in the third set, out-hitting the Hornets .324 to .175… Montana trailed by as many as seven (14-7) and trailed by five, 13-8, before a 6-0 run put the Griz on top… Montana held a 23-20 lead before Sacramento State tied the set at 24-24… Huddleston and Semadeni teamed up for a block on the next point, followed by Godwin's sixth kill of the set to close it out, 26-24… Semadeni, who started on the right side, had a kill and two blocks during Montana's final five points of the set.
- Set 4: Montana jumped out to an early 8-4 lead and had a three-point lead as late as 19-16… Sacramento State didn't take its first lead until 20-19 and didn't hold a two-point advantage until 24-22… Harper had back-to-back kills to fight off match point, before the Hornets responded with a pair of kills to close the match.
- Despite its record, Montana has now taken at least one set off of Northern Arizona (two on the road), Weber State (one at home) and Sacramento State (one on the road). Those three teams were picked as the top three in the Big Sky Conference preseason poll.
Quoting LawrenceLucky 1️⃣3️⃣🎲
— Montana Griz VB (@MontanaGrizVB) October 25, 2019
That's a career-high 13 kills for Elsa Godwin! pic.twitter.com/CLVYVlm9sU
(on setter Ashley Watkins)
"I thought Ashley had a good match. She served well, she dug and she set a really composed match. Even in the moments where we were bleeding points a bit in serve-receive, she stayed calm and composed."
(more on Huddleston)
"We lose a starter who has produced at an unreal rate for us, and we ask Missy to do something she hadn't done since she was 17 years old. We needed her quickness and explosiveness, and she was unbelievable. She has this ability to give so much of herself every time she does something, and it's so inspiring for her teammates. She can change matches with her consistency and by the way she risks it."
Looking Ahead
Montana will travel home on Friday before hosting Portland State on Saturday evening. The Vikings surprisingly knocked off Montana State in four sets on Thursday evening. It was a wild night in the Big Sky Conference, with Eastern Washington sweeping Idaho State and Northern Arizona handing Northern Colorado its first loss of the conference season. Fans who attend Montana's football game vs. Eastern Washington on Saturday can bring their ticket for free admission to the volleyball match.
Brick by brick we're building a wall! That's 12 blocks tonight for the Griz! pic.twitter.com/52oVUq3MSC
— Montana Griz VB (@MontanaGrizVB) October 25, 2019
Sarina picks up her 2nd ace of the night, Montana's 8th, and the Griz hold a three-point lead in Set 4!
— Montana Griz VB (@MontanaGrizVB) October 25, 2019
Timeout, Hornets! pic.twitter.com/CDAmHu4qZo
Team Stats
UM
SAC
Kills
41
59
Errors
19
25
Attempts
133
152
Hitting %
.165
.224
Points
62.0
77.0
Assists
40
53
Aces
8
9
Blocks
13.0
9.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
13
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
3
Blocks
6
Kills
3
Aces
2
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
DS
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballOPP/MB
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
OH/OPP
/ VolleyballS
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