Growing pains continue at Gonzaga Invitational

Saturday, September 7

Spokane, Wash.

2 PM (MT)

Montana

0-0

Grand Canyon

5-0

Montana

Grand Canyon

9/7/2019 10:48:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Grand Canyon Box Score (PDF)Gonzaga Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery Season Statistics Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Montana Sports Information

SPOKANE, Wash. – Montana's growing pains continued on Saturday, with the Grizzlies losing both of their matches to conclude the Gonzaga Invitational. In the afternoon, Montana lost to Grand Canyon (25-19, 25-17, 25-18), followed by a loss to the host Bulldogs during the nightcap (25-14, 25-16, 25-17).

Montana's two opponents from Saturday are a combined 10-2 on the season.

"We're still trying to find who we are, which I do think we did to some extent this weekend, but obviously we still have a very long ways to go," head coach Allison Lawrence said.

Montana is still looking for its first win of the season, and the biggest shortcoming has been consistency from an extremely young roster. On Saturday vs. GCU, five of Montana's seven starters were freshmen.

The match vs. the 'Lopes was by far Montana's most-polished of the season, with the Grizzlies setting season bests for kills, digs and blocks.

"The team did a really good job of preparing as a unit before we stepped on the court," Lawrence said. "After our match last night, the team got together and took ownership of some routines that were missing. They came out on the court today with way more energy. That helped us look more prepared and organized, and helped us execute our positions."

Gallery: (9/7/2019) VB: vs. Grand Canyon, Gonzaga (9.7.19)

Grand Canyon 3, Montana 0
A day after Montana allowed Ball State to score the match's first eight points, Montana scored the first point of the day and for a while hung with the 'Lopes nearly point for point, being as close as 15-13. At that point, though, Montana was aced twice in a row and the Grizzlies would trail by at least four points for the remainder of the set.

The Grizzlies' best set came in the second, with Montana jumping out to a 6-2 advantage, its largest lead of the season. Montana led for 11 of the first 13 points until GCU went on a 5-0 run to take control of the set. Montana was once again holding point for point with GCU in the third frame, leading for seven points early and being tied at 12-12.

Neither team would lead by more than two points until GCU took a 16-13 lead. Back to within two, 18-16, GCU iced the match with a 6-0 run.

Match Notables

Montana tallied season highs for kills (35), digs (45) and blocks (7). The Grizzlies also limited GCU to .279 hitting, the lowest by an opposing team this season.
Senior Janna Grimsrud had a career-high 11 kills on .429 hitting (11-2-21), in addition to five blocks for the second match in a row. On the season, she is averaging 1.17 blocks per set.
Freshman Amethyst Harper had 10 kills for the second consecutive match. She also added nine digs.
Senior Missy Huddleston had eight kills on .300 hitting (8-2-20), also leading the Grizzlies with 11 digs.
Freshman Isabelle Garrido made her first career start at libero, totaling 11 digs and Montana's only service ace.
Redshirt freshman Elsa Godwin started the third set at outside hitter and made an immediate impact, scoring the set's first two points and finishing with three kills on four swings, plus a block.
Setter Casey Stites had a career-high 29 assists while helping Montana to its second-best hitting percentage of the season (.174).
Redshirt freshman Kelsey Nestegard saw the most action of her young career, playing in all three sets and finishing with four digs.
No GCU player had more than seven kills, but six 'Lopes had four or more.
Montana had just one service ace compared to seven for GCU. The Grizzlies also had seven service errors.

Gonzaga 3, Montana 0
Behind six service aces, Gonzaga took an early lead over Montana, which ended up being the different. Montana fought back to within a few points, but as has been the case multiple times this season, the Grizzlies were trying to play catch-up and couldn't full recover.

"They picked us apart in serve-receive," Lawrence said. "They did a good job of targeting certain people, so we had to constantly be changing what we were doing. We would always come out of it, but it was always after a couple of points, which forced us to play from behind."

Again in the second frame, Montana was within a point early before Gonzaga rattled off three consecutive points to take over. Montana held a 2-1 lead early in the third set, but that lead quickly became deficits of 10-4 and 15-7 and eventually 25-17.

Match Notables

Missy Huddleston averaged a double-double on the day (10.0 kills, 13.0 digs), including a team-most nine kills and 15 digs vs. Gonzaga.
Starting again at libero, Isabelle Garrido had 16 digs.
In addition to 23 assists at setter, Casey Stites also had two blocks and two service aces.
The Grizzlies had a season-most 48 digs, surpassing the 45 digs the team posted earlier on Saturday.
Montana was aced 11 times, in addition to recording four service errors.
Middle blocker Janna Grimsrud was named to the five-person all-tournament team. It marks the second week in a row the senior has been recognized on an all-tournament team. In three matches this weekend, Grimsrud averaged 2.22 kills and 1.44 blocks per set.

Quoting Lawrence
(on Stites looking more comfortable at setter)
"What Casey had to do, as a freshman who had never set in a collegiate match before, is really difficult. This weekend, and today in particular, she really found her personality and confidence on the court. She executed sets and held her location better. I thought she was composed and had a plan. You could see her settle in and feel comfortable running the offense, and she served and blocked well."

(on Garrido's first start at libero)
"I took the liberos aside as a group and told them we had to have more intent with our energy and leadership, and more ability to take over seams in our serve-receive. I thought all three of them did that and responded. Izzy's number was called to take up the libero spot, which is a hard thing to do against a team that's hot and really offensive. Great job to her, and I thought Kelsey (Nestegard) added with a great amount of energy and focus and support for her teammates. I thought we learned a lot today as a group about how to fight together."

Looking Ahead
Following two weeks on the road, Montana will stay in Missoula next weekend and host the Farmers State Bank Invitational. The Grizzlies will play CSU Bakersfield and UTEP, with Montana State also part of the tournament.