Boutwell, Schuette add veteran experience to volleyball roster

Allison Lawrence felt as if she was in a good position. Her Montana volleyball team had the opportunity to add a player or two to its 2020 roster, but by no means was desperate to do so. Lawrence called it being deliberate with their focus.

"If we found the right personality, the right leader, the right student, then we would do it, but we weren't going to unless she fit each of those boxes," the fourth-year head coach said.

So as Lawrence and her staff continued communicating with young athletes, and traveled the country evaluating talent, they always kept their eyes open to see if anything jumped out to them.

Enter: middle blocker Peyten Boutwell and setter Jordyn Schuette.

Boutwell, who spent the past three seasons at Abilene Christian while earning her undergraduate degree, will have one year of immediate eligibility remaining. The Oregon native becomes Montana's first graduate transfer since Hannah Sackett in 2015.

It worked out well last time, as Sackett came to Montana from West Virginia and started all 28 matches while racking up a team-high 467 kills – the fourth-most in single-season history. Sackett was named the Big Sky's Newcomer of the Year, a first-team All-Big Sky selection and an Academic All-Big Sky honoree.

It would be unfair to put those types of expectations on Boutwell. But Lawrence does see some similarities between the two.

"It's really unique to have a player come in and have one year to make her mark," Lawrence said of her team's new middle blocker. "That's one of the things that's so appealing to us about Peyten, though; she has a desire to make the most of a short period of time and really grow this program. Her experience and leadership will make us resilient and dynamic in new ways that we haven't been."

We're so excited to welcome @paboutwell to the #GrizVB family!

Peyten is a graduate transfer MB, who comes to Missoula from Abilene Christian. #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/RrRPht1oti
— Montana Griz VB (@MontanaGrizVB) February 13, 2020

While earning her degree in management, Boutwell was a three-time Southland Conference honor roll student. She will now work toward a master's in business analytics.

"Student-athletes seeking advanced degrees are such leaders in the classroom, but also on the court," Lawrence said. "There's something to be said about someone who is deliberate about what their goals are, and I think she will be a great mentor to our younger athletes and a really good example of what this experience can look like when you do it the right way."

For Schuette, the 6-foot junior setter has seen volleyball at the highest of levels, beginning her career at Cal, a Pac-12 school that consistently plays top-10 competition.

"Any time you can add a physical setter to your roster, it's a really big positive," Lawrence said. "Jordyn is tall and can have a physical presence at the net. Having played at Cal and in the Pac-12, she has seen volleyball at the most physical level, and has done it under a high level of pressure to perform in a high-stakes environment.

"We'll up our volleyball IQ by having her in the gym."

We're excited to announce our newest student-athlete. Help us welcome @jordynschuette, a setter who began her career at Cal!#GrizVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/z0xr5UAaSh
— Montana Griz VB (@MontanaGrizVB) February 6, 2020

Both players have immense potential.

Boutwell, while playing for Lake Oswego High School in Oregon, was an all-league player who led the Three Rivers League in blocking during her senior season. Playing in the highly competitive San Diego area, Schuette was an All-CIF selection who earned an opportunity to play in the Pac-12.

Neither player's college journey has gone how she would have envisioned it so far, with Boutwell starting her career at UC Riverside before transferring to Abilene Christian. After playing in 16 matches as a freshman for the Highlanders, Boutwell played sparingly from 2017-19 for the Wildcats. From 2017-18, Schuette played in eight matches for Cal, totaling 39 assists and 13 digs.

The biggest thing that intrigues Lawrence, though, is both Boutwell and Schuette's desire to continue pressing forward.

Boutwell already has her degree and could easily move forward with the next step of her life, without volleyball. Schuette has already stepped away from the sport once, but after one year away knows she wants to give it one last go.

"Both Peyten and Jordyn know what they want, and they're committed to going for it and making it happen," Lawrence said. "They both have had obstacles, but their drive has kept them going, and they both have dynamic personalities that helped build the programs they were previously a part of."

For two talented high school volleyball players, who have – to varying degrees – Division-I volleyball experience, it's a low-risk, high-reward proposition for Lawrence.

Which goes back to the start, where Lawrence and her staff were interested in adding depth, but not desperate to do so.

Montana returns nine players from a season ago, and welcomed in six more during November's signing class. While still young, the Grizzlies felt good about the base they had. They were only going to jump at something if they felt it would truly help the team succeed, and they saw that in both Boutwell and Schuette – both on and off the court.

Of Montana's 13 roster members a season ago, nine entered the season having never before played in a college volleyball match. The freshmen got thrown into the fire, and it showed early. But by the midpoint of conference season, the freshmen – many who were in starting roles – had quickly matured at a faster rate than typical for an 18 year old, and the Grizzlies found their footing. Montana posted a winning record over the back half of conference play to qualify for the Big Sky tournament for the second year in a row.

Now they must do it again. Thanks to the early play of Montana's freshmen, the Grizzlies are now more experienced, but they're even younger than they were a season ago. Prior to Boutwell – a senior – and Schuette – a junior – joining the program, Montana's roster consisted of seven freshmen, seven sophomores, one junior and zero seniors.

The two transfers add a veteran presence, while also adding depth to areas the Grizzlies are lacking.

Montana graduated three seniors from its 2019 roster, losing its starting setter and two middle blockers. Boutwell will compete for a starting spot at middle blocker, along with rising sophomores Kelly Horning and Alicia Wallingford, plus some of the incoming talent the Grizzlies added in November. Schuette will train and compete alongside incoming freshman Carly Anderson for the opportunity to lead Montana's offense this fall.

"I think with Peyten and Jordyn we balanced some of our youth inexperience with age experience," Lawrence said. "It's fun to look for players who have experience with other programs who can help lead us in new ways, in addition to adding to the energy that's already here."

PEYTEN BOUTWELL
Abilene Christian/UC Riverside (2016-19): Spent three seasons at Abilene Christian and one at UC Riverside… Played in two matches and recorded one kill for the Wildcats… Redshirted in 2018… Played in 16 matches as a true freshman at UC Riverside… Recorded 21 kills, 21 blocks and three service aces.
Earned Southland Conference honor roll recognition all three seasons at Abilene Christian… Named to College of Business Dean's Honor Roll twice.

High School: Is a 2016 graduate of Lake Oswego High School in Oregon… First-team all-league selection as a senior in 2015… Led Three Rivers League with 107 blocks during her senior campaign… Won a league title as a junior in 2014… Head volleyball coach was Susan Denham… Played club for Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy… Four-year member of the National Honor Society.

Personal: Born in Portland, Ore. … Hometown is Lake Oswego, Ore. … Parents are Burr and Jane Boutwell… Has a younger brother, Brooks… Is expected to earn her bachelor's degree from Abilene Christian in May 2020 and will begin her master's in business administration from Montana in Fall 2020.

JORDYN SCHUETTE
Cal (2017-18): Spent first two collegiate seasons at Cal… Played in eight total matches, totaling 39 assists and 13 digs… As a freshman in 2017, totaled a career-high 13 assists and five digs vs. Colorado… Had 11 assists vs. No. 4 Stanford… Playing in the Pac-12, competed against several nationally ranked teams, including Stanford, UCLA, USC and Washington.

High School: Is a 2017 graduate of Del Norte High School in San Diego… First-team Palomar League selection as a senior in 2016… Also earned All-CIF second-team honors… Team captain as a senior… Helped the Nighthawks to back-to-back Palomar League titles in 2015 and 2016, including a CIF Division I championship in 2016… Also swam at Del Norte… High school volleyball coaches were Nate Rendon and Ashton O'Halloran… Played for the Wave Volleyball Club… 2016 CIF San Diego Sportsmanship Award winner… Earned San Diego Union-Tribune All-Academic Team honors.

Personal: Born in Greeley, Colo. … Hometown is San Diego, Calif. … Parents are David and Michelle Schuette… Has an older sister, Sydney, and a younger sister, Taryn… Sydney was a collegiate swimmer at UNLV… Is a psychology major.

University of Montana Athletics

Boutwell, Schuette add veteran experience to volleyball roster

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