Tuesday, October 26
Bozeman, Mont.
7 PM
Montana
9-12, 4-7Big Sky
3
at
2
Montana State
11-11, 7-4Big Sky
1
2
3
4
5
F
Montana
25
26
22
23
17
3
Montana State
16
24
25
25
15
2
Photo by: Derek Johnson
Griz bring Main Line Trophy back to Missoula with thrilling win over Montana State
10/26/2021 11:00:00 PM | Volleyball
BOZEMAN, Mont. – Tuesday night featured everything a heated rivalry match should – and most importantly for Montana fans, it featured a Griz win. Montana won in Bozeman for the second consecutive trip, beating third-place Montana State 3-2 (25-16, 26-24, 22-25, 23-25, 17-15).
The end result was what mattered most to the Grizzlies, but the ups and downs they encountered over the 153-minute match was made for a movie script.
Montana won the first set in dominant fashion, out-hitting Montana State .353 to .098 and leading for nearly the entire set. The Griz then built a 2-0 match lead by closing out a tight second frame.
Montana State stayed alive with a 25-22 win in the third set before winning the fourth set in comeback fashion. The Grizzlies led Set 4 20-12, just five points away from a match victory, before the Bobcats scored 13 of the final 16 points to extend the match.
The two teams each held leads in the deciding set, with the two teams being separated by more than two points just once. That came at 11-8 when the Grizzlies used a 5-0 run with senior Sarina Moreno at the service line.
Moments later, Montana took a 13-11 lead on an Elise Jolly kill, needing just two points to close out the match. Instead, Montana State scored the nextfour points to win the match three points…
For a moment, Montana State and the 1,500 fans packed into Schroyer Gym celebrated an enormous come-from-behind victory over their rivals. For a moment, Montana State was credited for a kill and a 15-13 win.
But just for a moment.
Gallery: (10-26-2021) VB: at Montana State (10.26.21)
In the middle of the extended rally, it looked as if the Bobcats had four contacts on their side of the net. The officials let the teams play, saying the ball went over the net and a Montana defender touched it, and therefore allowed Montana State the extra touch.
But just for a moment. As soon as the point ended – and Montana State was awarded the winning point – head coach Allison Lawrence challenged the call. Her entire staff and most of the team saw it from the start, knowing Montana State had an illegal touch.
But reviews sometimes can be hard to overturn, so there was no guarantee Montana would get another chance.
It did. The call went the way of Montana, tying the score.
Montana wasn't going to let its renewed life slip away this time.
Carly Anderson went back to serve and dialed up an ace. One point later, freshman Paige Clark trickled an attack in front of Montana State's block.
Then elation set in.
The biggest thing, to Lawrence, was how much of a team effort the victory was.
"Every individual on the team stepped up in a big moment to make a huge play," Lawrence said. "When you add that all together, it equaled a really complete match and a team win."
Junior Jackie Howell had a career night with a personal-best 13 kills while taking 58 swings (her previous high was 34). Defensively, she racked up an unheard of 29 digs (her previous high was 15).
Howell was impressive, but so too was right-side hitter Catie Semadeni, who had 17 kills. Clark had 16, including the match-clincher, plus two aces and a career-high six blocks. Jolly, who is playing at middle blocker because the Griz are still short-handed, suiting up just 11 players on Tuesday, had eight kills – including four big ones early in the match – and a career-most six blocks. Ellie Scherffius was strong with 10 kills and four stuffs.
Running the offense was Anderson, who totaled 47 assists while picking the right targets all night. She also added five kills herself, plus a career-most 25 digs and personal-best six blocks.
Sensing a theme here?
Down the roster, Grizzlies continued to make play after play in big moments. Defensive specialist Sarah Ashley recorded a career-most 15 digs as the Grizzlies posted 103 digs as a team – their highest total in four years.
But Lawrence was most proud of her seniors – Elsa Godwin, Sarina Moreno and Kelsey Nestegard – who won the Main Line Trophy in their final scheduled match against Montana State.
"I can't say enough about our seniors," Lawrence said. "To see their passion, their leadership and aggressiveness, I really thought that made the difference. Every time we've won here, it's been our seniors who have walked into this gym and have said, 'I'm not walking out of here without the result I want' and I was so proud of Elsa, Sarina and Kelsey for doing that. All three had unbelievable nights."
Moreno recorded 13 digs – as Montana State avoided targeting her – and served during the Grizzlies' 5-0 run in Set 5. Godwin – who got the clinching kill the last time Montana beat Montana State – had 12 digs and was instrumental in a 5-0 serving run in the first set. With Nestegard serving, Montana went on runs to create separation in Set 1 and overcome a four-point deficit in the second set. She finished the night with two aces.
Montana ran away with the opening set, taking a 5-4 lead and never trailing again. The Grizzlies hit .353 while holding the Bobcats to a .098 clip. Clark and Jolly each had four kills in the opening set, as Montana closed the frame on a 5-0 run with Howell serving.
Montana State scored the first four points of the second set, but the Grizzlies tied the score at 13-13 on a Scherffius kill before scoring the next point to take its first lead. The two teams were tied at several more points – including 24-24 – but Montana never trailed again to take a 2-0 match advantage.
"We knew in this rivalry, being the underdogs, that we had to play free, play aggressive and play with so much belief," Lawrence said. "We had to put a lot of service pressure on them and hold our blocking structure while playing gritty on defense.
"It felt like what won us those first two sets was our serving and defense, from block to floor defense. They seemed stunned by what we were doing."
The third set featured 12 ties, and Montana held a lead as late as 19-18, before falling late, 25-22. Montana looked poised to win the match in four sets, taking a 14-10 lead that quickly grew to 17-11 and 20-12. However, Montana State found another gear, scoring 10 of 12 points to tie the score at 22-22, before winning the set 25-23.
Both teams had 4-0 runs in the pivotal fifth set, which featured six tie scores and four lead changes. Montana led 13-11 before Montana State scored the next three points to set up match point. The Grizzlies fought it off with an Anderson/Jolly block before fighting off another on the challenge.
"I challenged a part of the rally that was in the middle, and as soon as the rally extended, from that moment, I knew that I was going to challenge the point if we lost it,"
The challenge sparked a run that saw Montana score the match's final three points and come home winners.
After an 0-4 start to the conference season, Montana has now won four of its last seven contests, with three of the wins coming on the road. The Griz will now host Northern Colorado on Saturday evening, a team that entered the week tied with Montana State for third place in the Big Sky.
"We were streaky at times. There were times we had control and then would lose it," Lawrence said. "But to be able to recover and get back to our aggressive play shows belief in each other, trust in each other and belief in our program."
The end result was what mattered most to the Grizzlies, but the ups and downs they encountered over the 153-minute match was made for a movie script.
Montana won the first set in dominant fashion, out-hitting Montana State .353 to .098 and leading for nearly the entire set. The Griz then built a 2-0 match lead by closing out a tight second frame.
Montana State stayed alive with a 25-22 win in the third set before winning the fourth set in comeback fashion. The Grizzlies led Set 4 20-12, just five points away from a match victory, before the Bobcats scored 13 of the final 16 points to extend the match.
The two teams each held leads in the deciding set, with the two teams being separated by more than two points just once. That came at 11-8 when the Grizzlies used a 5-0 run with senior Sarina Moreno at the service line.
Moments later, Montana took a 13-11 lead on an Elise Jolly kill, needing just two points to close out the match. Instead, Montana State scored the next
For a moment, Montana State and the 1,500 fans packed into Schroyer Gym celebrated an enormous come-from-behind victory over their rivals. For a moment, Montana State was credited for a kill and a 15-13 win.
But just for a moment.
In the middle of the extended rally, it looked as if the Bobcats had four contacts on their side of the net. The officials let the teams play, saying the ball went over the net and a Montana defender touched it, and therefore allowed Montana State the extra touch.
But just for a moment. As soon as the point ended – and Montana State was awarded the winning point – head coach Allison Lawrence challenged the call. Her entire staff and most of the team saw it from the start, knowing Montana State had an illegal touch.
But reviews sometimes can be hard to overturn, so there was no guarantee Montana would get another chance.
It did. The call went the way of Montana, tying the score.
Montana wasn't going to let its renewed life slip away this time.
Carly Anderson went back to serve and dialed up an ace. One point later, freshman Paige Clark trickled an attack in front of Montana State's block.
Then elation set in.
Montana won in Bozeman for the second consecutive match after going four consecutive trips without a victory. The Grizzlies also brought home the Main Line Trophy – a traveling volleyball trophy introduced this past spring – for the first time.No better feeling!#GRIZcat #GrizVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/WxCjPr1p3X
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) October 27, 2021
The biggest thing, to Lawrence, was how much of a team effort the victory was.
"Every individual on the team stepped up in a big moment to make a huge play," Lawrence said. "When you add that all together, it equaled a really complete match and a team win."
Junior Jackie Howell had a career night with a personal-best 13 kills while taking 58 swings (her previous high was 34). Defensively, she racked up an unheard of 29 digs (her previous high was 15).
Howell was impressive, but so too was right-side hitter Catie Semadeni, who had 17 kills. Clark had 16, including the match-clincher, plus two aces and a career-high six blocks. Jolly, who is playing at middle blocker because the Griz are still short-handed, suiting up just 11 players on Tuesday, had eight kills – including four big ones early in the match – and a career-most six blocks. Ellie Scherffius was strong with 10 kills and four stuffs.
Running the offense was Anderson, who totaled 47 assists while picking the right targets all night. She also added five kills herself, plus a career-most 25 digs and personal-best six blocks.
Sensing a theme here?
Down the roster, Grizzlies continued to make play after play in big moments. Defensive specialist Sarah Ashley recorded a career-most 15 digs as the Grizzlies posted 103 digs as a team – their highest total in four years.
But Lawrence was most proud of her seniors – Elsa Godwin, Sarina Moreno and Kelsey Nestegard – who won the Main Line Trophy in their final scheduled match against Montana State.
"I can't say enough about our seniors," Lawrence said. "To see their passion, their leadership and aggressiveness, I really thought that made the difference. Every time we've won here, it's been our seniors who have walked into this gym and have said, 'I'm not walking out of here without the result I want' and I was so proud of Elsa, Sarina and Kelsey for doing that. All three had unbelievable nights."
Moreno recorded 13 digs – as Montana State avoided targeting her – and served during the Grizzlies' 5-0 run in Set 5. Godwin – who got the clinching kill the last time Montana beat Montana State – had 12 digs and was instrumental in a 5-0 serving run in the first set. With Nestegard serving, Montana went on runs to create separation in Set 1 and overcome a four-point deficit in the second set. She finished the night with two aces.
As a team, Montana out-hit, out-dug and out-served Montana State. The Grizzlies didn't win the blocking battle, but did enough to disrupt Montana State – which ranks second in the Big Sky for blocking – and held their own at the net with a season-most 13 stuffs.How we feeling, Griz Nation??#GRIZcat #GrizVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/uOBHrvQApa
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) October 27, 2021
Montana ran away with the opening set, taking a 5-4 lead and never trailing again. The Grizzlies hit .353 while holding the Bobcats to a .098 clip. Clark and Jolly each had four kills in the opening set, as Montana closed the frame on a 5-0 run with Howell serving.
Montana State scored the first four points of the second set, but the Grizzlies tied the score at 13-13 on a Scherffius kill before scoring the next point to take its first lead. The two teams were tied at several more points – including 24-24 – but Montana never trailed again to take a 2-0 match advantage.
"We knew in this rivalry, being the underdogs, that we had to play free, play aggressive and play with so much belief," Lawrence said. "We had to put a lot of service pressure on them and hold our blocking structure while playing gritty on defense.
"It felt like what won us those first two sets was our serving and defense, from block to floor defense. They seemed stunned by what we were doing."
The third set featured 12 ties, and Montana held a lead as late as 19-18, before falling late, 25-22. Montana looked poised to win the match in four sets, taking a 14-10 lead that quickly grew to 17-11 and 20-12. However, Montana State found another gear, scoring 10 of 12 points to tie the score at 22-22, before winning the set 25-23.
Both teams had 4-0 runs in the pivotal fifth set, which featured six tie scores and four lead changes. Montana led 13-11 before Montana State scored the next three points to set up match point. The Grizzlies fought it off with an Anderson/Jolly block before fighting off another on the challenge.
"I challenged a part of the rally that was in the middle, and as soon as the rally extended, from that moment, I knew that I was going to challenge the point if we lost it,"
The challenge sparked a run that saw Montana score the match's final three points and come home winners.
After an 0-4 start to the conference season, Montana has now won four of its last seven contests, with three of the wins coming on the road. The Griz will now host Northern Colorado on Saturday evening, a team that entered the week tied with Montana State for third place in the Big Sky.
"We were streaky at times. There were times we had control and then would lose it," Lawrence said. "But to be able to recover and get back to our aggressive play shows belief in each other, trust in each other and belief in our program."
🎵 𝐻𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑤, 𝑠𝑎𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑒𝑡'𝑠 𝑔𝑜 𝐺𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑧𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑠
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) October 27, 2021
𝐵𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘 '𝑒𝑚 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛, 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑎 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑙
𝐿𝑒𝑡'𝑠 𝑔𝑜 𝐺𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑧𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑠! 🎵#GRIZcat #GrizVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/5QNWY1Lj85
Team Stats
UM
MSU
Kills
71
64
Errors
33
33
Attempts
221
217
Hitting %
.172
.143
Points
89.0
82.0
Assists
67
54
Aces
5
3
Blocks
13.0
15.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
16
Aces
2
Blocks
6
Kills
13
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
S
/ Volleyball
DS/OH
/ VolleyballS
/ Volleyball
OH
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
DS
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOH
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