Saturday, October 30
Missoula, Mont.
7 PM
Montana
9-13, 4-8Big Sky
1
vs
3
Northern Colorado
17-6, 9-3,Big Sky
1
2
3
4
F
Northern Colorado
25
25
17
25
3
Montana
22
16
25
16
1
Photo by: Derek Johnson
Bears down Griz in 4
10/30/2021 10:04:00 PM | Volleyball
MISSOULA, Montana – Montana got a first-hand look at what it takes to compete against the top of the conference on Saturday night, being downed by Northern Colorado, currently ranked third in the Big Sky, 3-1 (25-22, 25-16, 17-25, 25-16).
One match after Montana upset Montana State (currently ranked fourth in the Big Sky) on the road, the Grizzlies didn't play to the same level on Saturday, and that, to head coach Allison Lawrence, was the difference.
"We talked before the match about how the environment can't dictate how much energy and focus and determination we bring," Lawrence said. "But there were moments, where if you compare Tuesday to today, we didn't look like the aggressors."
Montana was even at the net (eight blocks apiece) and at the service line (eight aces for each team), but recorded 14 fewer digs and hit at a significantly lower clip (.277 to .162).
The Grizzlies struggled offensively, in large part due to passing breakdowns.
"Serving and passing was definitely the biggest feelings of ups and downs," Lawrence said. "We've been pretty resilient passing the past four matches, but tonight we just felt stressed in serve-receive, and they put us in a lot of situations where we were passing off the net, which eliminated our middle."
Gallery: (10-30-2021) VB: vs. Northern Colorado (10.30.21)
Montana and Northern Colorado played a tight first set, despite the Grizzlies hitting just .022. They were in the set, in large part, due to four service aces and zero errors, compared to two aces and three errors for the Bears – a swing of five points from the service line.
The two teams alternated leads early, but Montana's last advantage came at 11-10, following a combined block from setter Carly Anderson and middle blocker Elise Jolly. Still, Montana was in the set until the very end, never falling behind by more than three points and being within a single point on multiple occasions, including as late as 23-22.
The second set was all Bears, as Northern Colorado used an 11-1 run – including 8-0 at one point – to turn a 4-4 tie into a 15-5 lead, forcing the Griz to use both of their timeouts. Northern Colorado hit .353 in the frame.
Montana again fell behind in the third set, trailing by as many as five points, 9-4. To the Grizzlies' credit, though, they didn't give in.
With Anderson at the service line – serving up back-to-back aces at one point – Montana used a 5-0 run to tie the score at 9-9. Moments later, Montana got a kill from freshman outside hitter Paige Clark and a block from Peyten Boutwell and Jackie Howell to take the lead, 11-10.
Junior right-side attacker Catie Semadeni then had consecutive kills to open up a 13-11 advantage, which Montana would never relinquish. The Grizzlies forced a timeout at 16-12, capping a 12-3 run.
They led by at least four points from that moment forward, winning the set 25-17.
Northern Colorado was led offensively by Lauren Strain, who recorded 17 kills on .556 hitting and didn't make her first attacking error until the third set. Defensively, Laura Katarzynski recorded 35 digs.
Montana struggled on offense early, but turned it on over the final two sets.
For example, freshman Paige Clark had just six kills and four errors through the first two frames, before recording 13 kills compared to four errors over the final two. She finished with a team-best 17 kills. She was joined in double figures by Semadeni, who totaled 13 kills while hitting an impressive .522.
Montana wasn't at full strength, but was closer thanks to the return of Boutwell. The senior middle blocker – who entering last week led Montana for points on the season – missed the previous three matches, as Montana was able to suit up just 10 or 11 players each of the past three matches.
Boutwell finished the night with six kills and six blocks in her return to the floor.
"I thought Peyten was a big spark," Lawrence said. "We played without her for three matches and I thought she did a nice job of setting the tone, and I thought it was setting her more in the third (set) that allowed a different look and more success in that set."
Defensively, senior libero Sarina Moreno recorded 17 digs, plus a service ace, while Anderson served up three aces to go along with her 37 assists, five kills and three blocks.
The Grizzlies will play their final two home matches next week, hosting Eastern Washington (Thursday) and Idaho (Saturday). It will be a big opportunity for the Griz, with the Eagles sitting directly ahead of Montana in the standings and Idaho in a three-way tie just below the Griz.
One match after Montana upset Montana State (currently ranked fourth in the Big Sky) on the road, the Grizzlies didn't play to the same level on Saturday, and that, to head coach Allison Lawrence, was the difference.
"We talked before the match about how the environment can't dictate how much energy and focus and determination we bring," Lawrence said. "But there were moments, where if you compare Tuesday to today, we didn't look like the aggressors."
Montana was even at the net (eight blocks apiece) and at the service line (eight aces for each team), but recorded 14 fewer digs and hit at a significantly lower clip (.277 to .162).
The Grizzlies struggled offensively, in large part due to passing breakdowns.
"Serving and passing was definitely the biggest feelings of ups and downs," Lawrence said. "We've been pretty resilient passing the past four matches, but tonight we just felt stressed in serve-receive, and they put us in a lot of situations where we were passing off the net, which eliminated our middle."
Montana and Northern Colorado played a tight first set, despite the Grizzlies hitting just .022. They were in the set, in large part, due to four service aces and zero errors, compared to two aces and three errors for the Bears – a swing of five points from the service line.
The two teams alternated leads early, but Montana's last advantage came at 11-10, following a combined block from setter Carly Anderson and middle blocker Elise Jolly. Still, Montana was in the set until the very end, never falling behind by more than three points and being within a single point on multiple occasions, including as late as 23-22.
The second set was all Bears, as Northern Colorado used an 11-1 run – including 8-0 at one point – to turn a 4-4 tie into a 15-5 lead, forcing the Griz to use both of their timeouts. Northern Colorado hit .353 in the frame.
Montana again fell behind in the third set, trailing by as many as five points, 9-4. To the Grizzlies' credit, though, they didn't give in.
With Anderson at the service line – serving up back-to-back aces at one point – Montana used a 5-0 run to tie the score at 9-9. Moments later, Montana got a kill from freshman outside hitter Paige Clark and a block from Peyten Boutwell and Jackie Howell to take the lead, 11-10.
Junior right-side attacker Catie Semadeni then had consecutive kills to open up a 13-11 advantage, which Montana would never relinquish. The Grizzlies forced a timeout at 16-12, capping a 12-3 run.
They led by at least four points from that moment forward, winning the set 25-17.
Montana led Set 4 early, 5-3, and was tied at 7-7, before Northern Colorado scored five of the next six points to take control of the set.Now a kill from Catie Semadeni!#GrizVB #BigSkyVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/PsfBcsFBP2
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) October 31, 2021
Northern Colorado was led offensively by Lauren Strain, who recorded 17 kills on .556 hitting and didn't make her first attacking error until the third set. Defensively, Laura Katarzynski recorded 35 digs.
Montana struggled on offense early, but turned it on over the final two sets.
For example, freshman Paige Clark had just six kills and four errors through the first two frames, before recording 13 kills compared to four errors over the final two. She finished with a team-best 17 kills. She was joined in double figures by Semadeni, who totaled 13 kills while hitting an impressive .522.
"Paige found some swings, especially out of system against bigger blockers," Lawrence said. "She got in a rhythm on the right and Catie was scoring pretty much the whole night."Another kill for Paige Clark!#GrizVB #BigSkyVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/jnxW3tah2n
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) October 31, 2021
Montana wasn't at full strength, but was closer thanks to the return of Boutwell. The senior middle blocker – who entering last week led Montana for points on the season – missed the previous three matches, as Montana was able to suit up just 10 or 11 players each of the past three matches.
Boutwell finished the night with six kills and six blocks in her return to the floor.
"I thought Peyten was a big spark," Lawrence said. "We played without her for three matches and I thought she did a nice job of setting the tone, and I thought it was setting her more in the third (set) that allowed a different look and more success in that set."
Big attack and kill for Peyten Boutwell!#GrizVB #BigSkyVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/vfKtYHPNw3
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) October 31, 2021
Defensively, senior libero Sarina Moreno recorded 17 digs, plus a service ace, while Anderson served up three aces to go along with her 37 assists, five kills and three blocks.
The Grizzlies will play their final two home matches next week, hosting Eastern Washington (Thursday) and Idaho (Saturday). It will be a big opportunity for the Griz, with the Eagles sitting directly ahead of Montana in the standings and Idaho in a three-way tie just below the Griz.
Team Stats
NOCO
UM
Kills
53
46
Errors
17
23
Attempts
130
142
Hitting %
.277
.162
Points
69.0
62.0
Assists
48
43
Aces
8
8
Blocks
8.0
8.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
17
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Kills
5
Aces
3
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
S
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballS
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
DS
/ VolleyballOH
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