Senior class is proud of what it is leaving behind

Montana vs. Eastern Washington
Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.
Tickets / Watch / Live Stats

Montana vs. Idaho – Senior Day
Saturday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m.
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It's a big week for the Montana volleyball team, which will host two matches this week in Dahlberg Arena.

Most important for the Grizzlies is to continue elevating their level of play.

After a 0-4 start to Big Sky action, the Grizzlies have gone 4-4 over the past four weeks, earning three road wins and three sweeps during that span. Overall, the Griz have won three of their past five matches to move into the driver's seat to earn a berth to this month's Big Sky Conference tournament.

That would be big for a team that was picked to finish last in the preseason coaches' poll.

"Every team wants to play their best volleyball at the end of the season, and I think, for sure, we are doing that," head coach Allison Lawrence said. "The level of volleyball that we're playing is light years ahead of where we were at the beginning of the year.

"Individually and as a group, our system is taking off, and I think it's providing some huge momentum for our players."

The next opportunity to take another step forward will come this week against a pair of regional rivals in Eastern Washington (Thursday) and Idaho (Saturday).

It was against those teams a month ago that sparked Montana's turnaround, with the Grizzlies earning a three-set road sweep at Idaho before battling Eastern Washington to five sets in Cheney. The Eagles are currently one spot ahead of Montana in the Big Sky standings, while the Vandals are one spot behind the Griz, in a three-way tie for ninth place.

In addition to what is on the line this week, it will also be a chance for Montana to celebrate its senior class.

The Grizzlies will recognize five seniors prior to Saturday's contest: Peyten Boutwell, Elsa Godwin, Holly Manchester, Sarina Moreno, and Kelsey Nestegard.

Boutwell and Manchester, both middle blockers, came to Montana as transfers. Boutwell came from Abilene Christian nearly two years ago as a graduate transfer, and after being granted a COVID-19 extension, chose to stay this fall to play one more season with the Grizzlies. She's been a big boost for Montana, leading the team for blocking (1.01 per set, seventh in the Big Sky) while ranking near the top for kills, hitting percentage and total points. Manchester came to Missoula over the summer after beginning her collegiate career at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire.

The core of Montana's senior class, though, comes in the trio of Godwin, Moreno and Nestegard. The group all became Grizzlies at the same time, joining the roster in 2018.

"I especially want to credit Sarina, Elsa and Kelsey – the three who have been here for four years," Lawrence said. "Those three, the things they've done on the court are remarkable, but the behind-the-scenes things they've done that only the people inside this program know is unbelievable.

"I'm so grateful to them for how they've gone about this process and the way they've changed the culture of our team."

Nestegard redshirted her first season, in 2018, before being used as a serving specialist the following fall. She only played in 15 sets across nine matches – tallying nine digs and two service aces – but it was enough to earn the respect from her teammates, as she was voted the scout-team MVP at the end-of-season banquet.

Kelsey Nestegard vs. Idaho State - 9/30/21

Kelsey Nestegard vs. Idaho State - 9/30/21

"When I think of Kelsey, I think of the most fun-spirited, kind-hearted person," Godwin said of her teammate. "She is always the one cheering the loudest whether she's on the court or on the bench or in practice. You always know that Kelsey is in your corner supporting you."

That's not always easy for someone who might not see the court as often as she'd like, but it never phased Nestegard, who – as anyone who has watched the Griz play over the past four years can attest – always brings the energy.

It's not a natural characteristic for Nestegard, who admits that she's an introvert by nature.

In high school in Pullman, Washington, she was an all-state player and her league's MVP as a senior. The biggest way to impact her team was on the court. At Montana, though, she knows that her biggest impact comes in a different form.

"I want this program to succeed, and for me, that starts by pushing everyone in practice," Nestegard said. "I want my legacy to be that I'm the best teammate there is, which is why I try to be loud and supportive."

To Moreno, who has been pushed by Nestegard as well as seeing her in a different light, as roommates, that has always held true.

"When I think of Kelsey, I think of loyal," Moreno said. "We've been through every aspect of life together and she's always been there for me."

Nestegard played in 23 sets during the Spring 2021 season, totaling three more aces, before continuing to elevate her role this fall.

Entering this week, Nestegard has played in 52 sets across 14 matches and has made the most of her opportunity with 11 service aces.

She played in just one of Montana's first nine matches before earning a spot on the Grizzlies' travel roster in late September. During a three-match stretch to begin conference play, she recorded four total aces, including two against Montana State. She had two more last month against Portland State and two more again in a win at Montana State.

Overall, she has an ace in eight of the 14 matches she has played in this year, ranking third on the team with 0.21 aces per set.

"Going into my last season, I knew this was my last chance to play volleyball and I didn't want to have any regrets," Nestegard said. "I'm definitely a lot more confident than I have been."

Nestegard will graduate in May with a degree in communicative sciences and disorders, with a minor in psychology.

Joining the Griz roster at the same time as Nestegard was Godwin and Moreno.

Sarina Moreno and Elsa Godwin

To those who follow prep volleyball in the state, the names were likely familiar, as the two starred at Sentinel High School in Missoula, leading the Spartans to back-to-back state championships in 2016 and 2017.

Jokes were made that Godwin and Moreno – who in some senses are polar opposites while in many ways are inseparable – would attend college together. But while Godwin was set on playing out of state and finding some independence, Moreno wasn't even planning on playing volleyball in college.

But as the time for college got closer, both mindsets shifted.

"I realized that I loved Missoula," Godwin said. "I loved the people and the opportunity that was in front of me to play for my home team. I realized, 'No, this is exactly where I want to be and be part of.'"

For Moreno, it was a last-minute decision.

"I realized I didn't want to stop playing yet," she said. "I realized late and committed late, but it was the best decision I've made."

Godwin, a former Montana Gatorade Player of the Year, redshirted in 2018 before making her debut the following fall.

Elsa Godwin vs. Northern Colorado

She made an instant impact, playing in 101 of Montana's 112 sets and seeing action in all 28 matches and earning 24 starts at outside hitter. In addition to ranking fourth on the team for kills, she led Montana with 32 service aces and a .949 serve-receive percentage and ranked fourth in the Big Sky with 0.40 aces per set.

Highlights from that season included a five-ace performance in a sweep over Eastern Washington and a kill on match point in a win over Montana State in Bozeman.

During the Spring 2021 season, Godwin again was a force from the service line – leading the Griz with 18 aces in 16 matches – while also increasing her role defensively. Her 2.38 digs-per-set average ranked third on the team, also increasing her blocking and serve-receive numbers.

This fall, Godwin has done a little bit of everything. Offensively, she was in double figures for kills in three consecutive matches early in the season, including a career-high 16 on .375 hitting in a five-set home win over Seattle. Serving, she once again leads Montana with 20 aces, on pace to lead the Griz in that category in three consecutive seasons.

Her biggest jump, though, has been her continued progression on defense, where she has racked up 193 digs, which ranks second on the team.

"You don't always see the progress in yourself until you look back," Godwin said. "Reflecting back to my redshirt season or my first season on the court, just seeing the role I'm in now, it's so evident to see how each year I have gotten better."

With at least four matches remaining in her collegiate career, Godwin has played in 63 matches and has earned 58 starts. Her stat line includes more than 500 digs, 300 kills, 75 blocks and 70 service aces.

But for Godwin, the growth has been more than just on the court.

"Not just volleyball, but my relationships on the team, my confidence as a player, that role as a leader on the team," Godwin said. "It's crazy to see how I've grown and developed during my time here"

For Moreno, Godwin's success comes from her determination. For Nestegard, it's her leadership.

She's a good person to model yourself after, with successes coming on and off the court.

Godwin graduated in May with a degree in business management and now is on track to earn her master's in business administration this coming May. She has earned Academic All-Big Sky honors every season she has been eligible to.

"She's just a leader in life," Nestegard said. "I've looked up to her a lot in volleyball, in school, in faith. She's always been that rock to me, that no matter what I need she's always there."

Sarina Moreno vs. Idaho State - 10/17/19

Sarina Moreno vs. Idaho State - 10/17/19

Moreno stands out among the group of seniors, partially become of the different-colored jersey she wears and partially because of what she has been able to do with her body, endlessly diving on the floor to save a point or set up others with her passing.

She, too, was expecting to redshirt in 2018, as a true freshman, but got thrown into the action during the second week of the season and ran with the opportunity. Her 429 digs in 2018 are the 11^th-most in school history and the most ever by a Griz freshman.

Three years later, she has accumulated more than 1,300 career digs, the third-most in school history. Her career digs-per-set average of 3.90 is also expected to rank third all-time.

"It's hard to think and talk about those numbers because it was so unexpected," Moreno said. "I don't want to say it's surprising, because I feel like I've worked really hard to get where I'm at, but this is not how I expected my volleyball career to go – in a good way."

Like both Nestegard and Godwin, though, Moreno is playing her best volleyball right now, which is exactly how you want it as a senior tying the bow on your career.

This fall, Moreno is averaging 4.07 digs per set, which ranks second among all Big Sky players this season. She has been in double figures for digs in all but two matches this fall and has eclipsed 20 digs four times, none bigger than her 31-dig performance in a four-set match vs. Idaho State.

Not limited to just her defense, Moreno has 63 career service aces to go along with 212 assists. She has started 89 of Montana's past 95 matches at the libero position and was named the team's most-improved player following the 2018 season.

"Playing the same position, Sarina is someone I look up to," Nestegard said. "My job is to push her and to look at what she's doing and learn from her. She's a leader in her work ethic."

Moreno will graduate in May with a degree in communication studies.

"I think she is one of our strongest leaders," Godwin said of her longtime teammate. "She came in as a very quiet, keep-to-herself, reserved person, and watching her step out of her comfort zone and build relationships and take on a leadership role that is completely outside of who she is, is really cool."

On the court, Montana is evolving. The Grizzlies won just five matches the season they got commitments from the core of this year's senior class. Now, they're hopeful to be playing in the conference tournament for the third time in four years – something that's been done just once in the past two decades.

There have been big moments and rivalry wins, including back-to-back road wins at both Idaho and Montana State – the most-recent Griz-Cat victory standing out as an all-time favorite for many of the seniors.

"That will be the match I'm telling people about at alumni weekend in however many years," Godwin said."

Away from the court, the Grizzlies feel like they're finally at the point that they've been striving for, and that's a testament to their seniors.

"Those three came in and not only cleaned up what was in place, but they deliberately put in a culture that's becoming a championship culture," Lawrence said. "They put something in place that we can build off of and that will last forever, and that's really impressive to see from a group of 20 year olds."

That changing culture is evidenced by all three of their favorite memories.

The matches stand out, but so too does the time together in the locker room, at Market on Front, running through the Denver airport to catch a flight or riding electric scooters by the water in Portland.

"All of those small moments have added up, and you don't realize it, but four years later, all of a sudden, you're leaving behind 16 of your closest friends."

Which, as Godwin pauses to reflect, is what this experience should be about.

"Sports come and go, but the relationships that you build here and the culture you create and the lessons that you learn – those are forever," she said. "I think that's the whole goal of this experience.

"We came into a program that had a lot of issues on and off the court, and we still are building, but seeing it now, four years later, it just makes the whole experience so rewarding."

Added Moreno: "I don't know that the program will ever be how it used to be again, and that is something to be proud of."

Montana hosts Eastern Washington on Thursday night in a pivotal match that could determine seeding in the Big Sky tournament. On Saturday afternoon, the Grizzlies will host an Idaho team that Montana has beaten in three of the past four meetings. Prior to the afternoon match, the Grizzlies will recognize their senior class on the court, so fans are encouraged to arrive early.

Tickets for both matches are available online. Additionally, as part of the Can The Cats promotion, fans can receive free general-admission tickets to Saturday's match by donating five or more canned-food items.

"We're at the point in the season where every match counts, and we play in a conference that is really tight right now," Lawrence said. "You've got to bring it every night, and we're coming into this weekend knowing it's Senior Day and there are a lot of extra emotions, and we have to use that energy to fuel us to hit all of our details one point at a time."

Gallery: (10-26-2021) VB: at Montana State (10.26.21)

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Players Mentioned

Peyten Boutwell

Elsa Godwin

Holly Manchester

Sarina Moreno

Kelsey Nestegard

University of Montana Athletics