Photo by: Derek Johnson
Counting down the top volleyball wins of 2021
12/27/2021 9:09:00 AM | Volleyball
Following a pandemic-altered spring season that saw the Montana volleyball team win just two matches, the Grizzlies got back on track this fall. The Grizzlies won 11 matches – their most since 2013 and more than the past two seasons combined – and qualified for the Big Sky Conference tournament for the third time in four seasons.
Along the way, the Grizzlies had individual and team performances that led to tournament titles, rivalry wins and more! Below is a countdown of Montana's top-five wins from the 2021 fall season:
No. 5 – Oct. 7 at Idaho
After an 0-4 start to Big Sky play, Montana got its first league win in a big way, sweeping Idaho in Moscow – a place the Griz went 27 consecutive seasons without a win at from 1992-2018.
Montana took a 5-4 lead early in Set 1 and never looked back, winning 25-16 in one of its cleanest sets of the season. The Grizzlies served tough (three aces) and behind five blocks, forced more attack errors than kills. Montana called timeout after Idaho closed to within one, 23-22, in Set 2, before the Grizzlies took the final two points behind outside hitter Jackie Howell. The Grizzlies won the final set, 25-23, on a kill from middle blocker Peyten Boutwell, completing Montana's third Big Sky sweep in the past eight years.
The match marked the first at outside hitter for freshman Paige Clark, who totaled 12 kills against the Vandals and would go on to earn All-Big Sky recognition as Montana turned around its season, beating Idaho again the following month in Missoula.
One day after opening the UND Classic with a win over Green Bay, Montana faced a Drake team picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Grizzlies lost the first two sets against the Bulldogs, never holding a lead in either set. Montana, though, won Set 3 with relative ease before pulling away in the fourth set. The Grizzlies then scored five of the first six points in the fifth set to run away with the set and complete the comeback.
In the win, Elise Jolly recorded a career-high 16 kills on .368 hitting, while freshman Maddie Kremer totaled 10 kills at a .318 clip. In the middle, Ellie Scherffius (13 kills on .455 hitting, plus five blocks) and Peyten Boutwell (11 kills and four blocks) were strong, while defensively, Catie Semadeni tallied a career-most eight stuffs.
The Grizzlies would go on to win the UND Classic later that night with a sweep over host North Dakota.
Playing in front of a crowd of more than 600 fans that was celebrating the 30-year anniversary of Montana's first Big Sky championship, Montana beat Sacramento State in straight sets, handing the Hornets their only loss in a seven-match span.
Over the next four weeks, the Grizzlies would go 5-2, tied for the best record in the Big Sky during that period, to qualify for the Big Sky tournament for the third time in four seasons.
On the same day that Montana earned a come-from-behind win over Drake (No. 4 on our countdown), Montana then swept North Dakota on the Fighting Hawks' home court. The 3-0 weekend resulted in a UND Classic championship, the program's first outright tournament title since 2005.
No. 1 – Oct. 26 at Montana State
Was there ever any question which win would come out on top of our rankings? After winning the first two sets at Montana State, and holding a 21-16 lead in Set 4, Montana State forced a decisive fifth set. In a back-and-forth frame, the victory was originally awarded to the Bobcats before a successful challenge gave the Grizzlies new life. They took advantage, winning the next two points and the set, 17-15, and the match, 3-2, to claim the Main Line Trophy for the first time!
Montana had three players in double figures for kills, led by Catie Semadeni's 17 and Paige Clark's 16. Jackie Howell added 13 kills, in addition to a career-high 29 digs, while Carly Anderson paced the offense with 49 assists.
Along the way, the Grizzlies had individual and team performances that led to tournament titles, rivalry wins and more! Below is a countdown of Montana's top-five wins from the 2021 fall season:
No. 5 – Oct. 7 at Idaho
After an 0-4 start to Big Sky play, Montana got its first league win in a big way, sweeping Idaho in Moscow – a place the Griz went 27 consecutive seasons without a win at from 1992-2018.
Montana took a 5-4 lead early in Set 1 and never looked back, winning 25-16 in one of its cleanest sets of the season. The Grizzlies served tough (three aces) and behind five blocks, forced more attack errors than kills. Montana called timeout after Idaho closed to within one, 23-22, in Set 2, before the Grizzlies took the final two points behind outside hitter Jackie Howell. The Grizzlies won the final set, 25-23, on a kill from middle blocker Peyten Boutwell, completing Montana's third Big Sky sweep in the past eight years.
The match marked the first at outside hitter for freshman Paige Clark, who totaled 12 kills against the Vandals and would go on to earn All-Big Sky recognition as Montana turned around its season, beating Idaho again the following month in Missoula.
No. 4 – Sept. 11 vs. Drake𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) December 27, 2021
#𝟱: 𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝗱𝗮𝗵𝗼#GrizVB #BigSkyVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/PGK6f9BpMX
One day after opening the UND Classic with a win over Green Bay, Montana faced a Drake team picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Grizzlies lost the first two sets against the Bulldogs, never holding a lead in either set. Montana, though, won Set 3 with relative ease before pulling away in the fourth set. The Grizzlies then scored five of the first six points in the fifth set to run away with the set and complete the comeback.
In the win, Elise Jolly recorded a career-high 16 kills on .368 hitting, while freshman Maddie Kremer totaled 10 kills at a .318 clip. In the middle, Ellie Scherffius (13 kills on .455 hitting, plus five blocks) and Peyten Boutwell (11 kills and four blocks) were strong, while defensively, Catie Semadeni tallied a career-most eight stuffs.
The Grizzlies would go on to win the UND Classic later that night with a sweep over host North Dakota.
No. 3 – Oct. 16 vs. Sacramento State𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) December 28, 2021
#𝟰: 𝘃𝘀. 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗸𝗲#GrizVB #BigSkyVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/xfCxDv8sem
Playing in front of a crowd of more than 600 fans that was celebrating the 30-year anniversary of Montana's first Big Sky championship, Montana beat Sacramento State in straight sets, handing the Hornets their only loss in a seven-match span.
Jackie Howell led Montana offensively with 11 kills on .333 hitting, with her final kill coming on the match's final point. Montana hit .284 and served up five aces, while not being aced once – the first time in 209 matches dating back to the 2013 season.You brought the energy tonight, #GrizNation!#GrizVB #BigSkyVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/T2IrnreNI8
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) October 17, 2021
Over the next four weeks, the Grizzlies would go 5-2, tied for the best record in the Big Sky during that period, to qualify for the Big Sky tournament for the third time in four seasons.
No. 2 – Sept. 11 at North Dakota𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) December 29, 2021
#𝟯: 𝘃𝘀. 𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲#GrizVB #BigSkyVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/larpnDmUel
On the same day that Montana earned a come-from-behind win over Drake (No. 4 on our countdown), Montana then swept North Dakota on the Fighting Hawks' home court. The 3-0 weekend resulted in a UND Classic championship, the program's first outright tournament title since 2005.
With 22 combined kills on .528 hitting from Elise Jolly and Ellie Scherffius, Montana hit .324 as a team. The Grizzlies won the first two sets with ease, before using a 9-0 run late in Set 3 to complete the sweep.𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) December 31, 2021
#𝟮: 𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝗸𝗼𝘁𝗮#GrizVB #BigSkyVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/epHfaD48ec
No. 1 – Oct. 26 at Montana State
Was there ever any question which win would come out on top of our rankings? After winning the first two sets at Montana State, and holding a 21-16 lead in Set 4, Montana State forced a decisive fifth set. In a back-and-forth frame, the victory was originally awarded to the Bobcats before a successful challenge gave the Grizzlies new life. They took advantage, winning the next two points and the set, 17-15, and the match, 3-2, to claim the Main Line Trophy for the first time!
Montana won the first set in dominant fashion, out-hitting the Bobcats .353 to .098 and leading for nearly the entire set. The Grizzlies won the second set, 25-22, as well.No better feeling!#GRIZcat #GrizVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/WxCjPr1p3X
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) October 27, 2021
Montana had three players in double figures for kills, led by Catie Semadeni's 17 and Paige Clark's 16. Jackie Howell added 13 kills, in addition to a career-high 29 digs, while Carly Anderson paced the offense with 49 assists.
𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) December 31, 2021
#𝟭: 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲#GrizVB #BigSkyVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/GagyFFL9n1
The progression of a locker-room celebration! 😃💦
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) October 27, 2021
📸 https://t.co/08OfOvJvIE#GRIZcat #GrizVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/ySxfVPSisY
Players Mentioned
S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ VolleyballNational Girls and Women in Sports Day 2026
Monday, March 30
Student-Athlete Spotlight: Maddie Pyles (Griz Volleyball)
Thursday, January 15
Griz Volleyball: Name The Person
Tuesday, December 30
Griz Volleyball: Name The Object
Tuesday, December 30
