Excitement builds as Montana gears up to host rival Montana State

Sunday, February 14

Missoula, Mont.

4 PM

Montana

Montana State

Excitement builds as Montana gears up to host rival Montana State

2/12/2021 3:17:00 PM | Volleyball

Schedule Roster Statistics

By: Montana Sports Information

Montana volleyball head coach Allison Lawrence tries to remain in coach-speak when she talks about the series vs. Montana State, saying it's the team's biggest match because it's the next one.

And while that may remain true, and that it doesn't count any more than Montana's other matches, there's no denying that the Brawl of the Wild rivalry feels different.

"This is the game that gives you goosebumps," Lawrence said. "You feel it in your body the entire year, and everything that competition pulls out of you, this rivalry pulls out of you deeper than any other game or matchup."

Montana will host Montana State for a two-match series, beginning Sunday (4 p.m. first serve) and continuing on Monday (7 p.m.). Both matches can be streamed for free on Pluto TV (channel 1056).

The Brawl of the Wild rivalry has been played at least twice every season since 1975, and after 115 overall meetings, the series is as close as it could possibly be (57 to 56 in favor of Montana State). The Grizzlies have had the upper hand at home, however (29 to 22), and in recent memory (12 to eight over the past decade).

For two in-state schools, separated by just 200 miles, the Griz-Cat rivalry is one of the things that makes college volleyball special, even if there won't be 1,300 screaming fans in the bleachers this time around.

"This game has a weight and depth to it because of the history of the rivalry," Lawrence said. "I love this matchup because I know that our best will be demanded by Montana State, and that's what you want, because in this match, our players are often able to find a gear they never thought they had."

Montana has four Montanans on its roster, including two who experienced the rivalry first-hand a season ago. For the others, though, in addition to trying to improve their level of on-court play this week in practice, Lawrence has tried to teach her eight newcomers a little bit about the tradition and history of the rivalry.

Part of that is through connecting to the past, and hearing from alumni and former players about what the rivalry has meant to them. Part of it, though, can't be taught.

"It's one of those moments in life you just have to feel," Lawrence said. "There's no amount of explaining or prepping you can do, but once you're on the court, you realize there's no atmosphere like it."

On paper, Montana enters the weekend as the underdog. Montana State is coming off of a Big Sky semifinal appearance in 2019 and already owns wins this spring over the top-two projected teams in the preseason poll.

On paper, though, the Grizzlies shouldn't have won in 2018, when they did beat the Bobcats in five sets in Missoula in front of more than 1,300 fans. They also weren't expected to win the last meeting, when Montana beat the Bobcats in Bozeman for the first time since 2014.

"You can look at stats and see favorites and underdogs and make predictions, but our mentality has always been that anything can happen," Lawrence said. "In this rivalry, the team that is willing to be the aggressor first generally is the one who sets the tone. We feel confident and we're grateful to play for a program that has a rivalry with as much history and tradition as this one does."

SERIES VS. THE BOBCATS

The two teams have played each other 115 times overall, and at least twice every season since 1975.
Montana State holds a slight 58-57 lead in the series, with the two sides splitting the season series in both 2018 and 2019.
The Grizzlies hold a 29-22 edge in Missoula, winning three of the past five meetings.
Over the past decade, since Allison Lawrence joined the Griz coaching staff, Montana is 12-8 against Montana State.
Most recently (October 2019), Montana earned a four-set road win, the Grizzlies' first win in Bozeman since 2014. After winning the first set 25-21, Montana State handled the Griz in the second frame, 25-10. However, the Grizzlies regrouped to win the next two sets (25-20, 25-18).
- After taking an 11-10 lead in Set 3, Montana never trailed for the remainder of the match.
- Amethyst Harper recorded 21 kills on .395 hitting (21-4-43).
- Isabelle Garrido recorded a career-high 19 digs, as Montana out-dug the Bobcats 74-71.
- Elsa Godwin recorded three service aces, in addition to five kills, including the match-clinching point.
- After MSU hit .362 in the previous matchup against the Griz, the Bobcats were limited to .163 hitting.
In September 2019 in Missoula, Montana State won in straight sets, hitting .362. Amethyst Harper was Montana's leading attacker, totaling nine kills on .333 hitting, while Elsa Godwin added seven kills at a .417 clip.
In one of Montana's most exciting matches in recent memory, the Grizzlies earned a thrilling victory over Montana State in September 2018. The Grizzlies trailed the match 2-1, and faced match point in Set 4, before rallying to win the fourth frame, 27-25, and the fifth, 15-11. The two teams were tied at 8-8 in the final set before Montana scored seven of the final 10 points. The game was played in front of more than 1,300 fans – the 10th largest crowd in school history.
Nearly half of Montana State's wins in the series came before Montana got its first. From 1975-80, the two teams played 24 times, with the Bobcats winning each time. Since Montana got its first win in 1981, Montana holds a 57-34 advantage.
The series was one-sided from 1988-95, with the Grizzlies winning 17 consecutive matches over Montana State.
From 2006-12, Montana won 12 of 13 in the series. Prior to that, from 2001-06, Montana State won nine of 10.

GRIZ TRACKS

Montana opened the season with a road win at Idaho State, but has since lost five consecutive matches, dropping to 1-5 on the year. The Grizzlies have taken a set in each of the past three contests, but has been unable to earn a victory since the Jan. 24 season opener.
Montana ranks sixth in the Big Sky Conference for blocking, averaging 2.00 per set. The Grizzlies have won the blocking battle three times this year, including two of the past three matches.
Montana has out-dug its opponent in five of digs matches this season, averaging 13.96 digs per set.
Montana has made fewer service errors than its opponent in five of six matches this season, averaging just 1.6 per set (compared to a 2.5 average for its opponents).
Junior libero Sarina Moreno has been in double figures for digs in five of six matches this season. She had a season-high 22 against Weber State (Feb. 1), the highest dig total by a Big Sky player in a four-set match this season. Moreno also recorded a service ace in three consecutive matches from (Jan. 31-Feb. 7).
Freshman outside hitter Sophia Meyers has been in double figures for kills in five of six matches this season, including four in a row. She is averaging 2.93 kills per set during that span and has led Montana for kills in each of those four matches (including ties). In a three-set match vs. Weber State (Jan. 31), Meyers had 10 kills and zero errors, hitting .526.
Freshman setter Carly Anderson has started all six matches this season, and is averaging 8.13 assists per set. The versatile athlete also has multiple dump kills in five straight matches, and ranks third on the team for blocking, averaging 0.74 per set.
Freshman middle blocker Madi Chuhlantseff has started all six matches at middle blocker. She ranks second on the team for blocking (0.83 per set) and fourth for kills (1.30 per set), and has led Montana for blocking team-high four times (including ties). During a two-match series vs. Weber State (Jan. 31-Feb. 1), Chuhlantseff recorded 15 kills on .343 hitting, in addition to 1.14 blocks per set.
Sophomore defensive specialist Isabelle Garrido ranks third on the team for digs (2.17 per set). She has been in double figures for digs three times this season, and has started three of the past four matches at defensive specialist.
Sophomore Elsa Godwin is coming off back-to-back starts last week at Southern Utah (three starts this season). The outside hitter leads the team with seven service aces and ranks fourth with 2.09 digs per set. She also has nine kills, including three in the most-recent match at Southern Utah (Feb. 8).
Sophomore outside hitter Amethyst Harper leads the Grizzlies with 3.00 kills per set. Prior to the most-recent match at Southern Utah (Feb. 8), she had been in double figures for kills in 17 straight matches. She led Montana for kills in each of the first five matches to open the season (including ties). Harper also ranks second on the team for digs (3.09 per set) and has three double-doubles.
Freshman outside hitter/defensive specialist Sarah Ashley made her collegiate debut at Southern Utah (Feb. 8), playing parts of the final two sets and recording four digs.
Senior middle blocker Peyten Boutwell leads the Griz for blocking (1.00 per set) and hitting percentage (.337), and ranks third with 2.09 kills per set. The graduate transfer has started all six matches and has recorded at least seven kills four times and four blocks on three occasions. In her Griz debut (at Idaho State, Jan. 24), she became the first Grizzly since 2014 to record 10 blocks, and the first player since 2010 to record a kills/blocks double-double (15 kills, 10 blocks). Her .609 hitting percentage that day is the second-best by a Big Sky player this season, as were here 10 blocks.
Sophomore right-side hitter Catie Semadeni has started two matches for the Grizzlies this season. She has recorded 10 kills, seven digs and two blocks.
Sophomore defensive specialist Kelsey Nestegard played in Montana's first four matches, recording two aces vs. Weber State (Feb. 1).
While Montana ranks relatively well for blocks and digs, its defense is allowing opponents to convert at too high of a rate. The Grizzlies held Southern Utah to .194 hitting last Monday – a season low for a Griz opponent. While that showed progress from the .330 that the Thunderbirds hit the night prior, in comparison, Montana's season-best hitting percentage is .190.

We'll do the conversion for you. That's a cool 68° for Carly Anderson!

➡️ Freshman Sophia Meyers helps #GrizNation get to know her freshman teammate.#GrizVB #BigSkyVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/tWcg4tpnlg
— Montana Griz VB (@MontanaGrizVB) February 10, 2021

IN THE BIG SKY RANKINGS

Peyten Boutwell – .337 hitting percentage (5^th); 1.00 blocks per set (10^th)
Sarina Moreno – 3.70 digs per set (5^th)
Amethyst Harper – 3.00 kills per set (7^th); 3.33 points per set (7^th)
Carly Anderson – 8.13 assists per set (8^th)

SCOUTING MONTANA STATE

Montana State enters the weekend with a 2-2 record, earning impressive splits over Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona. The Bears and Lumberjacks were picked to finish first and second, respectively, in the Big Sky Conference preseason poll.
Montana State ranks in the top three in the Big Sky for blocking, kills and hitting percentage.
Five different Bobcats average at least 2.00 kills per set, led by sophomore outside hitter Kira Thomsen (2.57). Thomsen also ranks fourth in the Big Sky for service aces (0.50 per set).
Sophomore middle blocker Emma Pence averages 2.07 kills per set and leads the Big Sky with a .463 hitting percentage. Teammate Susanna Sovde, a junior middle blocker ranks third (1.94 kills per set on .346 hitting).
Pence was named the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday, averaging 2.50 kills per set on .514 hitting.
In addition to ranking first in the Big Sky for hitting, Pence is also the league's leader for blocking, with 1.36 blocks per set. The Bobcats as a team rank second for blocking (2.75 per set), with four players averaging at least 1.00 blocks per set.
Taking over for the 2019 Big Sky Libero of the Year, senior Libby Christensen ranks fourth in the Big Sky for digs (3.86 per set).
Senior outside hitter Hannah Scott was a first-team all-conference selection in 2019. As a senior, she is averaging 2.00 kills per set.
The Bobcats run a 6-2 offense, with junior Allie Lynch (4.64) and freshman Delaney Shearan (4.57) splitting setting duties.
After advancing to the semifinals of the 2019 Big Sky tournament, Montana State was picked to finish fourth in the 2020 preseason poll. The Bobcats returned 11 letterwinners and five starters from their 2019 team.
The Bobcats are coached by Daniel Jones, who is in his sixth season in Bozeman, and fourth season as head coach. He has led the Bobcats to three consecutive double-digit-win seasons, the school's most-successful three-year run since 2003-05.

LOOKING AHEAD
Montana will begin the second half of Big Sky Conference play next week, traveling to Cheney, Washington, for a two-match series vs. Eastern Washington.

Gallery: (2-1-2021) VB: vs. Weber State (02.01.21)