Montana set to make home debut Wednesday vs. Seattle

Montana vs. Seattle
Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 5 p.m.
Tickets / Watch / Live Stats

Montana's season-opening volleyball tournament gave head coach Allison Lawrence exactly what she wanted.

The Grizzlies tasted success, with a come-from-behind win over Kennesaw State, a perennial ASUN contender that has averaged 22.3 wins over the past three fall seasons. The Grizzlies also got a desire for more, feeling like they left a win on the table after taking a 2-0 lead over Eastern Michigan before the Eagles rallied for a five-set win.

Montana also gained experience, with 11 players seeing the court and three making their first career starts.

Overall, the weekend is what the preseason is for. Montana saw some good, some areas of needed improvement and now have a better feel for who it is and what it needs to do in order to have success moving forward.

"We built a ton of confidence just being in matches where the majority of sets were really close," Lawrence said. "We had some sets where we didn't come through, but we also had moments where we were able to execute under pressure and see some success. To be put in situations where there is a demand that you execute under pressure is what we need."

Overall, 10 of Montana's 14 sets over the weekend were decided by four points or fewer, including six by the minimum of two points.

That next opportunity comes quickly, as the Grizzlies return home to host Seattle in their first home match of the season.

Following a match Sunday morning on the East Coast, the Grizzlies rushed back to Missoula late that evening. Ironically, Seattle, which had been playing in Pocatello, Idaho, over the weekend, beat the Grizzlies to Missoula by more than 24 hours.

The Redhawks got to town Saturday evening and held a practice in Dahlberg Arena on Sunday, before Montana had returned to town. Per NCAA regulations, the Grizzlies were mandated to take Monday off, meaning they will have just one day of prep for their home match.

It's not an ideal situation, but one that Lawrence is fine with. Similar to its preseason tournaments – which sometimes feature two matches in a single day – the quick turnaround is a chance to get a lot of live-play experience in a short amount of time.

"I know that we can physically handle the amount of matches that we're playing this week, but the parts that are most stressful are all of the other things. Travel is draining, you're scouting a lot and preparing for that many teams, you're trying to retain a lot of information.
"To me, though, the thing we learn the most from is matches, so to have more matches than practices at this point of the season is ultimately something that will make us better."

Tickets for Wednesday's match vs. Seattle are available online, with students receiving free entry. For those unable to attend in person, the match will be broadcast on ESPN+.

NOTES FROM THE WEEKEND

Montana went 1-2 at the CofC Invitational, beating Kennesaw State (3-2), before falling to Eastern Michigan (3-2) and tournament champion College of Charleston (3-1).
Of the 14 sets that Montana played, six sets were decided by the minimum two points (5-1), eight were decided by three points or fewer (6-2) and the margin was within four points 10 times (6-4). Overall, the Grizzlies had success late in sets, winning five of the six sets decided by two points, including two of the three that went past the traditional 25 points.
Despite a small sample size, Montana was generally pleased with its offensive showing. The Grizzlies hit .226 across the three matches, a significant upgrade from the .147 they hit during their spring season. In fact, if Montana can continue its pace of efficient hitting, it would mark the fourth-best team hitting percentage in school history, and the best since Montana's first conference championship in 1991.
While Montana is hitting at a relatively strong rate, the Grizzlies allowed opponents to hit too high (.257). That allowed opposing teams to average 2.2 more kills per set than the Grizzlies did (13.8 to 11.6).
Montana out-blocked its opponent in two of three matches, and on the weekend as a whole. The Grizzlies' 2.1 blocks-per-set average was an upgrade from the 1.8 they averaged in the spring. Of the 10 Big Sky players to average 1.00 blocks per set or higher, the Grizzlies feature two of them (Peyten Boutwell, sixth; Ellie Scherffius, seventh).
The Grizzlies showed added balance and depth with five players reaching double figures for kills in a match, and each doing so in two of the three matches. All five are currently averaging at least 1.86 kills per set.
Montana used the same starting lineup in all three matches. While the Grizzlies' string of 46 consecutive matches starting multiple freshmen came to an end, there were still plenty of new faces in the starting rotation. Transfers Jackie Howell and Elise Jolly made their Griz debuts and earned starts throughout the weekend, while sophomore Ellie Scherffius made her first three career starts at middle blocker. Additionally, sophomore defensive specialist Sarah Ashley made three starts, after earning two during her true freshman season in the spring.
Overall, 11 players saw the court over the weekend, with four making their collegiate or Griz debuts.

Congratulations to sophomore Ellie Scherffius, who was named to the CofC Invitational all-tournament team! Making her first career starts, Scherffius averaged 2.43 kills on .540 hitting, in addition to 1.00 blocks per set!#GrizVB #BigSkyVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/sKtGyN74tR
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) August 30, 2021

INDIVIDUAL SUPERLATIVES

#1 Sarina Moreno – Recorded 15 or more digs in all three matches at the CofC Invitational, averaging 3.29 digs per set (fifth in Big Sky)… Also added four service aces, including three vs. Eastern Michigan (Aug. 28)… Now has 1,055 career digs, 98 shy of cracking Montana's all-time top-10 list (she is on pace to finish her career ranked third).
#2 Paige Clark – Saw time in all three matches of the CofC Invitational, primarily as a serving specialist… Recorded her first career ace vs. Eastern Michigan (Aug. 28), with the point coming on set point, giving the Grizzlies a 25-23 win… Also spent Set 3 at setter, recording 15 assists and one kill while running the offense.
#3 Jackie Howell – Started all three matches of the CofC Invitational, being used in a variety of ways… Averaged 1.43 digs per set while also being a primary server… Was used as an outside hitter against Eastern Michigan (Aug. 28), recording two kills.
#4 Carly Anderson – Has helped facilitate a balanced offense, featuring five different attackers who average at least 1.86 kills per set… Ranks third in the Big Sky with 9.07 assists per set, including 50 in a season-opening win over Kennesaw State (Aug. 28)… Ranks third on the team with 1.71 digs per set… Has also added six blocks, three kills and two service aces.
#8 Elsa Godwin – Tied for the team lead with 2.43 kills per set at the CofC Invitational… Hit .206 on the weekend, including above .240 in each of the final two matches… Recorded a double-double vs. Eastern Michigan (Aug. 28), including a career-high 14 kills… Totaled 11 kills and three service aces vs. College of Charleston (Aug. 29)… Had nine kills through two sets vs. the Cougars, including points on four consecutive plays during an 8-0 run in Set 2… Has at least one ace in every match this season… Ranks fourth on the team with 1.64 digs per set… For her career, Godwin now has more than 250 kills.
#10 Ellie Scherffius – Named to the CofC Invitational all-tournament team after averaging 2.43 kills per set on .540 hitting, in addition to 1.00 blocks per set… Her .540 hitting percentage leads the Big Sky Conference… Her kills-per-set average is tied for the team lead, while her blocking numbers rank second on the team and seventh in the Big Sky… Recorded 15 kills on .650 hitting (15-2-20) in a win over Kennesaw State (Aug. 28), in addition to a team-high-tying six blocks… Later that day, vs. Eastern Michigan, she recorded nine kills and zero errors at an .818 clip (9-0-11), again adding six blocks… She reached 10 kills vs. College of Charleston (Aug. 29)… Entered the weekend with four career kills and three blocks while seeing limited action as a true freshman during the spring season.
#12 Sarah Ashley – After earning two starts at defensive specialist during her true freshman season, she added three more at the CofC Invitational… Led Montana with six service aces, including at least one in every match and three vs. Eastern Michigan (Aug. 28)… Averaged 1.93 digs per set, which ranked second on the team… Was twice in double figures for digs (10 vs. Kennesaw State and College of Charleston).
#14 Peyten Boutwell – Averaged 2.21 kills and a team-best 1.07 blocks per set at the CofC Invitational… Her kills-per-set average ranks third on the team while her blocking numbers rank sixth in the Big Sky… Reached double figures for kills twice, including 12 kills on .391 hitting in a five-set win over Kennesaw State (Aug. 28)… Also added five blocks, before leading the Grizzlies with seven stuffs later that day vs. Eastern Michigan.
#16 Catie Semadeni – Had a strong start to her junior season, totaling 21 kills on .327 hitting in the first two matches of the season (Aug. 28)… For comparison, she totaled 22 kills in 10 matches as a sophomore, hitting .011… In Montana's season-opening win over Kennesaw State, she totaled 10 kills on .308 hitting, in addition to a career-high six blocks… Later that day, vs. Eastern Michigan, she added 11 kills at a .346 clip… It marked the fourth and fifth times of her career she has been in double figures for kills, and the third and fourth times she has done so while hitting above .300 (first time since Nov. 21, 2019).
#17 Elise Jolly – Was in double figures for kills in two of three matches at the CofC Invitational, tallying 10 kills and nine digs in her Griz debut vs. Kennesaw State (Aug. 28) and 10 more, plus a pair of blocks, vs. College of Charleston (Aug. 29)… In Montana's win over Kennesaw State, she tallied four of the Grizzlies' eight kills in Set 5, hitting .500 (4-1-6) in the set… Her 10^th and final kill came on match point, securing Montana's win.
#22 Maddie Kremer – Played in seven sets across all three matches, primarily as a serving specialist… Most significant playing time came vs. Eastern Michigan (Aug. 28), when she recorded seven kills and two blocks… She led Montana with four kills and a block in a Set-2 win over the Eagles.

TOGETHER AT LAST
Montana will make its home debut on Wednesday, its first home match since the spring finale vs. Sacramento State (March 22). However, it will mark the first time Montana has played in front of its home fans since Nov. 16, 2019, a 3-1 win over Southern Utah. Of the 17 players on Montana's roster, just five have played a home match in front of fans.

"We'd all like to say that we prepare and enter every match the same way, but when it's your home gym and when you have fans and their energy, it's different," Lawrence said. "Having Griz Nation on our side is such an advantage, and we take the floor with such gratitude when we're able to."

While Montana went just 1-7 on its home floor in the spring, the Grizzlies won at least a set in six of the eight matches, including against Big Sky champion Weber State and No. 3 seed Montana State, a match in which the Grizzlies held two match-point opportunities.

SCOUTING SEATTLE

Seattle opened the season with three losses at the Bengal Invitational in Pocatello, Idaho. The Redhawks lost in five sets to host Idaho State, before being swept by UC Irvine and UTEP.
Senior middle blocker Julia Queiroz tied a career high with 14 kills vs. UC Irvine, giving her three double-digit kill performances in her past four matches dating back to the spring. She is 13 kills away from reaching 500 for her career.
Senior outside hitter Eve Kerschenbaum led the Redhawks with 2.51 kills per set in the spring and is again on top of the stats so far this fall, adding 28 more this past weekend (2.55 per set). She was twice in double figures for kills, including 11 vs. UTEP.
Junior middle blocker Lauren McCabe (0.66 per set) and sophomore middle blocker Sophia Bertotti Metoyer (0.61) led the Redhawks for blocking in the spring. Bertotti Meyoyer recorded a career-high five stuffs vs. Idaho State, and seven overall on the weekend.
The Redhawks run a 6-2 offense, with junior Ezgi Ozkan and senior Darian Goins splitting setting duties.
Seattle's roster features players from nine different states and three countries.
Seattle went 2-10 during its spring season, earning WAC wins over Dixie State and Texas-Rio Grande Valley.
The Redhawks returned nine of 11 players who started a match during the spring, including 97.3 percent of their kills.
Michelle Cole is in her second season leading the Redhawks. She had previously served as an assistant coach at South Dakota (2014-15), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2016-17) and The Citadel (2018-19). As a player, she was a four-year starter at Texas A&M, leading the Aggies to a pair of Elite Eight appearances.

SERIES VS. THE REDHAWKS
Wednesday will mark the Grizzlies' third-ever match vs. the Redhawks, with Seattle winning the first two.

Seattle won a five-set match in Missoula in 2014 before sweeping the Grizzlies in 2017, in a tournament in Edwardsville, Illinois. The Grizzlies reached at least 20 points in all three sets that day, with the first two being decided by the minimum of two points (26-24, 30-28).

ANOTHER QUICK TURNAROUND
While Montana had just one practice to prepare for its match with Seattle, its next turnaround will be just as quick. The Grizzlies will play Wednesday night and leave early Thursday morning for Brookings, South Dakota, where they will play two matches on Friday and one more on Saturday.

The quick turnaround will again force Montana to play without being able to work out kinks or implement new concepts.

Gallery: (8-24-2021) VB: 2021 Photo Day

Montana set to make home debut Wednesday vs. Seattle

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Carly Anderson

Sarah Ashley

Peyten Boutwell

Paige Clark

Elsa Godwin

Jackie Howell

Elise Jolly

Maddie Kremer

Sarina Moreno

Ellie Scherffius

Catie Semadeni

University of Montana Athletics

Montana set to make home debut Wednesday vs. Seattle

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Carly Anderson

Sarah Ashley

Peyten Boutwell

Paige Clark

Elsa Godwin

Jackie Howell

Elise Jolly

Maddie Kremer

Sarina Moreno

Ellie Scherffius

Catie Semadeni

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