Volleyball back on road to play altered schedule in South Dakota

Montana vs. California Baptist
Friday, Sept. 3 at 11 a.m. (MT)
Watch ($) / Live Stats

Montana at South Dakota State
Friday, Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. (MT)
Watch ($) / Live Stats

ALTERED SCHEDULE
Originally scheduled to play three matches at the SDSU Invite this weekend, the tournament schedule was altered on Thursday after Wichita State withdrew due to COVID-19 precautions. The three remaining teams will now play in a round-robin tournament, with both of Montana's matches coming on Friday.

The Grizzlies will play California Baptist Friday morning (11 a.m. MT) before taking on host South Dakota State in the evening (6 p.m.). Both matches can be streamed through Jackrabbits All-Access, with a subscription. Live stats are also available.

NO REST FOR THE WEARY
When competition concludes this weekend, the Grizzlies will have already played six matches through the season's first seven days. Making that even more impressive, the Grizzlies are playing deep into sets and matches.

Of Montana's first four matches, three have gone a full five sets.
The Grizzlies have played 19 sets so far this season, with four extending past the traditional 25 points (2-2 record).
Of the 19 sets played, eight (42.1 percent) have been decided by the minimum two points (6-2 record). Further, 11 sets have had a margin of three points or fewer (7-4) and 14 have been decided by five points or less (8-6).

Since departing for Charleston, South Carolina, last Friday, the Grizzlies have had one practice on their home floor. They played in the CofC Invitational on Saturday and Sunday, were mandated to take Monday off due to NCAA regulations, and practiced on Tuesday before playing Seattle on Wednesday. Less than 12 hours after the match vs. the Redhawks concluded, Montana was already in the air to South Dakota, where it will have a Thursday practice in Brookings, before playing two matches on Friday.

NOTES FROM WEDNESDAY'S WIN

Montana rallied from a 2-1 deficit to beat Seattle on Wednesday night. The victory gives Montana its second win of the young season, which already matches the team's spring win total.
The match was Montana's first home contest of the season, and first time playing in front of a home crowd since November 2019. Due to two freshman classes, a handful of transfers and a COVID-19 season with no fans, of the 17 players on roster, just five had previously played in front of fans inside Dahlberg Arena.
The Grizzlies hit .311 on the night (64-18-184), its highest hitting percentage since November 2019. It marked just the fourth time since the start of the 2016 season that the Grizzlies have hit above .300 in a match.
After hitting a respectable .252 through the first three sets, Montana caught fire in Set-4 and Set-5 victories, hitting a combined .486 (22-4-37).
The first three sets featured 31 tie scores and 15 lead changes, but Montana played from in front for the majority of the final two frames. The Grizzlies took at 2-1 lead in Set 4 and never looked back, forcing an early Seattle timeout at 8-3, before winning 25-17. Ironically, Montana's largest lead of the night came in a shortened fifth set. The Grizzlies again took a 2-1 lead and led from that point forward, leading by as many as six points.
Senior outside hitter Elsa Godwin recorded a career-high 16 kills, and did so on .375 hitting (16-4-32). She also added nine digs and four blocks, with three of the blocks coming in the final two sets. She also hit her form offensively late in the match, recording five kills on nine swings (zero errors) in Set-4 and Set-5 wins.
Godwin has been in double figures in three consecutive matches, and has reached at least nine kills in all four this season. On Wednesday, her 16 kills eclipsed her previous career high of 14, which was set last Saturday vs. Eastern Michigan.
Senior middle blocker Peyten Boutwell also registered 16 kills vs. Seattle, and did so at a .520 clip (16-3-25). Dating back to 2010, Boutwell is just the fourth Grizzly to record at least 16 kills while hitting above .500 in a match.

Gallery: (9-1-2021) VB: vs. Seattle (9.1.21)

SOARING IN THE STATS

Montana out-hit Seattle, .311 to .214, and on the season are hitting at a .247 rate. Albeit early, and a very small sample size, but the .247 hitting percentage would break a school record, currently held by Montana's 1991 conference championship team (.240). For comparison, the Grizzlies hit .147 during their spring season and haven't hit above .200 for a season since 2013 (.201).
The Grizzlies have out-blocked their opponent in three of four matches and are currently averaging 2.1 blocks per set (compared to 1.4 for their opponents). Montana has been in double figures for blocks three times in four matches.

INDIVIDUAL SUPERLATIVES

#1 Sarina Moreno – Has recorded 15 or more digs in every match this season, averaging 3.74 per set (third in Big Sky)… Totaled 25 in a five-set win over Seattle (Sept. 1)… Has a service ace in three consecutive matches, including three vs. Eastern Michigan (Aug. 28)… Now has 1,080 career digs, 73 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 serve coming on set point, giving the Grizzlies a 25-23 win… Also spent Set 3 vs. the Eagles at setter, recording 15 assists and one kill while running the offense.
#3 Jackie Howell – Has started all four matches to being her Griz career, being used in a variety of ways… Is averaging 1.16 digs per set while also being a primary server… Served during a 5-0 run vs. Seattle, turning a 9-6 deficit into a Griz lead… Was used as an outside hitter at times against Eastern Michigan (Aug. 28), recording two kills.
#4 Carly Anderson – Has helped facilitate a balanced offense that is hitting .247 and features five different attackers who average at least 1.8 kills per set… Ranks third in the Big Sky with 9.42 assists per set, including 52 in a win over Seattle (Sept. 1) and 50 in a season-opening win over Kennesaw State (Aug. 28)… Ranks fourth on the team with 1.63 digs per set… Has also added seven blocks, seven kills and two service aces.
#8 Elsa Godwin – Has a team-high 2.63 kills per set and is hitting .246… Has already matched last season's kills total, when she averaged 0.76 per set on .005 hitting… Has recorded at least nine kills in every match and has been in double figures in each of the past three… Recorded a career-high 14 kills, plus 10 digs, vs. Eastern Michigan (Aug. 28), before surpassing that total vs. Seattle (Sept. 1)… In a five-set win over the Redhawks, she totaled 16 kills at a .375 clip, also adding nine digs and four blocks… After falling behind 2-1, Montana won the final two sets, with Godwin totaling five kills (.556 hitting) and three blocks… 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… Ranks third on the team with 1.68 digs per set.
#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 led the Big Sky Conference after the opening week… Leads Montana with 1.05 blocks per set (seventh in Big Sky), tallying six stuffs in three of four matches… 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 season 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… Leads Montana with seven service aces, including at least one in every match this season and three vs. Eastern Michigan (Aug. 28)… Is averaging 1.82 digs per set, which ranked second on the team… Has twice been in double figures for digs (10 vs. Kennesaw State and College of Charleston).
#14 Peyten Boutwell – Is averaging 2.47 kills and 1.05 blocks per set… Her kills-per-set average ranks second on the team while her blocking average is tied for the team lead (seventh in Big Sky)… Has recorded at least eight kills in every match this season, reaching double figures three times… Recorded 16 kills on .520 hitting vs. Seattle (Sept. 1), becoming the fourth Grizzly in the past 12 seasons to hit above .500 with at least 16 kills… Has recorded at least five blocks in three matches, including a season-high seven vs. Eastern Michigan (Aug. 28)… Totaled 12 kills on .391 hitting in Montana's season-opening win over Kennesaw State (Aug. 28).
#16 Catie Semadeni – Has 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… Through four matches, is averaging 1.79 kills per set (fifth) on .245 hitting, in addition to 0.74 blocks per set (third)… 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 – Is averaging 2.12 kills per set (third) and has been in double figures for kills in three of four matches to begin her Griz career, tallying 10 kills and nine digs in her Montana 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… Had a season-high 13 kills in a win over Seattle (Sept. 1).
#21 Kelsey Nestegard – Made her season debut vs. Seattle (Sept. 1), recording an ace and being praised by Allison Lawrence for her aggressive serving and coverage on defense.
#22 Maddie Kremer – Has played in 10 sets across all four 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.

SCOUTING CALIFORNIA BAPTIST

CBU went 1-2 during the opening weekend, falling to Memphis and Georgia State in straight sets, before sweeping Chattanooga. The Lancers hit .322 in their win, with four players recording eight or more kills.
Junior outside hitter Christine Graf was named to the Georgia State all-tournament team after averaging 3.00 kills per set on .317 hitting. In 2019, she was selected to the WAC All-Freshman team.
Junior outside hitter Sherine Dahoue is averaging a team-best 3.22 kills per set. She has recorded at least eight kills in all three matches this season, including a dozen at a .345 clip vs. Chattanooga.
Also adding to the Lancers' attack is redshirt senior outside hitter Tesa Oaks (2.78 kills per set), who earned All-WAC first-team honors in 2018.
The Lancers are averaging just 0.9 service aces per set, while being aced 1.9 times per set on average. CBU is also nearly being doubled up at the net, with opponents averaging 2.5 blocks against the Lancers, compared to 1.3 for CBU.
CBU returns 13 players from its spring roster that went 8-8. The Lancers went 21-11 in 2018, a season in which the Lancers advanced to the second round of the NIVC postseason tournament.
CBU was picked to finish fourth in the WAC West preseason poll.
Brenden Higa is in his 10^th season leading CBU, amassing more than 160 career wins and helping transition the Lancers from Division II to Division I in 2018, a year after they went 29-1 and Higa was named NCAA Division II West Region and PacWest Coach of the Year.

SERIES VS. THE LANCERS
Montana and California Baptist will play for the first time on Friday.

SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA STATE

SDSU sits at 2-1 entering the weekend, earning three-set victories over Grambling State and McNeese State, in addition to a four-set loss at North Texas.
Senior outside hitter Crystal Burk paces the Jackrabbits with 3.30 kills per set at a .258 clip. She also has a team-most eight service aces and averages 2.00 digs and 0.50 blocks per set. Burk opened the season with 10 kills and zero errors vs. Grambling State (.500 hitting), before adding 15 kills, 10 digs and four aces at North Texas.
As a junior this past spring, Burk ranked fifth in the Summit League with 3.80 kills per set and earned all-conference honorable mention recognition.
Also averaging more than 2.20 kills per set is freshman middle blocker Ella Thompson (2.40 on .444 hitting) and redshirt senior outside hitter Chloe Stitt (2.20). Offensively, Thompson has hit at least .435 in all three matches this season and on defense is tied for the team lead with seven blocks (0.70 per set). Stitt, a transfer from Austin Peay, led the Governors for kills as a first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection in the spring.
Senior libero Tatum Pickar ranked second in the Summit League with 5.32 digs per set during the spring season and was named a 'Summit League Player to Watch' last month.
As a team, SDSU is hitting .251 compared to just .141 for opponents. The Jackrabbits also lead their opponents for service aces (2.4 to 1.4).
SDSU went 6-11 during its spring season and is looking for its first winning season since 2012.
SDSU was picked to finish seventh out of 10 teams in the conference's preseason poll.
Dan Georgalas is in his second season in Brookings. He previously spent seven seasons on the Wyoming coaching staff.

SERIES VS. THE JACKRABBITS
Montana is 1-2 all-time vs. South Dakota State. The Grizzlies won a neutral-site match in 2005, before losing in straight sets the following year in Missoula and in four sets in 2007 in Brookings. In its 2005 win over the Jackrabbits, Montana recorded 17 service aces, tied for the third-most in school history.

LOOKING AHEAD
Following this weekend's action – and six matches in a seven-day period – Montana will finally get the chance to work on some of the things it has been seeing in matches. The Grizzlies will hold several practices next week in Missoula, before departing for Grand Forks, North Dakota, on Sept. 9, where they will face Green Bay, Drake and host North Dakota (Sept. 10-11).

Season tickets have been distributed and we're ready to open our home season tomorrow night! Don't miss out on your first chance to watch the Griz in nearly two years!

🎟️ https://t.co/GLkDAN7IFB #GrizVB #BigSkyVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/lbErZAO20y
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) August 31, 2021

Volleyball back on road to play altered schedule in South Dakota

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Carly Anderson

Sarah Ashley

Peyten Boutwell

Paige Clark

Elsa Godwin

Jackie Howell

Elise Jolly

Maddie Kremer

Sarina Moreno

Kelsey Nestegard

Ellie Scherffius

Catie Semadeni

University of Montana Athletics

Volleyball back on road to play altered schedule in South Dakota

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Carly Anderson

Sarah Ashley

Peyten Boutwell

Paige Clark

Elsa Godwin

Jackie Howell

Elise Jolly

Maddie Kremer

Sarina Moreno

Kelsey Nestegard

Ellie Scherffius

Catie Semadeni

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