Thursday, September 30
Missoula, Mont.
7 PM
Montana
5-8, 0-3Big Sky
1
vs
3
Idaho State
6-9, 2-1Big Sky
1
2
3
4
F
Idaho State
23
25
27
26
3
Montana
25
18
25
24
1
Photo by: Tommy Martino
Griz fall to Bengals in 4 sets
9/30/2021 10:36:00 PM | Volleyball
MISSOULA, Mont. – Montana suffered a disappointed four-set loss to Idaho State on Thursday night (23-25, 25-18, 27-25, 26-24).
As has been the theme for most of the season for the Grizzlies, the match was tight throughout, with three of the four sets being decided by the minimum two points and two going past the traditional 25 points in a set. After Montana won the opener, however, Idaho State came back to win the next three.
The third and fourth sets were the hardest to swallow, as Montana probably should have won both of them.
In the third set, the Grizzlies led 24-21 and held three set-point opportunities before falling 27-25. Idaho State led for just three total points in the set, but they were critical ones (1-0, 26-25 and 27-25).
The fourth set was much of the same as the Grizzlies led by three on multiple occasions, including 18-15, but couldn't hold on. Like the third frame, Idaho State didn't take its first two-point lead until the final point, 26-24, which closed the match.
Gallery: (9-30-2021) VB: vs. Idaho State (9.3021)
Over the final two sets, Montana trailed for just nine points (the Grizzlies led for 74 points, on the other hand) but lost both sets.
Nearly one-third of Montana's sets this season have been decided by two points. After winning the majority of those sets early on in the season (7-2), the Griz have now lost seven two-point sets in a row.
"Watching us give up and not fight hurts and is super disappointing," head coach Allison Lawrence said. "We got stiff late in sets, we didn't move, we didn't talk. We didn't have anyone step up and become a playmaker."
Montana out-blocked (11 to eight) and out-served Idaho State (seven aces to four errors for the Griz, compared to six aces and 11 errors for the Bengals), but the Grizzlies were out-dug by 13 and recorded 17 fewer kills.
"We rely on our offense a ton, but our defense is not slowing teams down enough, so our offense has to be firing at such a high clip to absorb that, and when it's not we put ourselves in a pretty big hole," Lawrence said. "Their attackers felt so comfortable just swinging away against us because we couldn't do anything to stop them."
Junior right-side attacker Catie Semadeni led the Griz offensively with 10 kills on .320 hitting, while senior middle blocker Peyten Boutwell also added 10 kills and five blocks and junior outside hitter Jackie Howell had a career-high nine kills. Sophomore middle blocker Ellie Scherffius had a team-high six blocks, followed by sophomore setter Carly Anderson (five), while freshman setter Paige Clark totaled three service aces.
The Grizzlies, who have now lost four consecutive matches after posting a .500 non-conference record, will look to right the ship on Saturday against preseason favorite Weber State. The Wildcats, who won the Big Sky during the spring season, are 3-0 in conference this season following Thursday's win at Montana State.
"We've had matches where six players show up, and when that happens we're beating teams that are at the top of their conferences," Lawrence said. "But when we have players tentative, no one is a playmaker and we get scored on or don't score. We have to find a way to have players step up consistently."
As has been the theme for most of the season for the Grizzlies, the match was tight throughout, with three of the four sets being decided by the minimum two points and two going past the traditional 25 points in a set. After Montana won the opener, however, Idaho State came back to win the next three.
The third and fourth sets were the hardest to swallow, as Montana probably should have won both of them.
In the third set, the Grizzlies led 24-21 and held three set-point opportunities before falling 27-25. Idaho State led for just three total points in the set, but they were critical ones (1-0, 26-25 and 27-25).
The fourth set was much of the same as the Grizzlies led by three on multiple occasions, including 18-15, but couldn't hold on. Like the third frame, Idaho State didn't take its first two-point lead until the final point, 26-24, which closed the match.
Over the final two sets, Montana trailed for just nine points (the Grizzlies led for 74 points, on the other hand) but lost both sets.
Nearly one-third of Montana's sets this season have been decided by two points. After winning the majority of those sets early on in the season (7-2), the Griz have now lost seven two-point sets in a row.
"Watching us give up and not fight hurts and is super disappointing," head coach Allison Lawrence said. "We got stiff late in sets, we didn't move, we didn't talk. We didn't have anyone step up and become a playmaker."
The Grizzlies entered the contest leading the Big Sky for hitting percentage, but were going up against the league's top defense. Idaho State won the battle, limiting Montana to a .107 clip, with two of the Griz starters hitting at a negative percentage.Semadeni with a kill out of the right side!🏐🔥
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) October 1, 2021
💻https://t.co/gxyg7dov8s#GrizVB #BigSkyVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/A7erTDnDPc
Montana out-blocked (11 to eight) and out-served Idaho State (seven aces to four errors for the Griz, compared to six aces and 11 errors for the Bengals), but the Grizzlies were out-dug by 13 and recorded 17 fewer kills.
"We rely on our offense a ton, but our defense is not slowing teams down enough, so our offense has to be firing at such a high clip to absorb that, and when it's not we put ourselves in a pretty big hole," Lawrence said. "Their attackers felt so comfortable just swinging away against us because we couldn't do anything to stop them."
Junior right-side attacker Catie Semadeni led the Griz offensively with 10 kills on .320 hitting, while senior middle blocker Peyten Boutwell also added 10 kills and five blocks and junior outside hitter Jackie Howell had a career-high nine kills. Sophomore middle blocker Ellie Scherffius had a team-high six blocks, followed by sophomore setter Carly Anderson (five), while freshman setter Paige Clark totaled three service aces.
The individual highlight came from senior libero Sarina Moreno, who racked up 30 digs, the second-most of her career. She also moved up three spots on Montana's all-time digs list, jumping from eighth place to fifth, now amassing more than 1,200 career digs.Paige Clark with an ace for the Griz!🐻
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) October 1, 2021
💻https://t.co/gxyg7dov8s#GrizVB #BigSkyVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/rJJyhtDG5S
The Grizzlies, who have now lost four consecutive matches after posting a .500 non-conference record, will look to right the ship on Saturday against preseason favorite Weber State. The Wildcats, who won the Big Sky during the spring season, are 3-0 in conference this season following Thursday's win at Montana State.
"We've had matches where six players show up, and when that happens we're beating teams that are at the top of their conferences," Lawrence said. "But when we have players tentative, no one is a playmaker and we get scored on or don't score. We have to find a way to have players step up consistently."
Jackie Howell leading the Griz with 5 kills in the first set!
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) October 1, 2021
💻https://t.co/gxyg7dov8s#GrizVB #BigSkyVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/uKdCZnN9uc
Team Stats
ISU
UM
Kills
63
46
Errors
26
28
Attempts
170
168
Hitting %
.218
.107
Points
77.0
64.0
Assists
57
43
Aces
6
7
Blocks
8.0
11.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Players Mentioned
S
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
DS
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOH
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