Wednesday, November 23
Ogden, Utah
1 PM
Montana
1
vs
3
#4 Sacramento State
Historic season comes to a close in Ogden
11/23/2022 4:07:00 PM | Volleyball
Montana volleyball's historic season came to an end Wednesday afternoon in first round of the Big Sky Tournament. The Grizzlies fell to the Sacramento State Hornets 3-1 in Ogden, Utah at the Big Sky Championships.
The third meeting this season between the two teams was a defensive battle and lived up the excitement that the 4/5 matchup typically brings to the tournament setting. Montana won the opening set and appeared on their way to a 2-0 lead, but one big run from Sacramento State changed the momentum of the match and eventually led to a victory for the higher seed.
"It's heartbreaking, and I'm going to miss this team. I think the things that will continue on from this team and from these seniors are really exciting," head coach Allison Lawrence said. "I think the level we are playing it will only continue and grow. I think the level of hunger and belief to be not only in the conference tournament, but to be winning in the conference tournament, will only grow.
The Grizzlies had a great defensive game plan in place to limit the Hornet attackers, and got several key contributions from Sarina Moreno and Jackie Howell to help lead Montana to 70 digs over the four sets. The Grizzlies would get out-hit, and a strong presence at the net from the Hornets resulted in 18 blocks.
Montana received a great performance from setter Carly Anderson, who helped out massively on the defensive side with a team-high four blocks to go along with eight digs. She also distributed the ball well which led to 40 assists, and pitched in a couple of kills.
As a team, Montana would hit just .067 as they struggled with the physical Hornets team. They found their most success with the two middle blockers, as Ellie Scherffius (11 kills on .476) and Elise Jolly (nine kills on .316) were the only Grizzly attackers outside of Anderson to hit above .100.
It went back and forth in the early going of the first set before Montana ran off four out of five points for a 9-6 lead. The Hornets responded with four straight to go ahead. A first set full of runs continued as Montana got five of the next six, and a smart dump attack from Carly Anderson put the Grizzlies ahead by three.
Sacramento State couldn't get any offensive momentum against the Griz and were hitting .000 at the media timeout. The Griz went balanced on the offensive side, taking a 20-17 at a time when four different players had two kills for Montana. Momentum completely swung in favor of the Griz at the end, as they sealed the set win with a 5-0 run. Catie Semadeni had three kills on .429 hitting in the set, while Anderson did a bit of everything. The setter registered 10 assists, three solo blocks, three digs and a kill.
The Griz carried the energy into the start of the second set, jumping out to a 4-1 lead thanks to back-to-back blocks from Ellie Scherffius. The would go on a 3-0 run a few minutes later to extend the lead to 9-5. Montana was still holding Sacramento State to a .000 hitting percentage nearing the midway point of the second set.
"I was really proud of our defensive effort. I though, especially in the first one and a half sets, we really contained all their weapons and served in a way where they were pretty one-dimensional," Lawrence said. "We felt really free to score in transition and come up with quality first contact."
Elise Jolly started to turn it on, scoring three out of four points for Montana. The Griz jumped ahead 16-12, when what ended up being the most consequential play of the match happened. A challenge from Sacramento State overturned what would have been a 17-12 Grizzly lead. After that, Sacramento State would score 13 of the final 14 points of the set, closing on a 12-0 run, to win 25-17. A match that had been well-controlled by the Grizzlies all of a sudden changed.
"The serve was pretty relentless and we got stuck in a rotation that without passing well we couldn't score," Lawrence said. "I think it was more the mounting pressure against a really good server. Once she ran more than three, I think that's when the momentum really shifted."
The Hornets took the first three points of the third set as well, running up the streak to 15 consecutive. In a match where only eight total points separated the sides, the run may have been the difference maker for Sacramento State.
The lead would hold for the entire third set, although Montana got within striking distance on several occasions. They cut it to 7-8 and then 8-9, but were unable to get the tie. After a run from the Hornets, Jolly stuck a block and a kill for a 3-0 Griz run that had it within two points.
Scherffius had back-to-back kills later in the set to again put Montana down just 18-16, but the Hornets responded again to go ahead 22-17. Moreno, at the service line, led one final Grizzly rally. Scherffius, Jolly and Semadeni each recorded a kill, then a ball handling error from Sacramento State had the Grizzlies – at 22-21 - down just one for the first time since 9-8. But 3-0 Hornet run ended the set.
The fourth set was about as tight as it could possibly be. The Griz held a couple of leads early, and after a Hornet error went up 11-9. From that point on, no team would have a multi-point lead until the end of the match. They traded blows with each other with neither side wanting to make a costly mistake. At one point there were eight straight points scored off of kills, with neither side committing an error.
The Griz had some leads. First at 19-18, then 22-21, before finally going up 23-22. There was no momentum for either side, but it felt like if Montana could see out the final two points anything could happen. But the Hornets had other plans, scoring three straight to win the set, and the match, 25-23. It was the first time in the entire fourth set that they had led by two.
It was a heartbreaking end to what has been a season to remember in Missoula. The Grizzlies did things this season that had not been seen inside of Dahlberg Arena for decades, and the legacy of the 2022 team will live on. They had the most wins, or best winning percentage, in several categories. They are listed below, with the last time that Montana reached that mark.
"On one hand we want to sit in this feeling and really feel it, and make sure we're tucking that away for an aggressive response once we get back to work in the spring," Lawrence said. "But I also think that as the pain of this loss gets a little further away from us, there is just so much gratitude, care and love that everyone has for each other and what we were able to accomplish this season."
In their final games as Grizzlies, the program's career leader in digs Sarina Moreno and a high-impact transfer Elise Jolly left everything on the floor. Moreno had 20 digs, closing her season with 465 and her career with 1,885. Jolly had nine kills and a couple of blocks, hitting .316 for the second best mark on the team. Alicia Wallingford may not have played on Wednesday, but the senior has also been crucial to Montana's success.
"These seniors really saw the program through the biggest turnaround in decades. Their legacy is that they've completely turned this program around," Lawrence said. "All of our success moving forward has their hard work, and today's tears, in it. I can't thank them enough for what they did, what they accomplished and what they've left behind."
The third meeting this season between the two teams was a defensive battle and lived up the excitement that the 4/5 matchup typically brings to the tournament setting. Montana won the opening set and appeared on their way to a 2-0 lead, but one big run from Sacramento State changed the momentum of the match and eventually led to a victory for the higher seed.
"It's heartbreaking, and I'm going to miss this team. I think the things that will continue on from this team and from these seniors are really exciting," head coach Allison Lawrence said. "I think the level we are playing it will only continue and grow. I think the level of hunger and belief to be not only in the conference tournament, but to be winning in the conference tournament, will only grow.
The Grizzlies had a great defensive game plan in place to limit the Hornet attackers, and got several key contributions from Sarina Moreno and Jackie Howell to help lead Montana to 70 digs over the four sets. The Grizzlies would get out-hit, and a strong presence at the net from the Hornets resulted in 18 blocks.
Montana received a great performance from setter Carly Anderson, who helped out massively on the defensive side with a team-high four blocks to go along with eight digs. She also distributed the ball well which led to 40 assists, and pitched in a couple of kills.
As a team, Montana would hit just .067 as they struggled with the physical Hornets team. They found their most success with the two middle blockers, as Ellie Scherffius (11 kills on .476) and Elise Jolly (nine kills on .316) were the only Grizzly attackers outside of Anderson to hit above .100.
It went back and forth in the early going of the first set before Montana ran off four out of five points for a 9-6 lead. The Hornets responded with four straight to go ahead. A first set full of runs continued as Montana got five of the next six, and a smart dump attack from Carly Anderson put the Grizzlies ahead by three.
The dump from Anderson, and the Griz are on a nice run to take the three-point lead!#GrizVB #BigSkyVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/7I323TQKxx
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) November 23, 2022
Sacramento State couldn't get any offensive momentum against the Griz and were hitting .000 at the media timeout. The Griz went balanced on the offensive side, taking a 20-17 at a time when four different players had two kills for Montana. Momentum completely swung in favor of the Griz at the end, as they sealed the set win with a 5-0 run. Catie Semadeni had three kills on .429 hitting in the set, while Anderson did a bit of everything. The setter registered 10 assists, three solo blocks, three digs and a kill.
The Griz carried the energy into the start of the second set, jumping out to a 4-1 lead thanks to back-to-back blocks from Ellie Scherffius. The would go on a 3-0 run a few minutes later to extend the lead to 9-5. Montana was still holding Sacramento State to a .000 hitting percentage nearing the midway point of the second set.
"I was really proud of our defensive effort. I though, especially in the first one and a half sets, we really contained all their weapons and served in a way where they were pretty one-dimensional," Lawrence said. "We felt really free to score in transition and come up with quality first contact."
Ellie with the kill, the bench with the celebration, and the Griz are 𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈!#GrizVB #BigSkyVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/u1D1kLBtv7
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) November 23, 2022
Elise Jolly started to turn it on, scoring three out of four points for Montana. The Griz jumped ahead 16-12, when what ended up being the most consequential play of the match happened. A challenge from Sacramento State overturned what would have been a 17-12 Grizzly lead. After that, Sacramento State would score 13 of the final 14 points of the set, closing on a 12-0 run, to win 25-17. A match that had been well-controlled by the Grizzlies all of a sudden changed.
"The serve was pretty relentless and we got stuck in a rotation that without passing well we couldn't score," Lawrence said. "I think it was more the mounting pressure against a really good server. Once she ran more than three, I think that's when the momentum really shifted."
The Hornets took the first three points of the third set as well, running up the streak to 15 consecutive. In a match where only eight total points separated the sides, the run may have been the difference maker for Sacramento State.
The lead would hold for the entire third set, although Montana got within striking distance on several occasions. They cut it to 7-8 and then 8-9, but were unable to get the tie. After a run from the Hornets, Jolly stuck a block and a kill for a 3-0 Griz run that had it within two points.
Scherffius had back-to-back kills later in the set to again put Montana down just 18-16, but the Hornets responded again to go ahead 22-17. Moreno, at the service line, led one final Grizzly rally. Scherffius, Jolly and Semadeni each recorded a kill, then a ball handling error from Sacramento State had the Grizzlies – at 22-21 - down just one for the first time since 9-8. But 3-0 Hornet run ended the set.
The fourth set was about as tight as it could possibly be. The Griz held a couple of leads early, and after a Hornet error went up 11-9. From that point on, no team would have a multi-point lead until the end of the match. They traded blows with each other with neither side wanting to make a costly mistake. At one point there were eight straight points scored off of kills, with neither side committing an error.
The Griz had some leads. First at 19-18, then 22-21, before finally going up 23-22. There was no momentum for either side, but it felt like if Montana could see out the final two points anything could happen. But the Hornets had other plans, scoring three straight to win the set, and the match, 25-23. It was the first time in the entire fourth set that they had led by two.
SCHERFFIUS!!! Another big swing from our middle and the Griz are up 23-22. Let's for a fifth!#GrizVB #BigSkyVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/MBK5DF3G7n
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) November 23, 2022
It was a heartbreaking end to what has been a season to remember in Missoula. The Grizzlies did things this season that had not been seen inside of Dahlberg Arena for decades, and the legacy of the 2022 team will live on. They had the most wins, or best winning percentage, in several categories. They are listed below, with the last time that Montana reached that mark.
- 17 wins (1999)
- .607 winning percentage (1999)
- 10 conference wins (2013)
- .625 Big Sky winning percentage (2009)
- Seven home wins (2010)
- Seven road wins (2013)
- Tied-fourth finish in Big Sky (2010)
- 7 non-conference wins (2005)
- .583 non-conference winning percentage (2005)
"On one hand we want to sit in this feeling and really feel it, and make sure we're tucking that away for an aggressive response once we get back to work in the spring," Lawrence said. "But I also think that as the pain of this loss gets a little further away from us, there is just so much gratitude, care and love that everyone has for each other and what we were able to accomplish this season."
In their final games as Grizzlies, the program's career leader in digs Sarina Moreno and a high-impact transfer Elise Jolly left everything on the floor. Moreno had 20 digs, closing her season with 465 and her career with 1,885. Jolly had nine kills and a couple of blocks, hitting .316 for the second best mark on the team. Alicia Wallingford may not have played on Wednesday, but the senior has also been crucial to Montana's success.
"These seniors really saw the program through the biggest turnaround in decades. Their legacy is that they've completely turned this program around," Lawrence said. "All of our success moving forward has their hard work, and today's tears, in it. I can't thank them enough for what they did, what they accomplished and what they've left behind."
Players Mentioned
S
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
OH/MB
/ Volleyball
L
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballGriz Volleyball Weekly Press Conference - 10/6/25
Tuesday, October 07
Griz Volleyball Press Conference - 10/6/25
Tuesday, October 07
2025 Montana Griz Volleyball Hype Video
Thursday, October 02
Montana Volleyball Hype Video
Thursday, October 02
