Griz-Cat on tap for Friday in Bozeman as Montana looks to extend winning streak

Montana at Montana State
Friday, Sept. 30 / 7 p.m. / Bozeman, Montana
ESPN+ Stream / Live Stats

The Montana volleyball team leads the Big Sky Conference for wins and winning percentage as the calendar nears October, and the Grizzlies own a league-best four-match winning streak entering Friday's action in Bozeman.

Montana is well aware that the season is still young, but the Grizzlies have already surpassed their win total (nine) for seven of the past 10 seasons, despite just being two matches into league play. And speaking of conference action, Montana is 2-0 to begin Big Sky play for just the third time in the past 15 years.

Montana's win last Thursday over Northern Arizona, a come-from-behind, five-set thriller, was the Grizzlies' first over NAU since 2013 and their first in Flagstaff since 2010.

From 1991-2019, Idaho had Montana's number, winning 26 of the 29 matches between the two schools. Since then, however, Montana has won five of the past six, including a 3-0 sweep over the Vandals last Saturday in Missoula.

The Grizzlies know the season is early, and that the road will get even more challenging moving forward, but they're also taking joy in where they're at right now, considering where they've been before.

"We celebrated big-time in the locker room (after NAU)," head coach Allison Lawrence said. "It felt like we turned a corner, beating a team that we hadn't beat in a long time.

"It's really exciting to see the ways we're playing right now and the joy that we're playing with. This team has belief and confidence in themselves, and then to go out and have success, it's been really fun to watch."

Next up for Montana is an exciting one, as the Grizzlies will travel to Bozeman for the first installment of the Brawl of the Wild against Montana State.

Montana State owns a slight 61-58 edge in the series, but Montana has won the past two meetings in Bozeman, including a five-set thriller last October to claim the Main Line Trophy for the first time. Friday's match will be held in Worthington Arena – primarily reserved for the MSU basketball teams – which will accommodate more than the 1,500 spectators that usually fit in the Bobcats' volleyball facility.

The progression of a locker-room celebration! 😃💦

📸 https://t.co/08OfOvJvIE #GRIZcat #GrizVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/ySxfVPSisY
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) October 27, 2021

"Griz-Cat is hard to put into words," Lawrence said. "It's a feeling more than something that you can explain. It's a good matchup and I expect a five setter, and I expect an all-out brawl. Which is the way we want it."

While Montana is hot right now, Montana State is too.

Picked to finish fourth in the Big Sky preseason coaches' poll, MSU has had an up-and-down start to its season, earning an impressive win over Boise State of the Mountain West but also losing four five-set matches, including three on its home court.

The one common opponent is North Dakota. MSU beat the Fighting Hawks in four sets in Grand Forks, while Montana opened the season with a 3-0 win in Missoula.

More recently, though, MSU seems to have figured things out, sweeping Eastern Washington in Bozeman last week before traveling to Greeley, Colorado, and beating Northern Colorado – the preseason No. 1 team – in four sets.

"They're a really physical team and their blocking is outstanding," Lawrence said. "Regardless of the state of either team, it's always wild, and this year, you have both teams going in with momentum."

Montana has relied on its offense early in the season, ranking second in the Big Sky for hitting percentage, kills and assists. MSU, on the other hand, has relied on its blocking, ranking third in the league with 2.34 blocks per set.

A WIN FRIDAY WOULD...

Extend Montana's winning streak to five matches, the program's longest winning streak since 2006.
Improve the Grizzlies' Big Sky mark to 3-0, tied (along with 2006 and 2018) for the program's best league start since opening 1994 13-0. Montana went on to win the Big Sky regular-season and tournament titles that year.
Give the Grizzlies three consecutive wins in Bozeman, the most since winning nine in a row from 2006-14.

No better feeling!#GRIZcat #GrizVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/WxCjPr1p3X
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) October 27, 2021

SERIES VS. THE BOBCATS

The two teams have played each other 119 times overall, and at least twice every season since 1975.
Montana State holds a slight 61-58 lead in the series, with the two sides splitting the season series in 2018, 2019 and 2021.
Since Allison Lawrence joined the Griz coaching staff in 2010, Montana is 13-11 against Montana State.
The most-recent meeting was wild. The Grizzlies won the first two sets (25-16, 26-24) before the Bobcats stayed alive in Set 3 (25-22). Montana had multiple chances to close out the match in four sets, at one point holding a 20-12 lead before losing 25-23. The fifth set was tight, as well, and MSU briefly won the match, 16-14. The last point, though, was challenged and overturned, giving the Grizzlies new life. They took advantage of it, getting an ace and a kill to win the set, 17-15, and the match, 3-2.
In last year's win, several individuals had historic nights. Four Grizzlies were in double figures for kills, including Catie Semadeni (17), Paige Clark (16), Jackie Howell (13) and Ellie Scherffius (10). Howell also added 29 digs, while setter Carly Anderson recorded 25, to go along with her 49 assists and five kills.
In October 2019, Montana earned a four-set road win over the Cats, 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).
A large number 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 57-37 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.

IN THE RANKINGS

Montana is one of the top offensive teams in the Big Sky, ranking second for hitting percentage (.230), assists (11.49 per set) and kills (13.04 per set). The Grizzlies, though, also rank third for opponent hitting (.190), fourth for service aces (1.69 per set) and fifth for digs (14.73 per set).
Junior middle blocker Ellie Scherffius leads the Big Sky with a .336 hitting percentage.
Sophomore outside hitter Paige Clark ranks second in the Big Sky with 3.79 kills and 4.46 points per set.
Junior setter Carly Anderson ranks second in the Big Sky with 10.21 assists per set.
Clark (0.40 per set, fourth) and Anderson (0.38 per set, seventh) also are among the Big Sky leaders for service aces.
Senior libero Sarina Moreno ranks fifth in the Big Sky with 3.77 digs per set.
Senior middle blocker Elise Jolly averages 0.95 blocks per set, which ranks ninth in the Big Sky.

Standings for #BigSkyVB coming in HOT🔥#ExperienceElevated pic.twitter.com/U8UpLwTh2a
— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) September 27, 2022

MORE SEASON STORYLINES

Montana's 7-5 start to the season was its best non-conference slate in 17 seasons. In addition to the most wins and best winning percentage since 2005, the Grizzlies also earned a .500 non-conference record in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1999-2000 (Montana went 5-5 in 2021). For comparison, in the six previous non-conference seasons prior to 2021, Montana went a combined 16-57 (.219) before league play.
The Grizzlies played in four preseason tournaments, earning at least one win each weekend. The season started on a high note with back-to-back home sweeps over North Dakota and UT Arlington, and continued with wins over Saint Francis, IUPUI, Prairie View A&M, UNC Greensboro and Charleston Southern.
Six of Montana's wins have come via the sweep, which is already higher than Montana's total from all of last year, which was the Grizzlies' highest since 2013. To put that number in perspective, Montana has earned 11 sweeps over the past one-plus seasons. Prior to that, the Grizzlies earned 10 total sweeps over a seven-year stretch from 2014-20, never more than three in a season.
Montana is in the midst of a stretch of one home match over 46 days, playing 13 of 14 contests away from Missoula. Not only has Montana been on the road, but the team has been traveling far distances. The Grizzlies' preseason tournaments were in Indianapolis (1,771 miles away), the southern tip of Texas (2,054 miles) and Charleston, South Carolina (2,460 miles). Combined, that's 6,285 miles of travel and a lot of flights.
Montana is 3-2 in true road matches this season, with both losses coming to a UT Rio Grande Valley team that started the season 11-1.
The Grizzlies earned two Big Sky Conference Player of the Week awards during the preseason, with sophomore outside hitter Paige Clark earning offensive honors on Sept. 5 and junior setter Carly Anderson being recognized on Sept. 19.

The energy last night was next level! Thank you, Griz Nation!#GrizVB #BigSkyVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/lMftETjCah
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) September 25, 2022

INDIVIDUALLY SPEAKING
#1 Sarina Moreno – Leads Montana and ranks fifth in the Big Sky with 3.77 digs per set… Has been in double figures for digs nine times this season, including four of the past five matches… Recorded a season-high 21 digs, plus a service aces, in a come-from-behind win at Northern Arizona (Sept. 22)… Earlier this season, moved into second on Montana's all-time digs list, surpassing 1,500 career digs (currently 1,601, 246 shy of first place)… Was named to the Hampton Inn Invitational all-tournament team (Sept. 2-3) after averaging 4.0 digs per set, plus three service aces, across three matches.

#2 Paige Clark – After earning All-Big Sky recognition as a true freshman, has picked up where she left off… Currently ranks second in the Big Sky (59^th in the NCAA) for points (4.46 per set) and second (71st) for kills (3.79 per set)… Has been in double figures for kills in 13 of 14 matches… Has hit above .300 in six matches, including 19 kills on .318 hitting at Charleston Southern (Sept. 17), 18 kills at a .405 clip vs. UC Davis (Aug. 27) and 15 kills on .462 hitting vs. Idaho (Sept. 24)… Was named the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week (Sept. 5) after averaging 4.11 kills per set on a solid .256 hitting, also adding a service ace and five blocks, at the Hampton Inn Invitational in Indianapolis… Has a service ace in 12 matches, including eight matches in a row, led by three at Charleston Southern (Sept. 17) and vs. Idaho (Sept. 24)… Was selected to the UTRGV Tournament all-tourney team after averaging 3.50 kills on .294 hitting.

#3 Jackie Howell – Has started all 14 matches at outside hitter, playing in all 48 sets… Ranks second on the team with 2.75 digs per set… Has been in double figures for digs four times, including 18 in a five-set win at Charleston Southern (Sept. 17) and 17 in a five-set victory at Northern Arizona (Sept. 24)… Holds a team-best .978 reception percentage, being targeted 312 times with just seven reception errors… Twice this season has gone at least 80 targets without a reception error… Is averaging 1.31 kills per set on offense, reaching nine kills in three separate matches… Has 10 aces on the year, including three vs. Saint Francis (Sept. 3) and two vs. UNC Greensboro (Sept. 16).

#4 Carly Anderson – Was named the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 19 after helping Montana to a 2-1 weekend in South Carolina and averaging 10.45 assists per set and being named to the Chucktown Throwdown all-tournament team… Currently ranks second in the Big Sky and 45^th nationally with 10.21 assists per set… She also ranks seventh in the Big Sky with 0.38 service aces per set… Is coming off of two career performance, recording a career-best 58 assists at Charleston Southern (Sept. 17) – the most by a Big Sky setter this season – and 54 in a comeback win at Northern Arizona (Sept. 22)… Has an ace in 11 matches this season, including multiple aces five times… Has three double-doubles (assists-digs), all Griz victories… Ranks third on the team with 2.10 digs per set… Has at least one block in 12 matches, including a career-high seven vs. North Dakota (Aug. 26)… Has four-plus kills seven times, and has 43 kills compared to just eight errors this season… Last week, surpassed several milestone numbers, including 2,000 career assists, 400 career digs and 100 career blocks.

#7 Lexi Batezel – Playing as a true freshman, has started five matches at defensive specialist and has played in every set… Is averaging 1.77 digs per set (fourth on the team), totaling 14 digs vs. UC Davis (Aug. 27) and 11 vs. Prairie View A&M (Sept. 9)… Has seven aces on the season, including five in her first two collegiate matches, serving three vs. North Dakota (Aug. 26) and two vs. UT Arlington (Aug. 26)… Has been targeted 10-plus times with zero reception errors five times.

#8 Maddie Pyles – Has played in six matches as a true freshman, seeing time at opposite hitter… Was a major spark off the bench during her collegiate debut, vs. UC Davis (Aug. 27), getting three kills, four blocks and an ace, with many of the points coming late in sets at critical moments.

#10 Ellie Scherffius – Impressively was named to the all-tournament team of all four of Montana's preseason tournaments… Leads the Big Sky Conference (122^nd in the NCAA) with a .336 hitting percentage… Has seven or more kills in nine matches, hitting above .300 in each of those matches… Has hit above .300 in 10 of 14 matches, including .500 or better four times… Twice (vs. UT Arlington (Aug. 27); at IUPUI (Sept. 3)) has recorded at least eight kills with zero errors… Had a career day at Charleston Southern (Sept. 17), recording 20 kills and helping the Grizzlies overcome a 0-2 deficit… Hit .567 in the match (20-3-30), becoming the first Grizzly to tally 20 kills and hit over .500 in a match since Lauren Gustafson hit .581 with 20 kills in October 2007… Ranks second on the team with 0.83 blocks per set, recording multiple stuffs in all but one match, including a season-high six at Charleston Southern (Sept. 17).

#11 Sierra Dennison – After redshirting during the 2021 season, made her collegiate debut vs. UT Arlington (Aug. 27), earning the start at middle blocker and recording seven kills on .500 hitting (7-0-14), in addition to three blocks… Totaled eight blocks the following day vs. UC Davis (Aug. 27), the most by a Griz freshman since 2012... Has played in six matches, averaging 1.50 kills and 1.00 blocks per set.

#12 Sarah Ashley – Has played in 47 of 48 sets at defensive specialist, earning three consecutive starts… Ranks fifth on the team with 1.53 digs per set, reaching double figures in Montana's wins over Charleston Southern (11 on Sept. 17) and Northern Arizona (14 on Sept. 22)… Also came up big with three aces against the Buccaneers… Was targeted 14 times at UT Rio Grande Valley (Sept. 10), recording zero reception errors, and nine times vs. Drake (Sept. 2), also passing well… Last week surpassed 250 career digs.

#16 Catie Semadeni – Has started six matches at opposite hitter, playing in 44 of 48 sets… Is averaging 1.86 kills per set (fourth on the team) on .220 hitting, to go along with 0.52 blocks per set… Has recorded five or more kills in 11 of 14 matches, hitting above .300 in five of those matches, including back-to-back contests vs. Saint Francis (Sept. 3) and IUPUI (Sept. 3), when she hit .526 (10-0-19)… Had the best performance of the season at Northern Arizona, recording 14 kills on .444 hitting (14-2-27)… Was nearly perfect vs. UNC Greensboro (Sept. 16), tallying 11 kills, compared to zero errors, on .440 hitting… Totaled a season-high five blocks at Charleston Southern (Sept. 17).

#17 Elise Jolly – Leads Montana and ranks ninth in the Big Sky Conference with 0.95 blocks per set… Also ranks third on the team with 2.24 kills per set… Has started all 12 matches she has played in, reaching nine or more kills five times (all Griz wins)… Is hitting .457 in matches in which she records nine or more kills (58-10-105), compared to .086 when she has eight kills or fewer (34-24-116)… Was in double figures for kills in three straight matches (Sept. 16-22), averaging 2.77 kills per set on .457 hitting… Hit a career-best .632 vs. North Dakota (Aug. 26), putting down 13 kills on 19 swings (13-1-19)… It is the third-best hitting percentage by a Big Sky athlete this season… Hit above .400 in back-to-back matches, totaling 10 kills on .474 hitting vs. UNC Greensboro (Sept. 16) and 11 kills at a .421 clip at Charleston Southern (Sept. 17)…. Recorded 15 kills on .344 hitting at Northern Arizona (Sept. 22)… She also added four blocks and one ace in the win, at one point scoring four straight points (three kills, one block) during a Set-5 run… Has a block in 11 of 12 matches, including three or more stuffs eight times… Totaled seven blocks at UT Rio Grande Valley (Sept. 9), to go along with eight kills, and six blocks during her 13-kill performance vs. North Dakota (Aug. 26)… Totaled six aces vs. Prairie View A&M (Sept. 9), tied for the most in the Big Sky this season.

#22 Maddie Kremer – Has played in nine matches, recording 12 kills, eight digs, five blocks and an ace… Her biggest performance came vs. UC Davis (Aug. 27), when she had seven kills, three blocks and an ace while providing a spark off the bench.

Dana Hallisey of @MontanaGrizVB sheds light on what she and other coaches are looking for when they watch players at tournaments during the recruiting process. Her list, which includes both on and off the court things, can help prospects stand out.
Blog: https://t.co/heXDVZyAoN pic.twitter.com/CHVp4WjA0i
— AVCA (@AVCAVolleyball) September 27, 2022

Griz-Cat on tap for Friday in Bozeman as Montana looks to extend winning streak

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Carly Anderson

Sarah Ashley

Alexis Batezel

Paige Clark

Sierra Dennison

Jackie Howell

Elise Jolly

Maddie Kremer

Sarina Moreno

Maddie Pyles

Ellie Scherffius

Catie Semadeni

University of Montana Athletics

Griz-Cat on tap for Friday in Bozeman as Montana looks to extend winning streak

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Carly Anderson

Sarah Ashley

Alexis Batezel

Paige Clark

Sierra Dennison

Jackie Howell

Elise Jolly

Maddie Kremer

Sarina Moreno

Maddie Pyles

Ellie Scherffius

Catie Semadeni

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