Friday, September 30
Bozeman, Mont.
7 PM
Montana
10-5, 3-0Big Sky
3
at
1
Montana State
6-9, 2-1Big Sky
1
2
3
4
F
Montana
18
25
25
25
3
Montana State
25
23
19
21
1
Grizzlies keep possession of Main Line Trophy with rivalry road win
9/30/2022 11:00:00 PM | Volleyball
BOZEMAN, Mont. – A Big Sky Conference volleyball record crowd of 6,457 fans witnessed Montana beat Montana State on Friday night, with the Grizzlies winning the final three sets in a 3-1 road victory (18-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-21).
The Grizzlies are now 3-0 to begin Big Sky play and have won five consecutive matches overall, their longest winning streak since 2006. They have won three straight rivalry matches in Bozeman and maintained possession of the Main Line Trophy.
The Grizzlies dropped the opening set, but for the final two-plus sets looked like the more poised, athletic and confident team.
Montana held three one-point leads early in Set 1, and the two teams were tied at 9-9, before Montana State scored the next four points to open up a 13-9 lead. The Grizzlies never recovered, losing 25-18 and being out-hit .294 to .081.
Montana State was again in control of the second set, looking to take a 2-0 match lead. The Grizzlies trailed by as many as six points, 17-11, and fell behind 20-16 after a Montana service error.
Montana, though, was able to side out on an MSU attack error and cut the deficit o two points, 20-18, on a Paige Clark service ace. That forced a timeout from acting MSU head coach Cole Aiazzi, but Montana was just getting started, getting back-to-back kills from Catie Semadeni and Jackie Howell to tie the set and then consecutive blocks from Ellie Scherffius, with assists from Semadeni and Howell, to take its first lead of the set (22-20 following a 6-0 scoring run).
MSU would tie the score at 22-22 and 23-23, before the Grizzlies got kills from Semadeni and Howell to win Set 2 and even the match 1-1.
The 6-0 scoring run late in Set 2 was the turnaround Montana needed. From that point forward, the Grizzlies trailed for just a single point (1-0 to begin Set 4), and handled the Bobcats in both the third and fourth sets.
Montana scored the first four points to begin Set 3, and once MSU got within a point, at 4-3, scored seven of the next eight points with Sarah Ashley at the service line (getting three blocks during the run) to take control at 11-4. The Bobcats briefly closed to within a point, 12-11, before Montana scored eight of the next 10 to provide separation.
MSU scored the first point of Set 4 before Montana took the next six points and never trailed. Again, MSU twice got within a point, including at 21-20, before the Grizzlies closed out the match with a clincher from Clark.
Montana out-hit MSU, .176 to .102, with the Bobcats getting worse as the match progressed. They hit .294 in Set 1, .182 in Set 2, .043 in Set 3 and .000 in Set 4.
On the night, Montana recorded two more kills than MSU, while the two teams were even for service aces and digs.
The difference came at the net, an area the Bobcats generally excel at.
Going up against one of the league's top blocking teams, Montana out-blocked the Bobcats, posting a season-high 14 rejections (14 to 8). Senior middle blocker Elise Jolly was in on eight of the stuffs while setter Carly Anderson and Semadeni had four blocks apiece.
Clark led the Grizzlies' offense with 17 kills, but it was Howell and Semadeni who stole the show.
MSU made a point to neutralize Montana's middles early. It was effective, as the middle blocker position totaled just seven kills compared to 10 errors.
But with so much focus on the middles, it opened up the offense to Montana's pins, with Howell and Semadeni rising to the occasion.
Howell, a senior outside hitter who is known more for her defense and serving, had a season high 11 kills on .256 hitting, taking a team-high 39 swings. She also added 11 digs, two blocks and an ace for her first double-double of the season.
Semadeni also shined, recording her second-most kills of the season (11), and like Howell, coming through clutch in big moments.
Anderson facilitated the offense with 39 assists, 10 digs, four blocks, four kills and an ace, one of three Grizzlies in double figures for digs. Senior Sarina Moreno had a match-high 16 digs.
The Grizzlies are 3-0 to begin Big Sky play for just the third time in the past 28 years, with two of those wins coming on the road. Montana is 4-2 in true road matches this season and will have to stay on the road next week, traveling to Sacramento State and Portland State.
The Grizzlies are now 3-0 to begin Big Sky play and have won five consecutive matches overall, their longest winning streak since 2006. They have won three straight rivalry matches in Bozeman and maintained possession of the Main Line Trophy.
Ring that bell‼️#GRIZcat #GrizVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/yAnC4IAuXq
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) October 1, 2022
The Grizzlies dropped the opening set, but for the final two-plus sets looked like the more poised, athletic and confident team.
Montana held three one-point leads early in Set 1, and the two teams were tied at 9-9, before Montana State scored the next four points to open up a 13-9 lead. The Grizzlies never recovered, losing 25-18 and being out-hit .294 to .081.
Montana State was again in control of the second set, looking to take a 2-0 match lead. The Grizzlies trailed by as many as six points, 17-11, and fell behind 20-16 after a Montana service error.
Montana, though, was able to side out on an MSU attack error and cut the deficit o two points, 20-18, on a Paige Clark service ace. That forced a timeout from acting MSU head coach Cole Aiazzi, but Montana was just getting started, getting back-to-back kills from Catie Semadeni and Jackie Howell to tie the set and then consecutive blocks from Ellie Scherffius, with assists from Semadeni and Howell, to take its first lead of the set (22-20 following a 6-0 scoring run).
Huge block for Scherffius and Semadeni!#MontanaVB pic.twitter.com/w5GXVAcU30
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) October 1, 2022
MSU would tie the score at 22-22 and 23-23, before the Grizzlies got kills from Semadeni and Howell to win Set 2 and even the match 1-1.
Jackie Howell puts Set 2 away for the Griz!#GrizCat #GrizVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/NYVnBZkJKk
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) October 1, 2022
The 6-0 scoring run late in Set 2 was the turnaround Montana needed. From that point forward, the Grizzlies trailed for just a single point (1-0 to begin Set 4), and handled the Bobcats in both the third and fourth sets.
Montana scored the first four points to begin Set 3, and once MSU got within a point, at 4-3, scored seven of the next eight points with Sarah Ashley at the service line (getting three blocks during the run) to take control at 11-4. The Bobcats briefly closed to within a point, 12-11, before Montana scored eight of the next 10 to provide separation.
MSU scored the first point of Set 4 before Montana took the next six points and never trailed. Again, MSU twice got within a point, including at 21-20, before the Grizzlies closed out the match with a clincher from Clark.
The Main Line Trophy is staying in Missoula as Montana beats Montana State for the 3rd straight year in Bozeman!#GRIZcat #GrizVB #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/RJhXKi1Xiv
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) October 1, 2022
Montana out-hit MSU, .176 to .102, with the Bobcats getting worse as the match progressed. They hit .294 in Set 1, .182 in Set 2, .043 in Set 3 and .000 in Set 4.
On the night, Montana recorded two more kills than MSU, while the two teams were even for service aces and digs.
The difference came at the net, an area the Bobcats generally excel at.
Going up against one of the league's top blocking teams, Montana out-blocked the Bobcats, posting a season-high 14 rejections (14 to 8). Senior middle blocker Elise Jolly was in on eight of the stuffs while setter Carly Anderson and Semadeni had four blocks apiece.
Monster block by Elise Jolly!! 🏐 #MontanaVB pic.twitter.com/yJbl0QXEXV
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) October 1, 2022
Clark led the Grizzlies' offense with 17 kills, but it was Howell and Semadeni who stole the show.
MSU made a point to neutralize Montana's middles early. It was effective, as the middle blocker position totaled just seven kills compared to 10 errors.
But with so much focus on the middles, it opened up the offense to Montana's pins, with Howell and Semadeni rising to the occasion.
Howell, a senior outside hitter who is known more for her defense and serving, had a season high 11 kills on .256 hitting, taking a team-high 39 swings. She also added 11 digs, two blocks and an ace for her first double-double of the season.
Semadeni also shined, recording her second-most kills of the season (11), and like Howell, coming through clutch in big moments.
Catie Semadeni with the kill!#MontanaVB pic.twitter.com/nHKMkHMT4P
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) October 1, 2022
Anderson facilitated the offense with 39 assists, 10 digs, four blocks, four kills and an ace, one of three Grizzlies in double figures for digs. Senior Sarina Moreno had a match-high 16 digs.
The Grizzlies are 3-0 to begin Big Sky play for just the third time in the past 28 years, with two of those wins coming on the road. Montana is 4-2 in true road matches this season and will have to stay on the road next week, traveling to Sacramento State and Portland State.
Team Stats
MON
MSU
Kills
50
48
Errors
23
31
Attempts
153
166
Hitting %
.176
.102
Points
68.0
60.0
Assists
48
46
Aces
4
4
Blocks
14.0
8.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
17
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
4
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
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OH
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