Anderson records 3,000th career assist in Grizzly loss

Friday, September 15

Boise, Idaho

4 PM

Montana

4-7,0-0Big Sky

Loyola Marymount

6-3,0-0WCC

Montana

LMU (CA)

Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UBBulls.com

Anderson records 3,000th career assist in Grizzly loss

9/15/2023 6:13:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

Montana volleyball ran into a red-hot Loyola Marymount team in Boise on Friday afternoon, falling in three sets to an LMU team that has dropped just a single set over its last four matches and is receiving votes to be nationally ranked.

The Grizzlies (4-7) couldn't keep up with the size and firepower of the Lions (6-3) offense, giving up a .391 hitting percentage over the match and falling 25-15, 25-18, 25-18. The match provided yet another high-caliber opponent in a non-conference that has been full of them.

Facing off against a 2022 NCAA Tournament team forced Montana to open up the arsenal a bit, and the Grizzlies will be better moving forward because of it.

"I feel like that match really opened up our shot selection as attackers," head coach Allison Lawrence said. "We used off-speeds and tips that we haven't used before and I think we just gained really good tools moving forward against not only really physical teams like that but also just in conference play next week. It was frustrating in moments where we broke down, but I think ultimately we added a lot to her game."

Setter Carly Anderson set her 3,000^th career assist in the match for a Montana highlight. The senior from Mississauga, Ontario is eighth in program history in career assists, and plans to return for a final year of eligibility in 2024 with a chance to make a good run at the all-time mark. She ended the night with 21 assists.

Anderson earned a place on the All-Big Sky Second Team in 2022 and has been off to a fantastic start to this campaign. She received All-Tournament honors in Buffalo and North Dakota, and has started well again in Boise.

"She's been incredibly physical, dynamic and smart this weekend so far and every weekend of the preseason," Lawrence said. "I'm just really impressed by her leadership as we've started this year. Her poise and her playmaking decisions and just the way that she calms us and keeps us in rhythm I think are really impressive and rare."

Congratulations to Carly Anderson for recording her 3,000th career assist in today's match! #GrizVB | #BigSkyVB | #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/WGVXSCspQ3
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) September 15, 2023

Paige Clark led Montana with eight kills on .160 hitting. Maddie Kremer added six kills, Ellie Scherffius had four on .273 hitting and Catie Semadeni also had four kills. Alexis Batezel was active defensively with 10 digs.

The Grizzlies went up against one of the best defenses in the country and held their own. The Lions average over three blocks per set to rank second in the entire NCAA. Montana hit .133 against them with just 14 errors, but it was the other side of the net that opened the match up for LMU.

Montana couldn't slow down an offense that entered the match 40^th in the NCAA in hitting percentage at a season average of .266. They increased that number with a big day on Friday.

Montana's offense started off the first set well, hitting .800 with four kills in the first five swings. The Lions matched them early, and kept it up throughout the entire set. The Grizzlies couldn't match the firepower.

LMU scored six straight to open up a 10-5 lead and never looked back. The Lions hit .500 in the opening set with 18 kills and just three errors. They would win the opener 25-15.

Catie Semadeni was a bright spot for Montana in the opening set with three kills on six swings an no errors. The senior was joined by Madi Chuhlantseff (two kills, .500) as the only Grizzlies with a positive hitting percentage.

The momentum remained firmly on LMU's side at the start of the second set as they jumped out to a 6-3 lead on perfect 1.000 attacking. Montana hung around, getting it back within two points at 13-11, but every time they got close the Lions would just go on another run. The final dagger was a 4-0 run late when Montana threatened to make it interesting down the stretch.

Montana put forth a great effort in the third set and jumped out to several leads. Anderson had a great run at the service line that led to four straight Grizzly points, including back-to-back aces to bring her season total up to 21. It gave Montana a 10-9 advantage.

Back-to-back aces from Carly Anderson gives Montana the 10-9 lead in the third!#GrizVB | #BigSkyVB | #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/2A5gRwZjX4
— Montana Griz Volleyball (@MontanaGrizVB) September 15, 2023

LMU answered with seven of the next eight points to build a lead that they would carry through the end of the match.

It's always tough to lose in three sets, but for Montana this was another step in the growth journey that they embarked upon at the start of the preseason. They knew that it would not be easy, and that wins would be hard to come by against the teams they put in front of them on the schedule.

It's easy on paper to look at the 7-5 record from 2022 and feel like this season has taken a drop off. But if you are watching Montana, and seeing the level that they are playing at every time they take the court, you would see a team that should be dangerous come Big Sky play.

"We knew that this year was defined so differently than other years," Lawrence said. "I think sitting at four and having the potential for five feels, in the context of how we scheduled, I think it's remarkable. It's showing growth at a level that we've never achieved before. We understand what this means and are still in our process and that's all that matters."

It's the message that Lawrence has had all year, dating back to when the schedule was first released. Gone are the days of being happy with a win, no matter the opponent. This Montana team wants the challenge, and they won't back down no matter the result.

"I think the expectation is to win and win frequently. It's what we want, and when you're an athlete you play to win all the time," Lawrence said. "But what I love about our team is that what we are doing is so much bigger than wins. I think that shift in expectations is definitely indicative of our potential and where we are going ultimately."

The Grizzlies wrap up the non-conference schedule on Saturday afternoon against Boise State. The Broncos are sliding, and were swept by LMU on Thursday to drop their sixth consecutive match. But they have plenty of firepower and a veteran coach that has twice been the Mountain West Coach of the Year. It won't be easy.

The sweep to LMU may have been frustrating, but nothing will change from Montana's approach headed into Saturday's match.

"I think the mindset remains what it has been. To be us, to find growth, to be learners, and to have the go-for-it mentality," Lawrence said. "Boise State has had some tough breaks in the preseason, but they are also a really physical team that is well coached with great athletes. It's a really tough opponent so we are going to go in knowing we are going to need our best."