Griz hit the road for fourth straight week

MONTANA AT WEBER STATE
Thursday, Oct. 3 / 7:00 p.m. / Watch / Live Stats

MONTANA AT IDAHO STATE
Saturday, Oct. 5 / 2:00 p.m. / Watch / Live Stats

The Montana volleyball team hits the road again for the fourth straight week as they continue Big Sky Conference play this weekend. The Griz continue their difficult opening to the league schedule with a pair of undefeated teams in Weber State and Idaho State.

Montana (5-8, 0-2 Big Sky) lost their first two conference matches in four sets, falling at home to Northern Colorado and then on the road two days later to Portland State. There positives to take from both results, even if they didn't go exactly as head coach Allison Lawrence may have planned.

"Tough weekend for sure, but I thought there were a lot of bright spots. A lot of things from the match on Thursday we will use in coming weeks and want to apply right away," Lawrence said. "I think we found a lot of growth in that loss. I think Saturday's match was frustrating. I think we got in our own way a lot. I think what we pull from that will add a lot of urgency to our training this week."

They will need some urgency as they open league play with one of the hardest stretches of any Big Sky team. Weber State, the preseason favorite in the Big Sky Coaches' Poll, opened conference play with a perfect 6-0 weekend.

The Wildcats swept Northern Arizona in Flagstaff in the opener and then returned home for a 3-0 win over Idaho. The Wildcats are always solid under 10^th year head coach Jeremiah Larsen, who has guided them to six straight seasons of 10-plus wins in league play.

The defense has been a strength for Weber State as they rank third in the Big Sky and 64^th in the NCAA with 2.42 blocks per set. They narrowly trail Montana in both categories, and they are also one of the Big Sky's best in allowing just .191 hitting to their opposition.

On Saturday, the Griz then face off against the surprise team of the season so far in the Big Sky. Idaho State, picked 8^th in the preseason poll, enters the week on top of the conference standings with an 11-3 overall record and a perfect 2-0 start in Big Sky play.

The Bengals have the best block in the entire country through the first week of conference play. They have 177 total blocks, stopping 3.22 attacks per set, which are both the top marks in the NCAA.

"Our four match start is a tough one for sure with home and away things and also just the level of teams," Lawrence said. "Idaho State is hot after their weekend and Weber State is always solid. I'm looking forward to it."

Lawrence's teams typically improve as the year goes along. She mentioned the midpoint of conference play usually providing a switch for the Griz, and it's been true historically. In five of Lawrence's seven seasons, the Grizzlies have an equal or better record in the back half of conference play than they did in the front half.

This year, they may not be able to afford to wait that long, but Lawrence thinks her team is up to the task.

"We're hoping that learning phase can happen soon and we will have our breakout matches way earlier than that," Lawrence said. "I think we're ready, the team is hungry to do that."

They will need to have everything clicking to get a win or two on the road this week. Montana plays a similar style to both of the teams they will face, or at least has had a similar strength through the first month.

The Grizzlies rank 4^th in the Big Sky and 62^nd nationally with 2.43 blocks per set. They struggled in that department in Portland, which allowed the Vikings to hit over .300, the first Grizzly opponent to do so this year.

They will need the block to return, but the offense will also be put to the ultimate test. Senior outside hitter Maddie Kremer, who has 10-plus. Kills in five of the last six matches, said they are looking forward to the challenge.

"I think just staying aggressive. We're such a good, aggressive team," Kremer said. "When we make mistakes, we come back with more aggression and we're really good at seeing the block, hitting around it, and using the block. I think if we can continue to do that against teams like Idaho State that have a really solid block, it's going to be a key for sure."

It will take every facet of the game for Montana this week, which is something that they have been working toward all preseason. They have some incredible highlights this year, and they all came when there was cohesion across every level.

"I think our team is strongest when we are all doing our jobs, which goes without saying, but when we are balanced offensively and in our efforts to where everybody is executing the details from the scout in their role, as a unit we are very hard to break down, pick apart, and overcome," Lawrence said.

"When we are individual, and having only individual performances stand out, that's not enough for us to beat teams at the top of our conference," she continued. "The challenge for us is how do we consistently perform and not rely on one or two players to get us through those moments."

Montana isn't hitting the panic button. There is plenty of season left, and far too much good has happened for them to be dwelling on an 0-2 start.

"The message is to trust the process. You never know when it's going to be our time to find our rhythm and be consistent," Lawrence said. "We keep fighting for it and keep resetting. I think it's kind of like life, you just keep going and in the end the narrative surrounding that doesn't matter, you just have to keep working and keep getting better and trusting that it will be enough when it matters at the end of the season."

ROAD WARRIORS

This week is the fourth straight, and fifth time in six weeks, that Montana will be on the road. The Grizzlies played in two non-conference tournaments on the road, spent a weekend in Fargo, N.D. for two matches against North Dakota State, and then had a split week to open Big Sky play.

The Grizzlies have actually played more true road games than home games this year. They are 2-2 in four contests in Missoula, and are 1-4 in true road matches. They are also 2-2 in neutral site contests.

"We're comfortable being uncomfortable. We're comfortable being the away team. We're comfortable with our backs against the wall. We're comfortable being underdogs," Lawrence said. "And I think in our conference, at any moment any team can upset anybody."

BIG SKY STARTS

Montana is 0-2 for the fourth time under Lawrence. The Griz have been winless through four matches just twice in Lawrence's previous seven seasons, and typically improve as the season goes along.

The Griz have had a better record in the second half of conference play in four of the seven years. Lawrence is 18-40 in the first half of the Big Sky schedule in her career, and 23-35 in matches played in the back half.

CLARK'S QUEST FOR HISTORY

Paige Clark is rising the all-time ranks at Montana in several categories, and she has entered the top 10 in program history in recent weeks.

Clark has 1,130 career kills, which ranks 10^th. She recently passed Griz legend and Canadian national team member Jaimie Thibeault, who played from 2007-10. Clark trails Mary Beth Dungan by 26 kills for ninth.

She is also closing in on 10^th in program history at 120 career service aces with 23 already this season. She needs eight more to tie Linde Eidenberg for 10^th. She has averaged at least 0.30 all four years at Montana, including a career best 0.50 per set in 2024.

Clark is the first Grizzly since Amy Roberts in 2011 to reach the 1,000-kill mark. She is only the third player to reach the mark with all four of her years in the 25-point scoring era, and just the sixth player since 2000 to reach 1,000.

The senior is also a three-time All-Big Sky selection. She is just the sixth Grizzly in program history to make three separate All-Conference teams, and is looking to join Jaimie Thibeault (2007-10) as the only four-timers in school history.

SCOUTING WEBER STATE (5-8, 2-0 BIG SKY)

The Wildcats had a difficult go of things in the non-conference and entered Big Sky play having lost four straight. They reset their momentum with a pair of sweeps on opening weekend, easily dispatching Northern Arizona on the road and Idaho at home.
Weber State held their first two opponents to a combined .116 hitting, which was easily the best number in the Big Sky. They also hit .280 in the two wins, which ranked third in the league. They averaged 3.17 blocks per set.
On the season, Weber State rank third in the Big Sky in opponent hitting percentage at .191. They are not in the top two of any major statistical category, but also avoid the bottom two despite a difficult schedule.
Saane Munyer ranks inside the top 50 in total blocks and the top 100 in blocks per set in the NCAA. She has 61 (1.20/set) to lead the Wildcats.
Setter Kate Payne ranks 4^th in the Big Sky in assists per set with 8.12.

SCOUTING IDAHO STATE (11-3, 2-0 BIG SKY)

The Bengals enter this week as the hottest team in the league having won four straight matches. They are top the league standings with their 11-3 overall record, and have been good at home, going 3-1 in Pocatello.
Idaho State defeated Eastern Washington in three sets at home, and then went on the road to upset Northern Colorado in a five-setter in Greeley. They hit .286 on the opening weekend while holding opponents to .201, both top four marks in the league.
The Bengals lead the country with 177 total blocks, averaging 3.22 per set. They have two players in the top 10 nationally in total blocks, and a third player ranked 80^th.
Marci Bell has the most total blocks with 77, which leads the Big Sky and ranks 7^th in the country. Bell is averaging 1.40 blocks per set, which ranks 19^th in the NCAA. Bell also leads the Big Sky by hitting .414 on the year.
Jaydin Watts averages more blocks per set, ranking 11^th in the NCAA with a 1.44 average. She has 75 total blocks, one of just eight players nationally to reach that mark this year.
Meline Robarge ranks 80^th in the country with 57 total blocks this season. She is 5^th in the Big Sky in the category, giving ISU three of the five best blockers all on the same roster.

SERIES HISTORIES

Montana is 48-41 all-time against Weber State with an 18-20 record in Ogden. Weber State has dominated the matchup as of late, winning 11 straight times. Montana's last win vs. the Wildcats came in Oct. 2017 in Ogden.
Montana leads the all-time series with Idaho State 47-39. The Griz are 20-24 in matches played in Pocatello, and have had the edge in the series recently, winning three straight matches while dropping just a single set.

MONTANA NOTES

The Grizzlies were one of four Big Sky teams to start the season 0-2 in the first week of league play.
Montana is looking to snap a three-match losing streak this weekend. They have not lost four straight matches since September of 2021.
The Griz have outblocked their opponents in 9 of 13 matches this year. They are 0-4 when the opponent has more blocks.
There have been zero five-set matches for Montana this season. They played in five such matches last season.
Paige Clark has moved into 10^th all-time in program history with 1,130 kills. She passed Jaimie Thiebeault and Amy Roberts last weekend.
Clark continues to lead the Big Sky in points per set. She averages 4.65, which also ranks 44^th in all of the NCAA.
Clark is second in the conference and 37^th in the country in aces per set with 0.50. She has 23 total this year.
Clark has recorded at least 10 kills in 11 straight matches, and she also has at least one ace in 11 straight contests. She's recorded multiple aces in three straight matches and eight of 13 so far this year.
Casi Newman is closing in on her 2,500^th career assist. She has 2,431 entering the weekend with 355 this season at Montana. Newman is averaging 8.07 assists/set this year, the second-best season average of her career.
Newman ranks fifth in the Big Sky in assists per set. She had her second double-double of the season in the Northern Colorado match last Thursday.
Maddie Kremer needs 49 more kills to reach 500 in her Grizzly career. Kremer has been in double figures in five of the last six matches.
Kremer is averaging 2.72 kills per set, which is a career-best mark. She averaged 2.42 as a junior.
Maddie Pyles has recorded at least eight kills in five straight matches, and is averaging 9.0 kills per match in Big Sky play. Pyles has also reached double figures in digs in three matches, including Saturday at Portland State, but has yet to record a double-double.
Alexis Batezel is having a career-best year at libero, averaging 4.09 digs per set. She is currently third in the Big Sky in the category.
Brenley Hansen ranks fourth in the Big Sky and 56^th nationally with 1.28 blocks per set. She is averaging 1.05 kills per set on .236 hitting.
Sierra Dennison is averaging 1.04 blocks per set, which ranks eighth in the Big Sky. She also has 0.83 kills per set on .136 hitting.

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Players Mentioned

Alexis Batezel

Paige Clark

Sierra Dennison

Brenley Hansen

Maddie Kremer

Casi Newman

Maddie Pyles

University of Montana Athletics