Griz looking to continue home dominance in rivalry game

MONTANA VS. MONTANA STATE
Friday, Oct. 25 / 7:00 PM / Watch / Live Stats / Tickets

The Montana volleyball team will open the back-half of the Big Sky Conference schedule with a match that has been circled on the calendar for months. The Grizzlies will face off against the Bobcats and renew the rivalry on Friday night at 7:00 p.m.

The Griz are looking to win at home for the third straight time in the rivalry match. Last year, Montana swept Montana State in a dominant performance, hitting .344 as a team and taking the final set 25-11 to claim the Main Line Trophy.

In 2022, Montana won in four sets, again dominating in the final set while holding MSU to just .109 hitting. The two matches were played in front of the two largest crowds in program history as Montana set a record with 2,237 in attendance in 2023.

Montana is hoping to replicate the success on the court, and in the stands, for the 2024 version of the rivalry game.

"You just never know what is going to happen in Griz-Cat, and I think that's the best part of it. It's one of the biggest days of our whole year," head coach Allison Lawrence said. "I think part of it is just managing all the extra, could-be distractions to hone our focus in. I think because we've been able to do that well, we've had success at home."

There are several key returners from those winning teams, but plenty of Grizzlies will also be experiencing the rivalry for the first time. While it's her first time playing in the match, this won't be the first experience for freshman Sydney Pierce.

The Billings West product grew up with the rivalry, and has been to the match in both gyms. Now, she gets a chance to experience that energy from the floor instead of in the stands.

"I'm really excited," Pierce said. "I've always had the opportunity to watch it, so I'm super excited to be involved in it. I know there are a lot of eyes on this game and that a lot of people are tuned into it, so I'm really looking forward to being involved in it."

The Grizzlies are in need of a statement victory as they get ready for the final eight games of the regular season. They currently sit at 1-7 in Big Sky play after a difficult road trip last weekend resulted in a pair of losses.

Montana State, playing the same two teams, was also swept over the previous week of play. Both teams will be hungry to get back into the win column.

The Bobcats sit at 4-4 in league play, but the two teams have matching 6-13 overall records. Montana State played in the Big Sky Championship match last season, and have been on the rise the last few years.

It makes Montana's domination of the rivalry in Dahlberg Arena more impressive. The Grizzlies have been able to handle the heightened atmosphere, and they have also been able to neutralize a good opponent.

"I think it speaks so much to their maturity and trust in our preparation process," Lawrence said. "They trust our scout, they know the scout, and that's the thing that is grounding us in the game when our focus could be pulled away by any number of things, including MSU playing well, which they are. They are a very good team."

Montana will play five of the final eight games of the regular season at home, and Friday night's match starts off a run of three straight in Missoula. They welcome Idaho State and Weber State to town on Oct. 31 and Nov. 2.

After a tricky first half of conference play, Montana is hoping to improve over these final eight matches.

"We're not in the place that we want to be. I think our frustration is at a level where this microphone could ignite right now. It's real, and it's right here, and I feel that from the team and I feel it with the team," Lawrence said.

"I think with that being said, we are in a place together where we know that us breaking through and turning the page and having the success in the second half of conference that we want, it requires all of us to move through that frustration together, and I feel that very much so with our team."

Montana has been better in the back half of Big Sky play under Lawrence, historically speaking. Most notably, the Grizzlies started 1-8 in Big Sky play in 2019 but finished the final nine games above .500.

They know there is work to be done, but the group has plenty of senior leaders and energetic young players that are ready to put in the work.

"We're ready, and we're working really hard to change our story through the back half," Lawrence said. "But I'm really proud of who the team has been through those struggles."

MAROON OUT
The Grizzlies will be wearing their maroon jerseys for the match, and ask that fans join them in wearing the color to Maroon Out the Bobcats.

FREE CHICK-FIL-A
Don't worry about dinner plans, Griz students. The first 200 students in attendance will receive free Chick-fil-A sandwiches upon entry to Dahlberg Arena at the marketing table near the bleachers.

GREEK NIGHT
The Griz will also welcome the fraternities and sororities of the University of Montana to the game for Greek Night. There will be a gyro eating contest in the North B section of the arena above the students section between the second and third sets.

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 1,194 career kills, which is the 8^th most in program history. She recently passed Griz legend and Canadian national team member Jaimie Thibeault, who played from 2007-10, and Erin Adams (1996-2000). Clark trails Karen Goff by 61 kills for 7^th.

She is also closing in on 10^th in program history at 126 career service aces with 29 already this season. She needs three more to tie Linde Eidenberg for 10^th. She has averaged at least 0.30 all four years at Montana, including a career best 0.43 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 MONTANA STATE (6-13, 4-4 BIG SKY)

The Bobcats had an impressive start to Big Sky play, winning three matches in a row at one point including road victories against Idaho State and Weber State. Since then, they have the same results as Montana over the previous four matches. They defeated Idaho, but lost at home to Eastern Washington and were swept on the UNC-NAU road trip.
Montana State is sixth in the Big Sky standings entering the week. They reached the Big Sky Championship game last season, and went on to win three matches at the NIVC.
Head coach Matt Houk is in his second season at Montana State. He has a 30-22 overall record and a 16-8 mark in Big Sky play. Prior to MSU, Houk spent nine years at Minnesota.
The Bobcats have been very good in the block this year, ranking third in the Big Sky and 26^th in the country with 2.65 blocks per set. Jordan Radick and Jourdain Kamps are both in the top 100 nationally with 1.19 and 1.16 blocks per set, respectively.
Kamps is the top attacker on a balanced offense, averaging 2.62 kills per set. The Bobcats don't have any players inside the top 15 in kills in the Big Sky.
Lauren Lindseth ranks second in the Big Sky in digs per set with 4.33, and she leads the league and ranks 60^th nationally with 325 total digs this season.

SERIES HISTORY VS. MONTANA STATE
Montana State leads the all-time series 63-61. The Cats are on a two-game winning streak in the series, winning at home and in the Big Sky Tournament last season. Prior to that, Montana had won four straight in the series.

The Griz are 31-25 all-time against the Cats in Missoula, and have won two straight. Head coach Allison Lawrence is 6-9 in the rivalry. In the last 75 meetings in the series, Montana is 46-29.

AROUND THE BIG SKY
Northern Colorado, fresh off wins against the Montana schools, is the hottest team in the league and sits in first place at 6-1. Sacramento State, Idaho State, and Eastern Washington all have five wins.

Weber State is in fifth place at 4-3, and the Bobcats and Portland State both sit at .500, although MSU has played two more games than the Bobcats.

The top eight teams make the Big Sky Tournament. Northern Arizona, on a two-game winning streak, has moved into the final tournament spot at the midway point of league play. The Lumberjacks are on the road against Idaho and Eastern Washington this week.

MONTANA NOTES

At home this season, Montana is 3-3. In the three Big Sky home games they have played, Montana is averaging 819 fans.
Montana ranks 73^rd nationally with 2.37 blocks per set. The Griz have more blocks than their opponent in 11 of the 19 matches, and all six of their wins have come when they win the block battle.
The Grizzlies enter the week on a three-match losing streak, and have been swept in all three. They have lost eight of the previous nine matches.
The offense came alive at Northern Colorado. Montana hit .237, the second-highest attacking percentage in conference play. It was the fifth time they've hit over .200 this year. They are 3-2 in such matches.
The Griz have been great at the service line in Big Sky play. They have 44 aces compared to 39 by opponents. They also have committed just 51 errors as opposed to 76 by opponents.
Last week, Northern Colorado hit .484 against Montana. It was the highest percentage since a nationally ranked Pittsburgh team hit .559.
Brenley Hansen, Montana's top blocker, has missed the previous four matches. She ranks fourth in the Big Sky and 42^nd nationally with 1.29 blocks per set.
Paige Clark leads Montana and ranks fourth in the Big Sky with 3.57 kills per set. Clark has been in double figures for kills 13 times this season, but has been held under 10 in four straight matches.
Clark's 1,194 career kills are the 83^rd-most by an active player at the D-1 level.
Alexis Batezel ranks third in the Big Sky with 4.06 digs per set. The libero was held under 10 digs for just the third time all season last Saturday against Northern Colorado. She had a season-high 21 digs on the road at Kansas City.
Batezel has 901 career digs. She would become just the 17^th player in program history to reach 1,000 kills if she is able to get 99 more this year.
Casi Newman has started every match at setter for Montana this season, and is averaging 7.95 assists per set to rank fifth in the Big Sky. Newman has had at least three kills in four straight matches, and also at least one ace in four straight.
Maddie Kremer has recorded at least 10 kills in nine of the last 12 matches. She's second on Montana in Big Sky play 2.97 kills per set on .187 hitting.
Maddie Pyles has five matches with at least 10 kills and six matches with at least 10 digs this season. She's been a fantastic all-around presence for the Griz, adding 16 aces and 53 total blocks.
Junior Sierra Dennison has started every match at middle blocker for Montana, averaging 1.03 blocks and 0.86 kills per set. She's had at least one block in every match this season.
Jackie Howell has appeared in six Big Sky Conference matches, including the last four. She had a season-high seven digs in the last home match against Eastern Washington.
Sophomore setter Gracie Cagle has appeared in 16 matches this season, averaging 2.74 assists per set. She's had at least 10 assists in five matches this year, the last coming on 9/21 vs. Lindenwood.
Freshman Delaney Russell has appeared in 18 matches this season and totaled seven kills. She has six of them in the last three matches, recording at least one in her last three appearances. Russell also has 10 service aces, averaging 0.22 per set.
Freshman Sydney Pierce has started the last four matches for Montana in place of Hansen. She's averaging 4.0 kills per match in that time, and also recorded 10 blocks, averaging nearly 1.0 per set. On the season, Pierce has 29 kills on .333 hitting.

Griz looking to continue home dominance in rivalry game

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Alexis Batezel

Gracie Cagle

Gracie Cagle

Paige Clark

Sierra Dennison

Sierra Dennison

Brenley Hansen

Jackie Howell

Jackie Howell

Maddie Kremer

Maddie Kremer

Casi Newman

Sydney Pierce

Maddie Pyles

Maddie Pyles

Delaney Russell

Delaney Russell

University of Montana Athletics

Griz looking to continue home dominance in rivalry game

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Alexis Batezel

Gracie Cagle

Gracie Cagle

Paige Clark

Sierra Dennison

Sierra Dennison

Brenley Hansen

Jackie Howell

Jackie Howell

Maddie Kremer

Maddie Kremer

Casi Newman

Sydney Pierce

Maddie Pyles

Maddie Pyles

Delaney Russell

Delaney Russell

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