Griz lose five-set heartbreaker in Ogden

Thursday, October 3

Ogden, Utah

6:00 PM

Montana

5-9,0-3Big Sky

Weber State

6-8,3-0Big Sky

Montana

Weber St.

Photo by: Ryan Brennecke/ University of Montana

10/3/2024 9:23:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana volleyball team had one of its most complete performances of the season on Thursday night in Ogden, Utah, but it wasn't enough to knock off unbeaten Weber State. The Wildcats took the final two sets to win 3-2 and improve to 3-0 in league play, while Montana fell to 0-3.

The match came down to just a few points, as Montana (5-9, 0-3 Big Sky) looked the better side for much of the five sets. They finished with more points, kills, assists, blocks, aces, and digs than the Wildcats and hit a better percentage on the night. But a pair of two-point sets that went Weber State's way were the difference.

"That was tough. We talked a lot in the locker room about how we attacked this week after last Saturday and wanting our response to be very specific and process-oriented and reliant on our scout and system and hitting our details and not swaying from our structure," head coach Allison Lawrence said. "I thought everyone one the roster from starters to people coming off the bench really held that."

The hosts won 16-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-23, 15-13. It's the first five-set match of the season for Montana, and is the 12^th straight loss to Weber State.

The two sides both ranked toward the top of the Big Sky and in the upper echelon in the entire country in blocking, and it was on display. Montana had 14 team blocks and Weber State had eight as kills were difficult to come by for both sides.

The Griz outhit the Wildcats .172-to-.138 and had 58 kills compared to 48 for WSU. Montana also had the advantage in assists (52-40) and digs (75-69), but it wasn't enough in the end.

"It's really exciting because it shows what we're capable of and the team is hurting because we didn't get the reward for showing that," Lawrence said. "I think at the same time, we need to be mature enough and tough enough to not get the reward, but stay the course and trust the process. I think if we can do that with a lot of fight and belief, then we will become the team we want to be. It's exciting because it's a great team that we are becoming."

Weber State were tabbed as the preseason favorite in the Big Sky after winning the conference tournament and advancing to the NCAA Tournament last season. They return plenty of players from that squad, and started 2-0 with a pair of sweeps in league play this year.

The experience, and the home court advantage, showed for the Wildcats. Montana went up 12-8 in the final set and also had chances in the fourth to pull off an amazing comeback win. The ball didn't bounce their way, and the Wildcats pulled through in the tight moments.

"We had swings to be in position to win. I think the lesson is that if we execute our system to that level, then we will have swings to win any match in the conference. It's up to us," Lawrence said. "It's exciting. We just have to have the motor and the commitment to continue to bring that every match."

Montana took a big lead from the start, and really dominated the Wildcats in the opening set to establish themselves in the match. The Griz were up 14-8 and took a 15-10 lead into the media timeout. Montana were hitting .357 in the early going and holding Weber State in the negatives.

The Griz forced a timeout at 19-12, when they were still over .300, and then went on another run to jump ahead 23-13. Casi Newman put them a point away from the win with her fourth kill of the opening set, and a block ended it 25-16 in favor of Montana.

In the first, Montana hit .303 and held Weber State to -.026 hitting with only eight kills to nine errors. The service game was aggressive from the jump for Montana. They had five service errors and no aces, but the serving didn't allow WSU to get into any rhythm.

The two teams both settled in defensively in the second set, and it led to plenty of marathon points as they extended rallies. Weber State went ahead 5-2 early and kept a lead for the entire set, although Montana stuck with them.

Paige Clark had back-to-back kills as part of a 3-0 run to cut the lead to 14-12. The Wildcats eventually pulled away in a set that saw both teams hit under .100.

The difference maker in the third set came during the middle stretch when a 7-0 run with Maddie Pyles at the service line took a Grizzly deficit and turned it into an 18-12 lead. The Wildcats would rally back, and eventually tie it at 21-all.

Montana answered with another long run, and Clark ended things with an ace that gave the Griz a 25-21 set win and a 2-1 advantage. Weber State actually outhit the Griz in the set, but Montana had four aces and three blocks to pull away.

After not having the stat show it through the first set, the numbers finally reflected how good the service game had been for the Grizzlies, which was part of the gameplan against a team like WSU.

"Our serving effort was very aggressive and smart. We served tactically well and executed the gameplan very well, which set a big tone," Lawrence said. "Then we had a really balanced offense. We went to the middles early and had a lot of success, which opened it up for our pins. I think everybody executed when they were supposed to."

The balance was shown most in the fourth set during a valiant comeback effort from Montana. The Griz were behind early, and at one point Weber State had them doubled up at 18-9.

Montana scored three straight points. The teams traded the next five points, and it was 21-14 Weber State. The Griz were up against it, but delivered a 6-0 run to cut the lead all the way down to one at 21-20. It was an 11-4 overall run for Montana, and seven different Grizzlies recorded a kill during it to help them pull back into the set.

The Griz would pull back within a point on three more occasions down the stretch, but couldn't get it level and fell 25-23.

It sent Montana to their first five-set match of the season. In unfamiliar territory, Montana looked right at home. They jumped out to a 6-3 lead and then went up 10-5 on Clark's 13^th kill of the match.

Weber State responded with three straight, but the Griz extended the lead right back out to 12-8.

That's when the experience of Weber State took over. They scored six straight points to go up 14-12. Montana survived the first match point, but couldn't take the second, and fell in a five-set heartbreaker.

Clark had a team-high 14 kills, reaching double figures for the 12^th straight match. Maddie Kremer had 11 kills and 10 digs for her third double-double of the season. Maddie Pyles recorded her first career double-double with 11 kills and 16 digs.

Casi Newman handed out 38 assists and also added 12 digs for her third double-double of the year. It's the first time all season that three different Grizzlies have recorded a double-double in the same match.

Brenly Hansen had nine kills and two blocks, and Sierra Dennison had five kills and four blocks.

Ginny Pace and Delaney Russell came in to service in several clutch moments, while Gracie Cagle and Sydney Pierce also saw important time on the floor. It was Pierce's first match since Sept. 20 against Bradley.

"I'm really proud of this team. It's a joy to coach this team and be in the tightest moments with them," Lawrence said. "The locker room was tough to be in after and there is no group I would rather be in, whether it's last Saturday or tonight. I'm ready for more."

The Grizzlies will have another tough test on Saturday afternoon against Idaho State. The Bengals started Big Sky play 2-0 and are 11-3 overall on the season behind the best block in the entire country.

"I think there are a lot of similarities between these two teams. Idaho State is a great blocking team, and so was Weber State, so feeling in rhythm tonight I think will carry over on Saturday and we can feel aggressive and physical in our offense," Lawrence said.

"I think defensively, if we stick to our blocking and defensive structure and really show discipline, then we will be in it point-for-point and past 20 and at the end of sets," she continued. "After sitting in the disappointment tonight, I also think we have so much momentum at the same time."

The Bengals also played in five sets on Thursday night against Montana State. The match was entering the fifth at the time of publishing.