Griz volleyball finalizes 2024 schedule

The Montana Grizzly volleyball program has finalized its 2024 schedule. The Grizzlies will once again host the Ellesyn Invitational Sponsored by Homewood Suites and Erck Hotels from Sept. 5-8 and will make appearances in two other non-conference tournaments.

The Griz will also play a two-game set on the road against North Dakota State during the non-conference schedule. The Big Sky slate opens at home on Thursday, Sept. 26 against Northern Colorado.

"I really like our schedule this year," head coach Allison Lawrence said. "We have specific goals going into preseason of where we want to be coming out of it, but there were a lot more unknowns this year with how new of a roster we have. So building a schedule that was pretty balanced, at least on paper, allowed some room to breathe in some moments but also some really big challenges. We're really going to have to compete hard and we will be tested, but hopefully we can figure out who we are while having success."

Last season, Montana opened the schedule with a pair of nationally ranked teams. The 2024 slate doesn't have the same level of big-time programs like Pitt and BYU, but it offers up a much more balanced non-conference portion for a Grizzly team that will have eight newcomers and 10 returners.

Montana will play six of the 11 non-conference matches against teams that had winning records in 2023, including true road matches against Grand Canyon (23-8 in 2023) and UMKC (22-9 in '23).

The 10 opponents that they will face in the non-conference had a combined overall record of 156-147 (.515) in 2023.

They begin with the Grand Canyon Invitational from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1. The Grizzlies will open against the hosts before playing against Fresno State and Oregon State in what should be a highly competitive tournament. The Bulldogs went 19-14 in 2023 and the Beavers won six matches in the final season of the Pac-12.

There is a special connection there for Lawrence, who played for Oregon State from 2001-04 and finished her career ranked in the top 10 in program history for kills, digs, and aces.

Montana will then host a mid-week exhibition against Carroll College before the Ellesyn Invitational Sponsored by Homewood Suites and Erck Hotels kicks off. The tournament will be played over four days from Sept. 5-8 and will feature Utah Valley, Southern Miss, and Boise State.

The Broncos are led by All-American candidate Paige Bartsch, who is the twin sister of Lady Griz basketball player Dani Bartsch.

The following weekend Montana will play a two-game set in Fargo against a North Dakota State team that finished 18-11 and reached the Summit League semifinal.

They will round out the non-conference schedule by traveling to Kansas City, Mo. For the Kangaroo Klassic hosted by UMKC. The Grizzlies will play against Lindenwood and Bradley in addition to the hosts.

"The goal was to find a balance. Last year was really difficult, and it was exciting for us to be tested but with the way our Big Sky schedule started last year it was hard to feel some momentum in that first month of the season," Lawrence said. "We also have another difficult start this season, and I don't even think there is an easy start because the conference is so tight and so difficult, but we wanted to find momentum where we could and build a schedule that allows us to feel confident and unified heading into the season."

The Grizzlies open conference play at home with Northern Colorado, who finished as the runner-up last season in the conference and went 18-12 overall. Montana will then head out for three straight matches on the road to open Big Sky play.

The longest homestand of the season comes at the end of October and opens with the rivalry match against Montana State on Friday, Oct. 25. It's the first of three straight home games for the Grizzlies.

This season both of the rivalry matches against Montana State will be played on Friday evening to allow for more rest for both teams. It's the lone match of the week for the Bobcats and Grizzlies. Montana hosts the Brawl of the Wild on Oct. 25 and will head to Bozeman for the regular season finale on Nov. 22. Montana and Montana State will meet on the football field in Bozeman the following day.

The Grizzlies will play seven of the nine teams in the Big Sky Conference in home-and-home series, but will play just one game against Northern Arizona and Sacramento State. Montana goes up to the elevation of Flagstaff, but will get the defending regular season champion Hornets at home.

Montana went 11-18 in 2023 and finished 7-9 in Big Sky play, earning the No. 6 seed at the Big Sky Tournament. The Grizzlies have 28 wins over the previous two seasons, which ties the most wins in a two-year stretch since 1999-2000.

University of Montana Athletics

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