Griz serve record 16 aces in sweep of Vandals - University of Montana Athletics

Thursday, November 12

Moscow, Idaho

7:00 PM (MT)

Montana

8-18,4-11Big Sky

Idaho

12-15,3-12Big Sky

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Montana	25	25	25	3
Idaho	21	14	21	0

University of Montana Grizzlies play Northern Arizona University at Dahlberg Arena on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026.

Photo by: Ryan Brennecke / University of Montana

11/12/2026 9:27:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

Montana desperately needed a win on Thursday. The Grizzlies delivered in emphatic fashion, sweeping Idaho for the seventh straight time by a score of 25-21, 25-14, 25-25-21.

The Grizzlies controlled the match from the service line, recording 16 aces on the night. It's the most in a Big Sky Conference match by any team this season and ties the Montana program record for most aces in a three-set match.

It's the most aces by a Montana team in any length of match since setting the program record with 19 against Cornell in 2006.

"We brought it from the service line. We have a really talented serving team so we know what we're capable of," head coach Allison Lawrence said. "This is a fun gym to serve in and we were feeling really comfortable and it just felt contagious. It caught fire and went through everyone. Once there was pressure, it really opened up sets."

Gracie Cagle not only helped Montana to the record with six service aces of her own, one off her career high, but she also recorded her 2,000^th career assist in the win for Montana. In a must-win game with just two weeks remaining in the season, the senior setter stepped up.

"I feel like it's just such a testament to all of my amazing teammates," Cagle said following the match. "Obviously, I wouldn't have reached that if my hitters weren't producing so it's just a testament to how awesome this team is."

Cagle's six service aces tie a program record for a three-set match. Karen Goff did it in 1992 vs. Idaho State and Cyndee Jones did it in 1989 against UTSA.

She also had five kills on .364 hitting and six digs to go with her 20 assists on the night.

"That's an incredible achievement and very deserved," Lawrence said. "She does it on a night where she serves for a record, she had a high number of aces, and she sets well. She's earning that milestone while affecting so many parts of the game and adding so many pieces to her game every night. It's really impressive to see."

Her fellow setter Annika Wright provided three aces while Delaney Russell, Sydney Pierce, and Isa Taylor each finished with two service aces. Madeline Sanderson added one to bring Montana's total up to 16 on the night.

The win is a crucial one for Montana's postseason hopes. The Grizzlies improved to 4-11 in conference play and moved into a tie with Eastern Washington for the final tournament spot with three matches to go.

The offenses both struggled a bit out of the gate in a first set that saw neither team hit over .175. The first set was tight most of the way with Idaho actually outhitting Montana .171-to-.150 and both team committing five errors.

Idaho took its biggest lead of the set at 12-9, but Montana quickly erased it will two kills from Alex Stone, an ace from Sydney Pierce, and an error from Idaho made it 13-12 in favor of the Griz.

It was Stone that pushed Montana to the first set victory as she recorded six of Montana's 11 kills in the set. Stone did enough to keep Montana's offense afloat while the service game of the Grizzlies wreaked havoc.

Montana had five service aces in the first set compared to just one by Idaho. It would prove to be the difference as the Griz pulled away late with a 6-2 run to finish off the set. Three of the final six points came at the service line with Annika Wright recording back-to-back aces for points 24 and 25.

Cagle picked up three of her service aces on a 7-0 run for the Grizzlies on their first serving opportunity of the second set.

The Grizzlies took that momentum and ran with it, tying their largest set victory of the season with a 25-14 win. The Griz had six service aces in the second and picked things up defensively, holding Idaho to just five kills on .000 hitting.

The teams were both low error, which was a theme of the night. Montana committed just 14 errors while Idaho had just a dozen. It's the sixth time this season that Montana has committed 15 or fewer errors in a match.

"I think that they were pretty low error and when we have played teams that have been low error, ours have taken an uptick. We didn't see that at all tonight," Lawrence said. "We were able to maintain our offense, wait for our swings, and I thought we were just really composed. We were aggressive and smart and had total control in that."

It was a similarly hot start in the third set for Montana and once again it was the service game of Cagle that got them rolling. She had two aces as part of a 6-0 Grizzly run that forced an early timeout by Idaho.

This time the Vandals were able to mount a comeback, pulling level at 9-all. The Griz would score the next four points to take the lead for good behind two kills from Kaylee Paulson and one each from Josie Blazina and Cagle.

Paulson, an Idaho native, had three kills all in a short burst in the third set to help Montana take control. She finished with seven on the night. Delaney Russell led Montana with eight kills on .375 hitting and Alex Stone had seven on .200 hitting.

Blazina provided the finishing touch on the sweep with a kill to win the final set 25-21 for the Grizzlies. Montana had five more service aces in the third set, finishing with at least five in all three sets on the night.

"It was very consistent, it wasn't just a situation where we got hot for a little bit and then cooled off," Lawrence said. "It felt very much like we were able to hold that intensity all match."

Montana has now won 23 straight sets over Idaho and 11 straight matches overall. The last seven wins have all come via sweep.

The win puts Montana in control of its own destiny heading into the final three matches of the season. If they are able to pick up a win on Saturday at Eastern Washington, they will be in sole possession of 8^th place entering the final week.

The Grizzlies close the season with Northern Colorado at home and Montana State on the road. Eastern Washington and Idaho spend the final weekend on the road at Weber State and Idaho State, two teams that are above .500 in conference play.

"We know what's on the line every match, and especially this weekend. I think for us to compete as relaxed and composed as we did shows that we feel really confident in where we should be and the team that we are," Lawrence said. "I don't see any fear in this team, there is no fear of failure, I just see a team that is hungry to do what it can and they are hungry to run at it."