Montana hits road for pivotal Big Sky weekend - University of Montana Athletics

MONTANA (7-18, 3-11 Big Sky) at IDAHO (12-14, 3-11 Big Sky)
Nov. 12 / 7:00 PM (MT) / Watch / Live Stats

MONTANA at EASTERN WASHINGTON (10-16, 4-10 Big Sky)
Nov. 14 / 3:00 p.m. / Watch / Live Stats

The most important week of the season has arrived for the Montana volleyball team. The Grizzlies hit the road for crucial conference matches at Idaho and Eastern Washington this week as they make a final push for the postseason.

The Grizzlies begin the week tied for ninth in the league standings with Idaho. Both teams trail Eastern Washington by one game for the final postseason spot after the Eagles beat the Vandals last Saturday.

When it comes down to it, one of the three teams will be playing in Flagstaff in late November at the Big Sky Championship while the other two will be watching from home.

It makes for a dramatic weekend as the results from these two matches could well determine Montana's postseason future.

The Grizzlies have continued to make progress but have been agonizingly short of grabbing a few wins that could have them in a more comfortable spot in the standings. Montana went five sets with Portland State on Saturday, nearly ending the Vikings' now seven-match winning streak in Dahlberg Arena.

The Vikings had lost just one set over the previous three matches coming into Saturday, but the Griz gave them everything they could handle. Outside of a sweep to Utah Tech on Oct. 31, the Grizzlies last three losses have seen them win five total sets.

It's been over a month since Montana has played Idaho and Eastern Washington. The Grizzlies split the weekend at home, sweeping Idaho while losing in four sets to Eastern Washington.

The Griz have had the Vandals number of late, winning 10 straight over the regional rival with the previous six matches all resulting in Grizzly sweeps. They have won 20 straight sets over the Vandals.

Eastern Washington got the better of Montana in the first matchup but are dealing with an impactful injury that has changed the course of their season. Kalista Lukovich, who leads the country in attacks per set, has not played since Oct. 17.

Lukovich had 22 kills on 62 attempts in the Eagles' win over the Grizzlies back on Oct. 1.

The amount of sets played and won could also factor into tiebreaker scenarios between Montana and its two opponents this weekend. The Griz swept the Vandals and lost in four sets to Eastern Washington.

If Montana wins both matches, they will likely have the inside track to the postseason. If they lose, it will likely take a win over second-place Northern Colorado or a road victory over Montana State in order guarantee a trip to Flagstaff.

Both matches will stream live on ESPN+.

CAGLE CLOSES IN ON 2K
Grizzly setter Gracie Cagle needs just three more assists to reach 2,000 for her career. She has recorded 698 this season after a 1,048-assist season in 2025. Cagle is averaging 7.59 assists per set in her career.

She is closing in on the top 10 all-time at Montana. Jennifer Patera (1992-96) is currently in 10^th with 2,189 career assists.

MONTANA NOTES

UM ranks 2nd in the Big Sky in aces per set with 1.57 per set.
The Griz committed over 30 errors in both matches last weekend. It's the first time this season they have finished a match with 30+ errors. They are 1-16 when committing more errors than their opponents.
UM is 7-7 in the first set of conference matches this year. They have lost four matches when holding a lead after the first set.
Montana is just 1-14 when hitting under .200. They are 6-4 when hitting above .200.
The Grizzlies are 5-7 in three-set matches. They are 1-9 in four-set matches and 1-2 when it goes all five.
In the first nine years under Coach Lawrence, Montana went 24-50 in the first half of league play and 31-43 in the second half. They've improved or matched their record in the back half six times.
UM has not won consecutive matches yet this season. They are 0-7 following a win.
In two-point sets, the Griz are 11-12 this year.
When losing the first set, Montana is just 1-12 this season. The only time they have come from behind was on Sep. 5 vs. Cal Baptist.
Alex Stone has 10+ kills in five straight matches for Montana. She has reached the 10-kill mark seven times in the last nine matches after never having a 10-kill match prior to this stretch.
Madeline Sanderson's 30 digs were the most in a 3-set match in the NCAA since 9/20/25 when Alana Torres-Rivera of Houston recorded 30 against McNeese St.
Montana recorded 65 digs at Northern Arizona. It's the most in a 3-set match by the Griz since 2024 when they had 66 vs. Montana State.
Five Grizzlies have played every set of the season. Delaney Russell, Josie Blazina, Gracie Cagle, Annika Wright, and Madeline Sanderson haven't missed a set.
Montana has more service aces than its opponent in two-thirds of the matches this season.
Gracie Cagle's 7 service aces vs. EWU (10/1) were the most by a Big Sky player this season and tied for the 5th most in a single match by any player in program history.

SCOUTING IDAHO (12-14, 3-11 Big Sky)

The Vandals have lost four straight matches, including two straight at home. They have won just one set over the previous four matches.
Idaho's three conference wins have been at home against Southern Utah and Portland State and on the road against Eastern Washington.
Head coach Romana Redondo Kriskova is 19-62 overall at Idaho in her 3^rd season.
The Vandals are 2-5 overall at home this year.
They rank just behind Montana in aces per set, sitting 3^rd in the league with 1.52.
Idaho is hitting .180 as a team while allowing opponents to hit .215 this year. Both numbers rank in the bottom four of the Big Sky.
Kiana Greer leads the Vandals in kills, ranking 4^th in the Big Sky with 3.47 per set. Greet also averages 0.38 service aces per set to rank 3^rd in the conference and her 378.5 total points are 4^th most by a Big Sky player.
Koen Makaula ranks 8^th in the Big Sky with 0.98 blocks per set.

SERIES HISTORY VS. THE VANDALS
Montana has a chance to even up the all-time series with the Vandals on Thursday. Idaho currently leads 40-39. The Vandals are 17-15 at home against the Griz.

The Grizzlies are on a 10-match winning streak in the series and have won six straight matches in sweeps. They haven't dropped a set to the Vandals since 2022, winning 20 consecutive. UM has also won four straight in Moscow.

SCOUTING EASTERN WASHINGTON (10-16, 4-10 Big Sky)

The Eagles are coming off a four-set win at Idaho on Saturday. The victory snapped a four-match losing streak.
Eastern Washington has league wins at Idaho, at Southern Utah, at Montana, and home to Weber State.
Head coach Jon Haruguchi is 49-941 in five seasons in Cheney.
Eastern Washington has actually been better on the road this season, going 5-5 in road matches and just 1-9 at home. They have lost six straight home matches with the last victory on Reese Court coming on Sept. 24 vs. Weber State.
EWU has been dominant defensively, holding opponents to just .172 hitting this year to rank 33^rd nationally. They are inside the top 50 in the country in both blocks (2.62 per set) and digs (15.44 per set). They are the top blocking team in the conference.
The 259.5 total blocks from the Eagles this year is the 10^th most in the country.
Kalista Lukovich is the national leader in attacks per set with 13.22 and she leads the Big Sky with 4.35 kills per set. She has not played in a match since Oct. 17.
Sidney Gray and Judith Bolomboy both rank in the top six in the Big Sky Conference in blocks. Gray averages 1.08 per set while Bolomboy comes in at 1.03.
Elle Bruegman averages 4.15 digs per set to rank 5^th in the Big Sky.

SERIES HISTORY VS. THE EAGLES
Montana leads the all-time series 63-46 over Eastern Washington. The Grizzlies are 21-27 in Cheney. Montana has won six of the last eight in the series, but the Eagles got the win in Missoula earlier this season in four sets.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Josie Blazina

Gracie Cagle

Delaney Russell

Madeline Sanderson

Alex Stone

Annika Wright

University of Montana Athletics