Weber State University Athletics
Thursday, November 18
Ogden
7:00 p.m.
Weber State University
19-8,14-3Big Sky
3
vs
0
#8 Montana
11-16,6-11Big Sky
1
2
3
F
Montana
23
15
21
0
Weber St.
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Robert Casey
Wildcats Sweep Montana, Advance to Big Sky Tournament Semis
11/18/2021 9:12:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
In a hard-fought three-set battle between two old Big Sky Conference rivals on Thursday night in Swenson Gym, the Weber State Wildcats reigned victorious over the Montana Grizzlies by a score of 3-0 (25-23, 25-15, 25-21) to earn a birth in the conference tournament semi-final.
Although it was straight sets, it was a tightly contested match between the 'Cats and the Griz, particularly in the first and third sets. The Grizzlies came out ready to play in the first. There were four ties and two lead changes in the set and Montana outhit Weber State (.214-.205), but every time it seemed like Montana was poised to make a run, the 'Cats came back with an answer. Weber State was led by Sam Schiess and Dani Nay who had six and five kills respectively in the first set, and WSU snuck away with a 25-23 set win.
The following set ended up being much more comfortable for the 'Cats. Outside hitter Rylin Adams paved the way for the Wildcats with her superb hitting. With six kills in the set, some from the outside and some from the back row, Adams led Weber State in the set and guided Weber State to a 25-15 set win, and a 2-0 lead in the match.
On the verge of extending the longest home winning streak in the nation, Weber State came out on fire in the final set. Armed with not one, but two Big Sky MVPs in Adams and Nay, the Wildcat offense wasn't messing around in the third set. Adams tallied eight kills in the third, Nay scored on seven swings, and the Wildcats jumped out to a massive lead that, despite a late rally, Montana wouldn't be able to overtake.
In front of a large, loud, purple-clad crowd, the Wildcats' won their 26th consecutive match in Swenson Gym and will move on to face the four seed Montana State Bobcats on Friday at 7:00. Montana State won its quarterfinal match against Northern Arizona in five sets.
On the offensive side of things, Adams led the 'Cats with 16 kills on 37 total swings, Nay had 14 kills on 34 attempts, and as a team the Wildcats hit .274. Ashlyn Power, once again, led everyone with 40 assists as she closes in on being the Big Sky's all-time leader in career assists in the rally scoring era.
On defense, Makayla Sorensen led all players with 22 digs and, perhaps more impressively, had zero reception errors. Schiess and Baylee Bodily had two block assists each to lead the team.
With the win on Thursday, the 'Cats improved to 19-8 (14-3), and their all-time record in the Big Sky Conference tournament improves to 11-11. In the regular season, Montana State and Weber State only squared off once in a match that the Wildcats won in Bozeman with an insane fifth-set comeback.
Tickets to all matches in the Big Sky tournament can be purchased online or by calling the Weber State ticket office at (801)-626-8500. All Big Sky Conference tournament matches will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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Although it was straight sets, it was a tightly contested match between the 'Cats and the Griz, particularly in the first and third sets. The Grizzlies came out ready to play in the first. There were four ties and two lead changes in the set and Montana outhit Weber State (.214-.205), but every time it seemed like Montana was poised to make a run, the 'Cats came back with an answer. Weber State was led by Sam Schiess and Dani Nay who had six and five kills respectively in the first set, and WSU snuck away with a 25-23 set win.
The following set ended up being much more comfortable for the 'Cats. Outside hitter Rylin Adams paved the way for the Wildcats with her superb hitting. With six kills in the set, some from the outside and some from the back row, Adams led Weber State in the set and guided Weber State to a 25-15 set win, and a 2-0 lead in the match.
On the verge of extending the longest home winning streak in the nation, Weber State came out on fire in the final set. Armed with not one, but two Big Sky MVPs in Adams and Nay, the Wildcat offense wasn't messing around in the third set. Adams tallied eight kills in the third, Nay scored on seven swings, and the Wildcats jumped out to a massive lead that, despite a late rally, Montana wouldn't be able to overtake.
In front of a large, loud, purple-clad crowd, the Wildcats' won their 26th consecutive match in Swenson Gym and will move on to face the four seed Montana State Bobcats on Friday at 7:00. Montana State won its quarterfinal match against Northern Arizona in five sets.
On the offensive side of things, Adams led the 'Cats with 16 kills on 37 total swings, Nay had 14 kills on 34 attempts, and as a team the Wildcats hit .274. Ashlyn Power, once again, led everyone with 40 assists as she closes in on being the Big Sky's all-time leader in career assists in the rally scoring era.
On defense, Makayla Sorensen led all players with 22 digs and, perhaps more impressively, had zero reception errors. Schiess and Baylee Bodily had two block assists each to lead the team.
With the win on Thursday, the 'Cats improved to 19-8 (14-3), and their all-time record in the Big Sky Conference tournament improves to 11-11. In the regular season, Montana State and Weber State only squared off once in a match that the Wildcats won in Bozeman with an insane fifth-set comeback.
Tickets to all matches in the Big Sky tournament can be purchased online or by calling the Weber State ticket office at (801)-626-8500. All Big Sky Conference tournament matches will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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Team Stats
Mont
Weber
Kills
30
46
Errors
14
14
Attempts
110
117
Hitting %
.145
.274
Points
42
52
Assists
28
44
Aces
5
4
Blocks
7
2
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
16
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
5
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OH/L
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
L/OH
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