Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Montana State
GAME NOTES: Wildcats Set to Host Conference Tournament
11/22/2022 12:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Match 28: #6 Montana State (13-15, 9-7) at Weber State (17-10, 11-5)
Wednesday, November 22 | 7:00 PM
Ogden, UT | Swenson Gym
TV Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/2QW1GcQ
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3AEbGRj
THE MATCHES
• The Weber State Wildcats are hosting the Big Sky Conference tournament for the second year in a row. The Wildcats, who won conference championships in 2020-21 and 2021 will be hoping to add to their trophy case with a historic threepeat.
• With a win against Montana in the regular season finale, the Wildcats clinched the three seed in this year's tournament. Weber State will be playing the six seed Montana State Bobcats.
• The Wildcats split the season series with the Bobcats with the road team winning each match. WSU won 3-1 in Bozeman, MSU left Ogden with a 3-0 triumph.
• Weber State is 1-2 overall against Montana State when playing in the Big Sky Conference tournament. The lone Wildcat win came in last season's semifinals in Swenson Gym. The victor will go on to play the winner of #7 Eastern Washington and #2 Portland State.
QUICK HITS
• Weber State has won back-to-back Big Sky Conference championships, including the 2020-21 conference tournament. Over the past two championship seasons, the Wildcats went 41-12 overall and 28-4 in conference play. In 2021, the team advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIVC, and in 2020-21 the Wildcats won the first NCAA tournament match in program history.
• Dani Richins was named the 2021 Big Sky Conference MVP, and was named an All-American for the second time in her career.
• The Wildcats hosted the Big Sky Conference tournament for the first time in program history in 2021. They advanced to the championship match for the third consecutive season.
• After having claimed the 2021 Big Sky regular season championship in 2021, Weber State also claimed the right to host the 2022 Big Sky Conference championship.
• The Wildcats were picked No. 2 in the Big Sky preseason polls, receiving two first-place votes.
• The Wildcat defense is leading the way in the Big Sky Conference and is number one in opponent hitting percentage (.164) and digging (16.18/set), blocking (2.69/set), and is second in opponent service aces (1.28/set)
DOMINANT DEFENSE
• At 2.69 blocks per set, the Wildcat front line is second in the Big Sky Conference and ranked 13th in the nation.
• The Wildcats are holding opponents to a .165 hitting percentage this season. That number leads the Big Sky Conference and is 20th in the NCAA.
• Weber State's back line has been impressive this season and is averaging 16.18 digs per set - the most in the Big Sky Conference and 35th in the country.
FANTASTIC FRESHMEN
• The Wildcats most recent recruiting class is one of the most highly-touted in school history, and several fantastic freshman are already making big impacts.
• Saane Katoa was named Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week in the opening week of the season. She tallied 19.0 blocks in the Wildcat Invitational - a tournament that Weber State went 3-0 in.
• When the Wildcats have needed a clutch kill, they've turned to true freshman Ashley Gneiting. Gneiting - who has scored crucial set and match-clinching kills several times this season - has led the team in kills in five matches this season.
• Brielle Rueckert led the Big Sky Conference with a .364 hittng percentage this season. Now that she qualifies with over 100 career kills, Rueckert has the highest career hitting percentage in Wildcat history.
