Bobcat Spikers Drop Hard-Fought Match to Northern Colorado

Friday, October 19

Bozeman

7 p.m.

Montana State University

Northern Colorado

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

Bobcat Spikers Drop Hard-Fought Match to Northern Colorado

10/19/2012 9:36:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

By: Tom Schulz

In a match that featured 38 ties and 19 lead changes, Northern Colorado was the squad that made the big plays in each set to post a 26-24, 29-27, 26-24 decision over Montana State, Friday night in front of 1,087 fans in Shroyer Gym.

The opening set saw 17 ties and eight lead changes, before Northern Colorado (15-5, 8-3) received a kill from Kelley Arnold and a block via Marissa Hughes and Andrea Spaustat for the victory.

“I thought our effort against Northern Colorado was the best we've put forward in the past two weeks,” said MSU head coach Kyle Weindel. “Northern Colorado played tough. They gave it their all, and we gave it our best. Northern Colorado made plays, and we didn't.”

Northern Colorado looked to have the second set in hand holding a 20-14 advantage, but Montana State (11-8, 5-6) rallied with a 10-3 run to serve set point at 24-23. An Arnold kill evened the score and the Bears went up one on a Bobcat hitting error. Following a timeout, MSU tied the score and then served its second set point following two UNC attack errors. Northern Colorado halted MSU's momentum with two consecutive points. Serving for the win, MSU's Macy Page recorded a kill to tie the set for the ninth time. Northern Colorado then received back-to-back kills by Spaustat and Arnold for the win.

The final set was also a see-saw affair as MSU got out to a 16-13 lead following a Natalee Godfrey kill. The score was tied on eight occasions, before UNC got a kill from Brianna Strong, followed with a block by Tambre Haddock and Spaustat to put the match away.

For the fifth straight match, junior Sarah Horton paced the Bobcats with a match-high 20 kills, while posting a .354 attack mark and adding six digs and a service ace. Defensively, libero Nicole Baker recorded a team-high 14 digs.

“We need to start getting kills from everyone,” Weindel said. “We've been relying too heavily on one individual and we need others to step up.”

Arnold finished with 15 kills and 15 digs for Northern Colorado.

MSU will host Big Sky Conference newcomer North Dakota on Saturday night at 7 p.m.