Cats Fall to South Dakota in Five

Saturday, August 30

BOZEMAN

5 p.m.

Montana State University

1-1,0-0Big Sky

South Dakota

1-1,0-0Summit League

South Dakota

Montana St.

Senior Camryn Greenwald

Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services

8/30/2025 8:35:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

“The last thing we can take away from this match was that we were absolutely resilient,” Houk said. “We didn't allow the poorer part of the performance to dictate what we did in the future. We fought back and gave ourselves a chance, and that’s all you can ask for.”

By: Tom Schulz

In a match full of ebbs and flows, Montana State battled back from an opening set deficit, struggles in sets two and three, a comeback in the fourth frame before South Dakota pulled away late to post a 24-26, 25-13, 25-18, 22-25, 15-12 win over MSU on the second day of the EVEN Hotel Bobcat Invite in Shroyer Gym.

"I think you can take multiple things away from this," said third-year head coach Matt Houk. "First of all, we played bad at times, and I think good teams accept the fact that they played bad. They don't run from it. They don't push it down, and they utilize that to learn.

"Second, we're young and inexperienced in some positions, and so we're going to go through some ebb and flow because of that," he added. "But we have some experience in some other positions, and we need them to step up and try to steady us in those moments."

Montana State (1-1) found itself down 24-21 in the opening set but rattled off a 5-0 run to win the game on a kill by Karli Heidemann. South Dakota (1-1) cruised to victories in sets two and three, outhitting the Bobcats .349 to .157.

In the fourth set, MSU rallied from a 13-7 deficit with a 7-0 run and held on to force a fifth and deciding set following a kill from freshman Elli Tufto.

In set five, the Bobcats held a 9-8 advantage before the Coyotes went on a 5-1 run and held off MSU in the waning moments for the win.

"The last thing we can take away from this match was that we were absolutely resilient," Houk said. "We didn't allow the poorer part of the performance to dictate what we did in the future. We fought back and gave ourselves a chance, and that's all you can ask for."

MSU was led by Heidemann with 13 kills, while Madilyn Siebler and Joelie Spelts added 10, apiece. Defensively, senior libero Lauren Lindseth recorded a match-high 33 digs, while Teagan Jaynes, Heidemann, and Nicolette Noble each chipped in nine.

Montana State hosts Big 10 power Oregon on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Shroyer Gym.