University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Thursday, October 31
Bozeman, Mont.
7 PM
University of Northern Colorado
at
Montana State
Photo by: Dean Popejoy
Bears Prepare for Montana Road Trip This Weekend
10/29/2019 9:52:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Northern Colorado looks to duplicate early season success against the Bobcats and Grizzlies
Northern Colorado volleyball looks to maintain its hold on the top spot in the Big Sky this weekend with two road games. UNC [15-77, 9-1] will try to repeat its home performance against Montana State and Montana this weekend, as the Bears will play the two schools on back-to-back nights.
The Bears split their weekend games, dropping their first conference game against Northern Arizona on Thursday, 3-0. After returning home, UNC rebounded with a sweep of Southern Utah on Saturday.
The service line continues to be a point of strength for the Bears, averaging 1.71 aces per set with 144 total aces to lead the conference. UNC's serving effort begins with sophomores Laura Katarzynski and Kyndall Feather, who rank one-two in the Big Sky in aces per set. Katarzynski leads the Big Sky with 0.45 aces per set, scoring four over the weekend. Feather is a close second with 0.42 aces per set, scoring one ace against both NAU and SUU.
UNC leads the conference in multiple categories, including kills per set(13.13), opponent kills(10.73), assists(12.25), opponent assists(9.80) and opponent digs(13.30).
Kailey Jo Ince ranks third in the Big Sky with 3.51 kills per set. The sophomore had seven kills against the Thunderbirds and six against the Lumberjacks.
Daisy Schultz is second in the conference, averaging 10.76 assists per set. The junior added 38 against SUU and 29 against NAU.
Taylor Muff continues to be an all-around player for the Bears, averaging 4.00 kills per set and 2.00 digs per set over the weekend. The junior added three block assists and two services to in six total sets. Muff ranks seventh in conference with a 3.55 points per set average.
Taylor Els continues to move up UNC record books, now with 1591 career digs, placing her eighth on the all-time list. Els is averaging 4.43 digs per set in 2019, ranking fourth in the conference.
Northern Colorado will face the Montana schools for the second time this season, sweeping both back in late September.
Scouting the Bobcats
Montana State holds a 6-4 conference record and 10-9 overall in 2019. The Bobcats are in four-way tie for third place in the Big Sky after falling to Portland State(1-3) and defeating Sacramento State(3-2) in their last two games. libero Allyssa Rizzo leads the conference with 5.96 digs per set, recording 441 total for the season. Evi Wilson averages 3.12 kills per set to lead the Bobcats and ranks sixth on the conference leader board.
Scouting the Grizzlies
Montana has struggled in 2019, holding a 3-18 record, going 2-8 in the Big Sky. The Grizzlies dropped their first game this past weekend to Sacramento State, 1-3, before rebounding with a win over Portland State, 3-1. Freshman outside hitter Amethyst Harper leads Montana with 3.00 kills per set, which is 10th in the conference. Senior middle blocker Janna Grimsrud protects the net for the Grizzlies, averaging 1.06 blocks per set, good for sixth in the Big Sky.
Following the Bears
UNC will start out the weekend against Montana State on Thursday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m.(MT). The Bears will then take on Montana on Friday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.
Both games will be streamed live on PlutoTV and live stats can be viewed through MSUBobcats.com and GoGriz.com.
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The Bears split their weekend games, dropping their first conference game against Northern Arizona on Thursday, 3-0. After returning home, UNC rebounded with a sweep of Southern Utah on Saturday.
The service line continues to be a point of strength for the Bears, averaging 1.71 aces per set with 144 total aces to lead the conference. UNC's serving effort begins with sophomores Laura Katarzynski and Kyndall Feather, who rank one-two in the Big Sky in aces per set. Katarzynski leads the Big Sky with 0.45 aces per set, scoring four over the weekend. Feather is a close second with 0.42 aces per set, scoring one ace against both NAU and SUU.
UNC leads the conference in multiple categories, including kills per set(13.13), opponent kills(10.73), assists(12.25), opponent assists(9.80) and opponent digs(13.30).
Kailey Jo Ince ranks third in the Big Sky with 3.51 kills per set. The sophomore had seven kills against the Thunderbirds and six against the Lumberjacks.
Daisy Schultz is second in the conference, averaging 10.76 assists per set. The junior added 38 against SUU and 29 against NAU.
Taylor Muff continues to be an all-around player for the Bears, averaging 4.00 kills per set and 2.00 digs per set over the weekend. The junior added three block assists and two services to in six total sets. Muff ranks seventh in conference with a 3.55 points per set average.
Taylor Els continues to move up UNC record books, now with 1591 career digs, placing her eighth on the all-time list. Els is averaging 4.43 digs per set in 2019, ranking fourth in the conference.
Northern Colorado will face the Montana schools for the second time this season, sweeping both back in late September.
Scouting the Bobcats
Montana State holds a 6-4 conference record and 10-9 overall in 2019. The Bobcats are in four-way tie for third place in the Big Sky after falling to Portland State(1-3) and defeating Sacramento State(3-2) in their last two games. libero Allyssa Rizzo leads the conference with 5.96 digs per set, recording 441 total for the season. Evi Wilson averages 3.12 kills per set to lead the Bobcats and ranks sixth on the conference leader board.
Scouting the Grizzlies
Montana has struggled in 2019, holding a 3-18 record, going 2-8 in the Big Sky. The Grizzlies dropped their first game this past weekend to Sacramento State, 1-3, before rebounding with a win over Portland State, 3-1. Freshman outside hitter Amethyst Harper leads Montana with 3.00 kills per set, which is 10th in the conference. Senior middle blocker Janna Grimsrud protects the net for the Grizzlies, averaging 1.06 blocks per set, good for sixth in the Big Sky.
Following the Bears
UNC will start out the weekend against Montana State on Thursday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m.(MT). The Bears will then take on Montana on Friday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.
Both games will be streamed live on PlutoTV and live stats can be viewed through MSUBobcats.com and GoGriz.com.
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Players Mentioned
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