Saints take down ’Diggers

By Tom Cotton of The Helena Independent Record - 09/14/2006

HELENA — The Carroll College volleyball team played its first game in front of a home crowd and got its first conference win Wednesday night.

The Saints (10-3, 1-1), helped out by 848 fans, dispatched a gritty Montana Tech squad 26-30, 30-26, 30-27, 30-27 to notch their first Frontier Conference victory of the season.

‘‘It was loud and it really helped us out as the match went on,’’ said Carroll coach Moe Boyle, a former Butte High standout who played at both Montana Tech and Carroll during her college days.

“It was disappointing to lose, but I’m very proud of our players because this was the first full match we put together from beginning to end,” Orediggers head coach Marilyn Tobin said. “We were in every game and were dictating the tempo in the fourth game. But Carroll’s experience took over and they were able to finish the game.” Boyle admitted that her squad had some first-match jitters early on and the Orediggers were able to take advantage, winning the first game.

Tech took an early 5-1 lead, thanks to some errors by Carroll. However, the Saints regrouped and tied the game at nine on two consecutive kills by Capital product Christina Smetana.

Tech took a slim 20-17 lead on a kill by Cassie Hodges and went on to claim the first set.

The Saints, however, used a strong outside attack to get their offense rolling in the final three games.

Tech took a 20-17 lead midway through the second game, but Nicole Rowan brought the Saints back with a nice kill from the left side.

That knotted the score at 22-22. Carroll then outscored Tech 8-4 down the stretch to claim the game.

The Saints controlled game three, jumping out to a 12-5 lead thanks to an ace by Amber Sanchez. Natalie Solomon notched one of her eight kills a few moments later to give Carroll a See SAINTS, Page B4 26-21 lead it would never relinquish.

The final game was similar to game two as Carroll rallied late to win the game and the match. The Orediggers owned an 11-8 advantage midway though the game, but Carroll would later tie things up at 25.

The Saints took control with two kills late in the game by Rowan.

The sophomore from Libby led the team with 18 kills.

‘‘Nicole had her best match of the year,’’ Boyle said. ‘‘She hit from the left and hit from the right. She was just on tonight.’’

The Saints also got solid play from setters Katie Polette and Christie Tyrrell.

Polette and Tyrrell each notched 23 assists in the game.

‘‘One plays in the back row and one plays in the front,’’ Boyle said. ‘‘It’s a little unorthodox, but we will continue to use it.’’

Three Saints notched eight kills — Smetana, Lyman and Solomon.

Tech was paced by Maria McNeil with 21 kills.

“I’m excited about our team because we know we can put a match together and that will carry over to our game (Thursday) with Rocky,” Tobin said. “Our ball control and passing have been plaguing us all season but were very good tonight.

“Our hitters have been doing a nice job. Cassie Hodges hit .400 with eight kills and only two errors out of 15 attempts. We need to get her in the offense more because she’s very effective. Our players were very aggressive.” Jodi Hogart set 46 assists for the Orediggers and tied Kristi Witt for the team digs lead with 15 each.

“Our blocking continues to get better,” Tobin said. “Having Katie Daly and Cassie Hodges, both true freshmen, and Janet Friez in there is improving our blocking tremendously. Kristi Witt doing a nice job passing for us. We need her to continue doing that.

“Megan Wichman served aggressively when she came off the bench in the second and third games.” The Orediggers’ match with Rocky Mountain is set for 7 p.m. Thursday in the Tech HPER Complex.

— Bruce Sayler of The Montana Standard contributed to this article.

Montana Tech stats — Janet Friez 5 kills, 3 blocks; Jessie Conners 6 digs; Kristi Witt 1 kill, 3 aces, 15 digs; Lacie Brenton 12 digs; Ali Fiamengo 2 digs; Katie Daly 7 kills, 3 digs; Jodi Hogart 2 kills, 46 assists, 3 aces, 15 digs, 1 block; CoreyAnne Russell 10 kills, 4 aces, 2 digs; Maria McNeil 21 kills, 1 ace, 7 digs, 2 blocks; Cassie Hodges 8 kills, 2 digs, 4 blocks; Megan Wichman 1 dig.

Carroll leaders — Nicole Rowan 18 kills, Katie Polette 23 assists, Natalie Solomon 10 digs, Tami Bonkowski 2 blocks.