Montana Tech goes down in three sets

By The Standard Staff - 10/01/2006

HAVRE — Montana Tech did not perform up to par in any volleyball category, head coach Marilyn Tobin said, and, therefore, suffered a 30-17, 30-24, 30-25 Frontier Conference sweep at the hands of Montana State-Northern on Saturday.

“They played good and we played poorly and that was a lethal combination for the Montana Tech Orediggers,” Tobin said. “It was a poor performance for us offensively, defensively and in serving. We had 17 digs for the entire match and that’s a number our libero should be getting by herself. Montana Tech is typically a good defensive team so we need to step it up.” Carlee Hoff walloped 18 kills and Jody Berglund blasted 10 to lead the Northern offense, which also included 29 assists and five service aces by setter Brittany Sesler.

“We get the ball,” Tobin said, talking about how the Orediggers traditionally dominate on defense. “But in a couple of matches, we haven’t done that. We got outblocked tonight, also, and we’d been blocking pretty well as a team. We only had four blocks tonight as a team.” The Orediggers’ hitters were each held to single-digit numbers in kills, and the digs leader was middle hitter Maria McNeil with seven. Freshman setter Jodi Hogart doled out 25 assists.

Montana Tech has a 2-3 Frontier Conference record and 7-10 overall mark, and will next play on Wednesday when the Orediggers will be home against area rival Montana-Western.

“We’re coming to the close of the first half of our conference play and we certainly need to step it up and play better,” Tobin said. “On the positive side, we’ve had only one home match through August and September, so now it’ll be a change of pace as we begin a run of home matches. Maybe that will pick us up and get us playing better.” MSU-Northern def. Montana Tech 30-17, 30-24, 30-25.

Kills — Tech 30 (Maria McNeil 8, Cassie Hodges 8, CoreyAnne Russell 7, Janet Friesz 3, Katie Daly 3, Jodi Hogart 1), Northern 46 (Carlee Hoff 18, Jody Berglund 10, Rachel Mrdeza 7, Jeanna McPherson 6, Tera O’Haire 3, Brittany Sesler 2). Assists — Tech 28 (Hogart 25, Friesz 2, McNeil 1), Northern 39 (Sesler 29, Mrdeza 2, Hoff 2, Berglund 2, Kelly Thorpe 2). Aces — Tech 4 (Kristi Witt 1, Hogart 1, Russell 1, McNeil 1), Northern 8 (Sesler 5, Hoff 2, Berglund 1). Blocks — Tech 4 (Daly 1.5, Friesz .5, Hogart .5, Russell .5, McNeil .5, Hodges .5), Northern 6.5 (McPherson 2.5, Berglund 2, Mrdeza 1, Hoff .5, O’Haire .5). Digs — Tech 17 (McNeil 7, Witt 4, Jessie Conners 2, Hogart 2, Russell 2), Northern 28 (Sesler 7, Mrdeza 6, Hoff 6, Thorpe 3, O’Haire 2, Berglund 2, McPherson 2).

Carroll 3, Western 0 HELENA — Jenny Finlay filled her usual role of the go to player for Western but it was not enough as the Bulldogs fell to Carroll 30-16, 30-25, 30-16 in Frontier Confernce action.

“Jenny (Finlay) played well for us.” Western’s head coach Katie Howells said.

Finlay ended with match with 11 kills, eight digs and one block.

Carroll was led by Tiffany Rochelle with 12 kills, five digs and one block.

Western will face off against Montana Tech Wednseday.

Carroll def. Western 30-16, 30-25, 30-16 KILLS — Carroll College, 44 (Tiffany Rochelle 12); UM-Western 30 (Jenny Finlay 11); ASSISTS — Carroll College 39 (Katie Polette 18); UM-Western 24 (Kyla Rasmussen 11); ACES — Carroll 9 (Tami Bonkowski 2, Tiffany Rochelle 2, Christie Tyrell 2); UM-Western 4 (Nicole Merens 2). DIGS — Carroll College 45 (Valissa Sneck 9); UM-Western 31, (Jenny Finlay 8). BLOCKS — Carroll 2 (Christina Smetana, Laurie Chambers); UM-Western (Jenny Finlay).