Tech throttles Carroll

HELENA — The ninth win was impressive.

Not that there was anything ho-hum about Montana Tech’s previous eight volleyball victories this season, but Wednesday’s 30-27, 30-19, 30-28 whipping of Carroll College came in the Frontier Conference opener, away from home in the Saints’ P.E. Center and against a traditional league power.

“I’m very excited to win and very excited to win in three,” Orediggers head coach Marilyn Tobin said.

The win was Montana Tech’s ninth straight, too, after an 0-4 start on the season. Carroll fell to 6-7 overall.

Sophomore Cassie Hodges pounded 18 kills while hitting .536 to lead the Montana Tech win, augmented much by the 40 assists sophomore setter Jodi Hogart put up for the hitters. Sophomore Katie Daly had 11 kills and junior CoreyAnne Russell chalked up 10. Lacie Brenton led the floor defense with 13 digs and Daly was tough at the net with 3.5 blocks.

“I’m really pleased with the confidence our team is playing with,” Tobin said. “And when they play with confidence, it is really fun to watch them play.” The coach said injuries to middle blocker Janet Friesz and defensive specialist Savanna Lester took two regulars off the floor, forcing the Orediggers to adapt to a changed lineup.

“So it was especially good because we had to adapt and we See TECH, Page B5 still played with that much confidence,” Tobin said.

Friesz is out with an ankle injury and Lester missed because of a sore hamstring.

“Cassie had a great peformance in hitting,” Tobin said, “and Jodi was finding the right people at the right time. Lacie Brenton had a great night digging for us.” Nicole Rowan downed 11 kills and Sammy Priddy had 10 for Carroll. Liz Hardan and Mandy McFadden combined for 31 Saints assists, and Mary Mahoney had 12 digs.

Montana Tech will be in Billings on Thursday to play Rocky Mountain in a conference match.

“We’re hoping to play with as much confidence as we had tonight and play with control,” Tobin said.

Carroll, coached by Butte native Maureen (Tutty) Boyle, will be home Thursday night at 7 against Montana-Western.

The University of Montana Western volleyball team will be searching for their first win of the season as they open conference play.

Montana Western is 0-10 on the season after going 0-4 at the Whitworth Tournament last weekend. Freshman Aisha Snyder leads the Bulldogs in kills with 2.20 a game followed by sophomore Ashley Johnson with 1.97 and freshman Courtney Nichols with 1.18. Sophomore Kiley Myers leads the team in digs with 4.58 per game.

Montana Tech def. Carroll 30-27, 30-19, 30-28.

Kills — Tech 47 (Cassie Hodges 18, Katie Daly 11, CoreyAnne Russell 10, Maria McNeil 5, Jodi Hogart 2, Samantha Sheble 1), Carroll 42 (Nicole Rowan 11, Sammy Priddy 10, Haylee Otteson 8, Christina Smetana 5, Lindsey Lyman 4, Mandy McFadden 3, Liz Hardan 1). Aces — Tech 9 (Hogart 2, Hodges, Megan Wichman 2, Kristi Witt 1, Lacie Brenton 1, McNeil 1), Carroll 3 (Holli Hashley 1, Tami Bonkowski 1, McFadden 1). Assists Tech 43 (Hogart 40, Daly 2, McNeil 1), Carroll 31 (McFadden 16, Hardan 15). Digs — Tech 41 (Brenton 13, Hodges 9, Daly 7, Witt 3, Hogart 3, Russell 2, McNeil 2, Wichman 2), Carroll 37 (Mary Mahoney 12, Priddy 6, Rowan 4, Hashley 3, Bonkowski 3, Hardan 2, McFadden 2, Smetana 2, Lyman 2, Otteson 1). Blocks — Tech 8 (Daly 3.5, Sheble 1.5, Russell 1.5, Hodges 1, Hogart .5), Carroll 6 (Smetana 3, Lyman 1.5, Rowan 1, Priddy .5).