Last weekend’s tournament in Pittsburgh, Pa., was full of milestones for third-year Montana State volleyball coach Sara Schaub and the Bobcats.
On Friday afternoon, Montana State reached another landmark with its fourth win of the season. The win gives MSU its most victories since the 2006 squad recorded seven.
Montana State (4-1) rallied from a 2-1 deficit to post a 22-25, 25-21, 20-25, 25-17, 15-11 victory over Western Carolina in the opening match of the Indiana State-Drury Inn Classic.
Trailing 2-1 in sets and tied at 14-all in the fourth stanza, the Bobcats rattled off an 11-3 run to even the match. MSU then jumped out to a quick 6-1 advantage in the deciding game following a Megan Spofford kill and cruised to the victory.
“We weren’t playing very well in the first three sets,” Schaub said. “Taylar (Barney) got us going with her aggressiveness. It was good to get another five-set win, but we need to play more consistent from the beginning to the end of matches.”
Sophomore Taylar Barney paced the Bobcats with a match-high 16 kills, while junior Rachelle Allen recorded her third double-double of the fall with 12 kills and 11 digs.
Freshman Mackenzi Campbell dished out 28 assists and added ten digs.
Defensively, MSU had four players in double-digit digs paced by Meghan Albiston with a match-high 29 saves. Spofford and Barney led the Bobcats at the net with three blocks, apiece.
MSU will face SIU Edwardsville and Indiana State on Saturday.