Senior setter Jamie Mellies (Henderson, Nev.) ran a solid offense with 40 assists along with seven digs. Cristin Richards (Olympia, Wash.) led the way with 15 kills, two service aces, and three block assists, followed closely by Sarah Jaeckel (Littleton, Colo.) with 14 kills and two service aces and senior Janet Beckerman (Bellevue, Wash.) with 11 kills and a .450 hitting percentage. Libero Emily Deleissegues (Aromas, Calif.), the third member of the senior trio, led the team with 13 defensive digs.
"This was a great win for Seattle U. I am especially proud of our seniors. Janet had probably one of the best matches of her career, and Jamie and Emily were solid once again. I am very happy that we were able to put together this win for them. We go to Florida this week, and I hope we can keep the momentum going," head coach Shannon Ellis said.
Seattle University scored four straight points early in the first set to take a 9-5 lead. The Redhawks slowly extended the lead throughout the set, eventually closing out the opening set with a kill by Jaeckel. Seattle U posted a .500 hitting percentage in the set and successfully won on Montana State's serve 13 out of 15 times.
Montana State (10-11) stayed with Seattle U in the first half of the second set, but the Redhawks strung together four consecutive points, including two kills by Jaeckel, to pull ahead, 20-15. The Bobcats responded, forcing Seattle U into four attack errors and using three kills by Alex Penewell to tie the set at 22-22. A kill by Richards, a Montana State ball-handling error, and a kill by Beckerman gave Seattle U a 2-0 lead heading into the intermission.
Seattle U scored the first three points of the third set, but Montana State scored the next four, two on service aces by Nicole Baker, to take an early 4-3 lead. A block assist and consecutive kills from Richards put the Redhawks ahead, 7-5, and a 6-1 scoring run allowed the home team to build a comfortable advantage. Down 24-16, Montana State fought off five match points before a service error clinched the set and the match for Seattle U.
Penewell led the Bobcats with nine kills, while Taylar Barney finished with seven kills and a .462 hitting percentage. Jennifer Lundquist held the setting duties for most of the contest, collecting 18 assists along with two service aces and four digs, Baker finished the afternoon with three service aces and four digs, and Jodeen Rademacher led her squad with seven digs.
Seattle University (10-12) begins a five-match road swing with a trip to Florida next weekend for matches against Atlantic Sun schools North Florida (Oct. 21), Jacksonville (Oct. 22), and Stetson (Oct. 23). The Redhawks will not play at the Connolly Center again until they host Cal State Bakersfield and North Carolina Central in the Independent Tournament Nov. 19-20.