The Seattle University volleyball team could not maintain a consistent offense, as the Montana State Bobcats earned a 3-0 victory (25-23, 25-22, 25-17) Sunday afternoon at Shroyer Gym.
Cristin Richards (Tumwater, Wash.) led the Redhawks with 15 kills, a .355 hitting percentage, and three total blocks, while Allison Farley (Happy Valley, Ore.) contributed six kills and three block assists. Megan Augustavo (Shoreline, Wash.) dished out 29 assists, and Allie Hoskins (Colorado Springs, Colo.) led the backline with 12 defensive digs.
"We never got in rhythm. Our hitters took good swings, but we weren't sharp overall," head coach Shannon Ellis said.
Montana State (3-16) scored the first four points of the match thanks in part to two service aces by Nicole Baker. Down 10-5, Seattle U scored five unanswered points, helped by three attack errors by the Bobcats, before Montana State retook the lead at 15-11 with four straight points. Later in the set, the Redhawks scored six unanswered points, with Richards collecting three kills and a block assist, to go ahead, 23-22, but Montana State closed out the set with three straight points, the last two on consecutive kills by Alex Penewell.
The second set started the same way, with Montana State opening a 4-0 lead. Down 16-10, the Redhawks pulled to within one at 19-18, starting with a block and three kills from Farley. After a kill by Sarah Jaeckel (Littleton, Colo.) cut the Bobcat lead to one at 23-22, the home team won the final two points of the set with a kill by Jennifer Lundquist and a service ace from Chelsea Oemcke.
After Seattle U won the first point of the third set, the Bobcats earned the next five, and another 4-0 run allowed Montana State to extend its lead to 12-4. With the Redhawks down 17-7, Richards earned six straight Seattle U points on kills as part of a 7-2 scoring run that pulled the visitors to within five at 19-14. The Bobcats stopped the run on back-to-back blocks and eventually completed the sweep.
Penewell led Montana State with nine kills, while Rachelle Allen and Oemcke each finished with seven kills, with Oemcke also earning two service aces and three block assists. Lundquist dished out 26 assists to go along with five kills and five digs, Sarah Horton finished with six kills and 10 digs, and Baker led everyone with 16 defensive digs, plus she earned two service aces.
Seattle University (4-14) will hit the road again late next week, first facing Nevada Thursday, Oct. 20, beginning at 7 p.m., followed by a match at Sacramento State Friday, Oct. 21, also starting at 7 p.m.