Historical Season Ends in Wichita

Montana State’s historical volleyball season came to an end as Wichita State recorded a straight set 25-21, 26-24, 25-20 win over the Bobcats in the semifinals of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) on Saturday afternoon in Charles Koch Arena.

Montana State (24-9) completed its 2023 campaign with a school record for overall victories as well as Big Sky Conference (12) wins. In addition, the Bobcats made their first-ever appearance in national postseason play and rattled off three wins – Pacific, Sacramento State, Wyoming – to make the NIVC Fab Four along with the Shockers, South Florida, and UTEP.

“We’re going to be sad and hurt for a while, but that’s okay,” said MSU head coach Matt Houk, who guided MSU to lofty heights in his first season at the helm of the Bobcat program. “But when the feelings subside, we want them to hold the thought of the great things that happened. We talked about all the statistical milestones we reached, but bigger than any of that is that they are the group that changed the culture of the program, and nobody can ever take that away.”

Wichita State (25-8) jumped out to an early 7-4 lead in the opening set before the Bobcats settled into the match. Tied at 17-all, the Shockers went on a 3-0 run to separate themselves on the scoreboard. However, a Jordan Radick kill pulled MSU to within 21-20 down the stretch. WSU rattled off the next two points and captured the opening set on a kill by Sophia Rohling.

“I didn’t feel we were playing bad in the opening set, but we seemed to miss things we hadn’t been down the stretch of the season,” Houk said. “It was kind of a funky feeling, but I always felt we were in it.”

The second set featured 12 ties and three lead changes. With WSU leading 15-14 at the media timeout, MSU came out of the break taking control with a series of six one-point advantages down the stretch. The Bobcats held set point at 24-23 following an Avery Turnage kill, but Wichita State responded with the final three points winning the frame on a block by Rohling and Natalie Foster.

“At this point of the season and in the final points of a set, the margins are extremely thin,” Houk said. “Wichita had good weapons, and in the moment, made the plays we didn’t make.”

A Kira Thomsen kill at the midway mark of the third set, pulled the Bobcats within 16-15, but the Shockers went on a 4-1 run and MSU never got closer than two points in the rest of the way. Wichita State captured the match on a Forster kill.

“Our six seniors gave us everything they had this season,” Houk said. “Whatever their role, they did it quite well. I’m sure the transition wasn’t easy for them, but they all bought in and helped to redefine what playing volleyball at MSU looks like. They are the catalyst for what’s to come with the…