RECAP | Thunderbirds Fall in Four to the Grizzlies 

MISSOULA, Mont -- The Southern Utah volleyball program started out hot in Missoula but ultimately fell 3-1 to the Montana Grizzlies. The Thunderbirds are now 13-15 overall and 6-10 in Big Sky Conference play. 

"If you don't pass then you don't win matches," said head coach Pete Hoyer. "We were also out-served and just didn't perform to our abilities. Katie stepped up in blocks which was one of our goals but we still haven't seen a consistent performance from our line up in the past two weeks. We have to step it up heading into these last two conference matchups." 

Middle blocker Katie Montgomery led in kills Saturday evening with 13, followed by Stacey Hone who had 11. Corrin Peterson chipped in 43 assists, respectively. Defensively, Montgomery led the T-Birds in blocks with seven while Thea Leiataua led in digs with 14. 

The T-Birds trailed by one at the 10 point mark to open things up in Missoula. SUU quickly caught the Grizzlies at 14-14, then tied the score again at 16-16. After an assisted block from Peterson and Montgomery followed by a Grizzlies attack error, the Thunderbirds secured the lead at 18-16. SUU kept a hold of the set, taking it as their own 25-22. 

The score knotted early in the second set at 7-7 and 8-8. As play continued the Grizzlies separated themselves from the Thunderbirds by four at 15-11 where SUU called their first timeout of the set. Coming out of the break the T-Birds were not able to recover as Montana took the set 25-18. 

During the third set the Thunderbirds found themselves trailing by five at 14-9 but their 5-0 scoring run brought them right back into the game at 14-14. Montana answered back by going on their own 6-1 scoring run, pushing their lead to 20-15. The Grizzlies closed the set with a 25-17 victory. 

SUU called their first timeout at 13-6 where they chased the Grizzlies seven point lead. As the set unfolded Montana only extended their lead, pushing it to ten at 18-8 where Hoyer called his second timeout of the set. After the break Montana took the set 25-12, earning the Grizzlies a 3-1 match victory. 

Next Up 

The Thunderbirds are set to host the University of Idaho Vandals on Thursday, November 21, at 6:30  p.m. inside the America First Event Center. 

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