GAME NOTES (PDF)

DILLON, Mont. – The Montana Western volleyball team (1-3), heads to Nampa, Idaho this weekend to compete in the I-84 Classic hosted by College of Idaho. The tournament is being held on the Northwest Nazarene campus due to flooding in the Yotes' home gym in Caldwell.
 
The Bulldogs will take on #2 Eastern Oregon (8-0), #18 College of Idaho (4-0), and #15 The Master's (2-2).  
 
 SCHEDULE 
Friday, Aug. 28
vs #2 EOU – 3:00 p.m. MT | Watch Live  *| Live Stats
vs #18 C of I – 7:00 p.m. MT | Watch Live * | Live Stats
 
Saturday, Aug. 29
vs #15 The Master's – 12:00 p.m. MT | Watch Live *
 
*Video stream is available for purchase
 
 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 
Montana Western went 1-3 in the opening tournament of the season. The Bulldogs defeated OLLU 3-1 (25-22, 25-22, 18-25, 25-23) but fell to #16 Dakota Wesleyan 0-3 (22-25, 18-25, 15-25), Campbellsville 1-3 (36-34, 23-25, 18-25, 18-25), and Saint Francis 0-3 (22-25, 16-25, 23-25).

 BULLDOG BEAT 
The Bulldogs are averaging 11.5 kills, 10.0 assists, 1.5 aces, 11.9 digs, and 1.4 blocks per set in 2026.
 
The team's best tally in kills (44), hitting percentage (.212), assists (42), and service aces (eight) came in the win over OLLU (8/14). They earned a season-high 8.0 blocks against Dakota Wesleyan (8/14) and registered a season-high 61 digs against Campbellsville (8/15).

 COACHES CORNER 
Head Coach Katie Lovett returns for her eighth year at the helm. She is joined by assistant coaches Madison Richtmyer (fourth season), Payton Spoja (first season), and Jazi Smith (first season).
 
 SIGN US UP FOR THE MARATHON 
The Bulldogs 36-34 set one win over Campbellsville is the highest scoring single-set score in the last 10 seasons.
 
 ACE IN THE HOLE 
Western landed eight service aces against OLLU, it's highest tally since recording nine against Carroll late last season.
 
 BE ON THE (LOOK)OUT 
Averi Look led the Bulldogs in kills in all four matches at the Saints Invitational. Additionally, she matched her career high with 16 kills in the win over OLLU.
 
 HOW MAY SHE ASSIST YOU? 
Jayda Ward dished out a career-high 26 assists against Campbellsville.
 
 FLOOR GENERAL 
Sophie Worden recorded double-digit assists in three of four matches at the Saints Invitational, including a season-high 17 in the win over OLLU.
 
 CAN YOU DIG IT? 
Taylor Ketchum led the Bulldogs in digs in all four matches in San Antonio. She registered a season-high 15 against Saint Francis.
 
 SCOUTING REPORT 
Eastern Oregon (8-0)

• The Mountaineers are posting 13.2 kills, 12.4 assists, 2.6 aces, 14.2 digs, and 2.4 blocks through eight games.
• Ranked second in the nation in the preseason NAIA Women's Volleyball Top-25 Poll.
• Keira Vaughn leads the team with 3.58 kills per set, followed by Akylah Kaino (2.62) and Brooke Womack (2.30).
• Vaughn (218), Womack (189), and Kaino (135) also top the team in total attacks.
• Mylie Mills is hitting a team-best .563 while Jule Whitley is at .500.
• Kate Stidham (181, 6.70) and Ava Semprimoznik (111, 4.11) sit first and second in assists and assists per set, respectively.
• Semprimoznik tops the team with 15 aces while Madison Vaughn (14), Womack (11), Jaycee Villastrigo (10), and Sydney Friesen (10) have also reached double digits at the service line.
• Womack paces the team with 82 digs (3.04 per set) while Whitley leads in blocks (36.0) and blocks per set (1.33)

College of Idaho (4-0)

• The Yotes are averaging 11.5 kills, 10.9 assists, 2.9 aces, 15.9 digs, and 2.6 blocks per set in 2026.
• Ranked 18th in the preseason NAIA Women's Volleyball Top-25 Poll.
• Addison McKarcher paces the team with 2.67 kills per set, followed by Abigail Flerchinger (2.64) and Keylee Wilson (2.38).
• Wilson tops the team in total attacks (69).
• Flerchinger is hitting a team-high .449 clip.
• Shaynee McWilliams is dishing out a team best 7.69 assists per set while Kadence Boyd has landed a team-high 12 service aces.
• McWilliams (3.69) and Avery Lewis (3.36) rank first and second in digs per set, respectively.
• Alexa Wheeler has posted 19.0 total blocks on the year to lead C of I while Cora Young leads in blocks per set (1.5).

The Master's (2-2)

• The Lady Mustangs are putting up 11.9 kills, 11.4 assists, 2.2 aces, 16.1 digs, and 1.7 blocks per set this season.
• Ranked 15th in the preseason NAIA Women's Volleyball Top-25 Poll.
• Kinsley Kollman leads the team with 2.88 kills per set, followed by Chloe Grever (2.76) and Isabella Amet (2.71)
• Kollman (156) and Amet (133) sit first and second in total attacks, respectively.
• Grever is hitting a team-best .320.
• Kate Wagner is posting a team-high 8.65 assists per set.
• Sierra Hale tops the team in both aces (nine) and digs per set (5.29).
• Grever (12.0) and Wagner (11.0) have both reached double figures in blocks.  

 SERIES HISTORY 
The Bulldogs are 10-13 all-time against EOU, 11-11 all-time versus C of I, and 1-0 all-time against The Master's.
 
 ON THE HORIZON 
Following the I-84 Classic, UMW opens conference play on the road at Valley City State (9/4) and Mayville state (9/5).    
For complete coverage of UMW Volleyball, be sure to follow us on social media at @umw_volleyball (Instagram), @UMW_Volleyball (X), and @Montana Western Athletics (Facebook) or visit our official website at UMWBulldogs.com.

#GOBULLDOGS!