Lady Diggers Down Western, Walla Walla

photo: Jason Silvernale

The Montana Tech volleyball squad hit the Kelvin Sampson Court for two convincing victories to open their first home stand of the season. Walla Walla University and Montana Western traveled to Butte to face the Orediggers, who were 1-3 from the previous weekend. The Diggers prevailed in both contests boosting their record to .500 for the season. 


Walla Walla University was Montana Tech’s first opponent for the afternoon. With outside hitters Shersteen Cline and Emily Matosich sidelined with injuries, Gabby Weber was brought of redshirting to fill the gaps. Along with other true freshman, Emily Lobnitz, Weber contributed 13 kills in her Montana Tech debut. The Diggers easily handled Walla Walla winning in straight sets, 25-16, 25-10, 25-21. 



The Bulldogs from Western were the on the bill for the evening contest against Tech. The Bulldogs returned all but one teammate from last year’s squad who were winless against Frontier Conference members. A different looking team was expected to play due to new coaching staff but despite Western’s new competitiveness, Tech prevailed in four sets, 25-21, 11-25, 25-16, 25-20. Lobnitz tallied 12 kills in the match and hit at an impressive .364 to lead the Diggers in kills. 


 Montana Tech def. Walla Walla 25-16, 25-10, 25-21.


Kills — WWU 16 (Elisa Westman 6, Heather McFadden 2, Michelle Warner 2, Victoria Buell 2, Natalie Wilkening 2, Kelsie Schafer 1, McKenzie Duellman 1), Tech 30 (Emily Lobnitz 8, Kendra Lyons 5, Korey Krumm 5, Gabby Weber 5, Michelle Hardy 3, Lacey Phelan 3, Alex Courtney 1). 
Aces — WWU 2 (McFadden 1, Schafer 1), Tech 5 (Kiara Ross 1, Allyse Cruise 1, Hardy 1, Weber 1, Lobnitz 1). 
Assists — WWU 15 (Schafer 8, Jacque McCluskey 5, McFadden 1, Wilkening 1), Tech 26 (Hardy 23, Ross 3). 
Digs — WWU 33 (Wilkening 10, Karissa Jacobson 6, Schafer 6, Buell 4, McFadden 3, McCluskey 2, Westman 1, Duellman 1), Tech 48 (Cruise 12, Weber 12, Ross 7, Kirstin King 4, Hardy 4, Lyons 3, Lobnitz 3, Krumm 2, Phelan 1). 
Blocks — WWU 4 (Westman 3, Warner 1, Schafer 1, Wilkening 1), Tech 5 (Krumm 3, Cruise 1, Lyons 1, Phelan 1).