Montana State's women's volleyball team is set to face Wichita State in the Fab 4 of the Women's National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) on December 9 at 12 p.m. MT. The Bobcats advanced to the semifinals by defeating Wyoming (3-2) after earlier victories over Pacific (3-1) and Sacramento State (3-1). Wichita State, with an identical 24-8 overall mark, overcame Arkansas State (3-0), Tulsa (3-1), and Drake (3-0) to reach this stage, playing all matches on its home court.

Why It Matters

Montana State's historic first appearance in national postseason play and their exceptional performance, winning 24 matches, makes the Fab 4 matchup against Wichita State a pivotal moment for the team and their coach's inaugural season.

By the Numbers
  • Montana State has won 24 matches, the most since 2002, and secured 12 Big Sky Conference victories, the most in team history.
  • Kira Thomsen holds the all-time MSU career kills record with 1,677 kills, ranking fourth in the Big Sky Conference era, and has 157 career aces, ranking 10th in league history.
State of Play
  • Montana State is on a roll, winning 10 of its last 11 matches, and has made history with the most wins in the modern era.
  • Under first-year head coach Matt Houk, the Bobcats won a school-record 12 Big Sky Conference matches and enjoyed a remarkable 12-1 record at home.
What's Next

The outcome of the Fab 4 matchup against Wichita State will significantly impact the trajectory of Montana State's groundbreaking season, potentially paving the way for further historic achievements in the NIVC.

Bottom Line

Montana State's remarkable performance and historic accomplishments under first-year coach Matt Houk reflect a team on the rise, poised to make a lasting impact in the NIVC and beyond.