INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Montana opened the Hampton Inn Invitational with a 3-0 loss to Drake on Friday afternoon (25-19, 25-21, 25-20). 

Averaging 20.0 factors per set, Montana was in every set, however by no means critically threatened the Bulldogs. 

“It was a irritating match,” head coach Allison Lawrence mentioned. “Drake did a great job of hitting their particulars they usually scouted our tendencies in ways in which made us one-dimensional and saved us out of rhythm. 

“It felt actually troublesome to attain, after which we might get caught in rotations for a number of factors and string a number of errors collectively.” 

Montana hit simply .108 for the match, with two of its beginning attackers hitting a unfavorable assault share. The one participant to get right into a strong rhythm was junior center blocker Ellie Scherffius, who completed with 9 kills on .429 hitting. 

Whereas Montana struggled offensively, Drake’s attackers have been multi-dimensional. Mariana Rodrigues completed with 18 kills at a .381 clip whereas Addie Schmierer totaled eight kills and nil errors on simply 10 swings (.800 hitting). 

“We talked all week about being the aggressive group, and we simply did not seem like the aggressor,” Lawrence mentioned. 

After falling behind within the opening set, 15-8, Montana acquired three straight factors – together with a kill and block from Scherffius – to deliver the rating to 15-11. Moments later, the Grizzlies went on a 4-0 run to drive a Drake timeout, now trailing by simply two, 19-17. Drake, nonetheless, scored the following 4 factors and received the set, 25-19. 

After Montana took a 5-4 Set-2 lead on a Scherffius kill, the Bulldogs scored the following eight factors, together with 4 kills from Rodrigues. 

Scherffius recorded two kills and a block throughout a 5-1 Griz run, earlier than the Montana once more used a 5-1 run moments later to get inside two factors, 23-21, however could not get nearer. 

Montana led for the primary half of the third set, together with a 13-10 benefit following back-to-back blocks from Paige Clark and Elise Jolly. Drake, although, responded with a 5-0 run and led from that time ahead. 

Clark led Montana with 11 kills whereas senior libero Sarina Moreno added 17 digs. Setter Carly Anderson had 32 assists and three service aces.