Photo supplied, Big Sky Conference
Weber State middle blocker Liana Woodley (14) swings against Sacramento State in the Big Sky tournament semifinals Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023, in Greeley, Colo.
Friday night was Dani Richins’ fourth career appearance in a Big Sky Conference tournament final with Weber State volleyball.
On the other side, Montana State was making its program’s first appearance in the tournament final in 40 years.
No. 3-seed Montana State, playing for its first-ever NCAA Tournament bid, played the part for most of the night and gained a lead of 4-5 points about one-third the way through each of the first four sets, though No. 4-seed Weber State fought back to force a fifth set.
And that final set went much of the same way. The Bobcats came out hot and took an 8-3 lead in the final frame and led 12-8 late.
And yet again, Weber State fought, showing much of the grit the Wildcats sought all season.
Richins hammered WSU back into it from the back row to set a new career-high in kills, and Weber State ended the match on a 7-1 run to win the Big Sky championship and qualify for the NCAA Tournament with a 22-25, 26-24, 22-25, 25-21, 15-13 victory in Greeley, Colorado.
Richins finished with 27 kills. Saane Katoa added 11 kills with no errors, overcoming 15 team service errors, and Katoa and Kate Standifird ended the match with a combined block at the net.
“We did not play very great, a lot of ups and downs,” WSU head coach Jeremiah Larsen. “What can I say about Dani Richins? She was absolutely amazing.”
Kira Thomsen led Montana State with a whopping 28 kills.
Trailing 1-0 in sets and 23-19 late in the second set, Rose Moore subbed into the service line, hit two aces and two other tough serves, and Weber ended the set on a 7-1 run to win it 26-24.
For the first time all night, Weber State took a lead of more than two points with a 7-4 advantage early in the fourth set. MSU ran off seven straight points to go up 11-7, but Richins started swinging WSU back into the mix. The Wildcats won by a 14-5 margin down the stretch to take the set 25-21 on a combined block from Standifird and Liana Woodley.
Selection for the NCAA Tournament is scheduled for 4 p.m. MST Sunday, a show that will air on ESPN.
