Homecoming Weekend: It's Homecoming Weekend for the Battlin' Bears! Rocky Mountain College has a trio of big matches in four days. Rocky plays their home and Frontier Conference opener Friday evening against the Montana Western Bulldogs. The homecoming festivities continue on Saturday when the Battlin' Bears hosts the Carroll College Fighting Saints. On Monday, the team participates in Billings' crosstown rivalry with a match against their Rimrock rival, MSU-Billings.
Battlin' Bears So Far:
- Friday's match against the Bulldogs ends a nearly two-week break from competition for the Battlin' Bears.
- While dropping in the rankings, the Battlin' Bears can hang their hats on a defeat of No. 3 ranked Grand View 3-2 in August
- Despite having not played a game yet in September, Daniella Russell still leads the Frontier Conference in total kills with 161.
- The Battlin' Bears rank No. 4 in digs per game (19.910) across the entirety of the NAIA.
- Rocky leads the Frontier in digs (896) and digs per set (19.910)
- Freshman Ayla Embry is a big reason for that ranking with 237 digs so far this season.
- Natalie Hilderman has recorded seven double-doubles this season.
- Hilderman's average of 8.6 assists per set trails only Montana Tech's McKenna Kaelber who currently averages 9.2.
- Hilderman also only trails Kaelber in the Frontier for total assists with 387 to Kaelber's 443.
Scouting the Bulldogs:
- According to available records, Rocky leads 21-7 against Montana Western since 1991.
- The Bulldogs were awarded all three of the Frontier Conference's Volleyball Player of the Week (Weber, Sellers, and Fink)
- The Battlin' Bears swept the Bulldogs on September 14 and October 20 last year.
- Emmah Peterson ranks No. 18 in the NAIA in total blocks with 58.
- Cady Siemion leads the Bulldogs in scoring with 108 kills.
- Madison Richtmyer has 272 assists so far this season which counts as fifth most in the Frontier.
Scouting the Fighting Saints:
- Rocky defeated Carroll College 3-1 on September 15 and October 19 last year.
- The Fighting Saints are ranked No. 2 in the NAIA for blocks per game (2.9) and No. 46 in hitting percentage (.201)
- Hannah Dean is ranked No. 2 across the entire NAIA in blocks per set with 1.700 and No. 4 in total blocks with 73.
- Ayla Carpenter ranks No. 49 in the NAIA in digs per set with 5.070.
Scouting the Yellowjackets:
- Rocky defeated MSU-Billings 3-2 on September 18 and October 23 last year.
- With 89 kills so far this season, Maddi Vigil once again leads the Yellowjackets in scoring. She was the team's scoring leader last season with 278 kills.
- Makayla Baca has 110 digs and has 11 service aces to lead the team in both categories.
- The team has two players with over 100 assists so far. Alexa Smyth has 154 while Hannah Hashbarger has contributed 131.
Frontier Players of the Week:
- Frontier Conference Volleyball Attacker of the Week: Montana Western's Jessie Weber
- Frontier Conference Volleyball Setter of the Week: Montana Western's Tannah Sellers
- Frontier Conference Volleyball Defender of the Week: Montana Western's McKenna Fink
