Bobcat Libero Earns Conference Honors

The Montana State Bobcats volleyball team is fresh off a 1-2 performance this past weekend at the University of Arkansas tournament. And although they may not have a winning record to show, senior libero Allyssa Rizzo walked away from the tournament with Big Sky and tournament honors. Rizzo excelled at the Arkansas Classic, tallying 81 total digs across Montana State’s three games, earning all-tournament and Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week honors. Rizzo’s 37 digs against Northwestern State were one shy of the program record for a single match, set in 2006 against Bradley by all-time digs leader Kandice Kelly and matched in 2010 against Northern Arizona by Meghan Albiston. The senior out of Illinois needs just 172 more digs this season to pass Kelly to become the Bobcats’ all-time leader. This week head volleyball coach Daniel Jones praised his libero for her step-up play. “It’s fun to watch. She gobbles up the back court. She reminds me of Pac-Man just running around the back court and gobbling up whatever comes her way. Without a doubt she was the best libero at that tournament,” Jones said. “I’m guessing she’s at least in the top 25 in the nation for digs per set right now and that’s Allyssa Rizzo. She’s a stud.”