FARMINGTON, Utah (Nov. 12, 2025) – The homestretch of the volleyball season is upon us as teams make their final push for the postseason and chase the regular season crown.
Big Sky Volleyball Weekly Notes (Week 12)
Big Sky Weekly Honors Announced
Offensive Player of the Week: Victoria Marthaler, Sacramento State (OH, So., Albuquerque, N.M.)
Sophomore Victoria Marthaler had another big week in helping the Hornets to a 1-1 record. Sacramento State played two five setters at home against the other two best teams in the league, defeating Northern Arizona, 3-2, and falling to Northern Colorado, 3-2.
The outside hitter finished the week with 59 kills, good for an average of 5.90 kills per set. She also added three aces, and posted match highs in kills in both contests.
In the Hornets’ win over NAU on Thursday, she had 27 kills and three aces, and her kills were 10 more than any other player in the match. In the fifth set along, she notched five kills and hit .500. In the loss to Northern Colorado, Marthaler posted 32 kills (one shy of a career best), and the 32 kills were 17 more than any player from either team.
She continues to lead the Big Sky in overall kills per set (4.98) and conference only kills per set (5.96). In addition, she is seventh in the nation in kills per set, and eighth in the country in points per set (5.46).
Defensive Player of the Week: Paige Stepaniuk, Portland State (L, Jr., Ridgefield, Wash.)
Paige Stepaniuk helped lead the Vikings to a 3-1 upset win over Northern Colorado Thursday. Stepaniuk and the Viking defense held Northern Colorado to .151 hitting in the win. That was the Bears’ lowest hitting percentage since Montana held them to .103 hitting on Oct. 2. Stepaniuk led the Vikings with 18 digs to go with six assists in leading the Vikings to the win.
Stepaniuk followed up with a near-double-double Saturday against Northern Arizona, finishing with 26 digs and nine assists. Stepaniuk’s 26 digs came as part of a season-high 97 the Vikings had as a team. That was the most by the Vikings in a match since they had 105 against Idaho State on Oct. 12, 2019.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Volleyball Player of the Week
Offense: Delaney Russell (UM), Kylie Moran (NAU), Brynn Reines (UNC), Tyra Schaub (PSU), Rose Moore (WSU)
Defense: Alexis Batezel (UM), Melia Barlow (NAU), Bella LePore (UNC), Reese Ampi (SAC), Marly Pratt (WSU)
Week 11 Highlights
The top-three teams in the standings squared off last weekend as Sacramento State squared off against Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado for important seeding results. The teams went 1-1 on the weekend, making the race for the regular season crown that much closer.
Montana and Montana State squared off in Bozeman for part two of the Brawl of the Wild. In this addition, the Grizzlies came out on top and brought the Main Line trophy back to Missoula.
Weber State Named Preseason Favorites
The Wildcats earned the top spot in the preseason poll after receiving five first place votes from the league's head coaches. Weber State is looking to secure their first regular season crown since the 2021 season. The Wildcats most recently won the Big Sky Volleyball tournament in 2023.
2025 Big Sky Volleyball Coaches’ Poll Results
1. Weber State (5) - 74
2. Northern Colorado (2) - 66
T3. Idaho State (2) - 65
T3. Sacramento State - 65
5. Eastern Washington - 40
6. Portland State - 39
T7. Montana State - 36
T7. Northern Arizona (1) - 36
9. Montana - 20
10. Idaho - 9
*() Indicates first place vote
Watts Headlines Inaugural Preseason All-Conference Team
Idaho State's Jaydin Watts headlines the inagural preseason All-Conference Team, earning preseason MVP honors. Watts was second in the league a season ago in blocks (161) and blocking average (1.34). Watts played a crucial role in Idaho State's record setting-defensive efforts last season. The Bengals led the nation in total blocks (364) and third in blocks per set (2.96). Fellow Bengal Meline Shulikov also earn a preseason nod.
Defending regular-season champion Northern Colorado also earned a pair of preseason honors in Isabel Bennett and Alayna Tessena. The Bears are coming off of a 28-8 record a season ago which included wins over Michigan State, Ole Miss and Colorado. The success continued into the postseason with a semifinal apperance in the NIVC.
2025 Big Sky Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team
1. Jaydin Watts, ISU (Preseason MVP)
2. Ashley Gneiting, WSU
3. Isabel Bennett, UNC
4. Hannah Stoddard, NAU
5. Kate Doorn, SAC
6. Naomi White, PSU
7. Quincy Moran, EWU
8. Lauren Lindseth, MSU
9. Meline Shulikov, ISU
10. Alayna Tessena, UNC
Sacramento State Seeks to Repeat as Tournament Champions in 2025
Sacramento State, who claimed its first tournament title since 2007 a season ago, will look to defend its title this year as the Hornets set their sights on another tourney crown. The Hornets were the first team to win the tournament on their home court since North Dakota in 2016.
Greeley Tabbed as Host City for 2025 Big Sky Tournament
The 2025 Big Sky Conference Volleyball Championship will be held at the Bank of Colorado Arena in Greeley, Colorado on Nov. 24-26. The top-eight teams in the conference standings after the conclusion of the regular season will comprise the championship field.
2025 Big Sky Volleyball Schedule (Week 12)
Thursday, Nov. 13
Idaho State at Northern Colorado // 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Weber State at Northern Arizona // 6:30 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Eastern Washington at Montana State // 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho at Montana // 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Friday, Nov. 14
Portland State at Sacramento State // 8:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Saturday, Nov. 15
Idaho State at Northern Arizona // 11:00 a.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho at Montana State // 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Eastern Washington at Montana // 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Weber State at Northern Colorado // 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Follow the Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) on X, Facebook, Instagram, Blue Sky, YouTube and TikTok for all the latest news around the league and use the hashtag #ExperienceElevated to stay connected.