FARMINGTON, Utah (Sept. 17, 2025) – Only one week of non-conference action remains as teams around the league face their final test before Big Sky action begins.
Big Sky Volleyball Weekly Notes (Week 4)
Big Sky Weekly Honors Announced
Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Hannah Stoddard, Northern Arizona (OH, R-Jr., Coeur d'Alene, ID.)
Hanah Stoddard helped lead the Lumberjacks to a triple sweep at the Lumberjack Classic, defeating UC San Diego, Texas Tech and Southern Utah. She hit to a .366 percentage with 48 kills for the tournament, including a season-high .488 average and 22 kills against Texas Tech, averaging 5.33 kills/set over the course of the weekend. The Idaho native put up 51.5 points for a 5.7 point/set average and recorded double-doubles in two matches. Stoddard was named to the all-tournament team. She leads the Big Sky in kills with 4.71 per set for the season and also leads the conference in points, averaging 5.16 per set.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Alexis Batezel, Montana (L, Sr., Las Vegas, Nev.)
Gracie Cagle averaged 11.10 assists per set in Montana's 3-0 weekend at the Sycamores Invite to earn the Tournament MVP honors.
Montana hit .305 as a team on the weekend and set a new 25-point program record by hitting .416 in a win over Butler.
Cagle spread the ball around the court which led to four different players averaging over 2.70 kills per set. Cagle also had eight kills, four aces, and 34 digs.
Defensive Player of the Week: Reese Ampi, Sacramento State (L, Jr., Redding, Calif.)
Junior libero Reese Ampi helped the Hornets to a 2-1 record, which included a victory over UC Riverside, a road win at Southern Utah, and a tight 3-2 road loss (16-14 in the 5th) at Utah Tech. She spearheaded a Hornet defense that limited the opposition to a .120 hitting percentage, including sub-.100 marks from both Riverside and Southern Utah.
The Redding, Calif., native had 14-plus digs in all three matches, which included a career-high 31 in Saturday’s loss at Utah Tech. The 31 digs were the most by a Hornet in three years, and she finished the week with an average of 4.54 digs per set. In addition, in 39 serves sent her way, Ampi had zero reception errors.
The junior had 14 digs against both UC Riverside and Southern Utah, and added 31 at Utah Tech. She remains second in the Big Sky with an average of 4.46 digs per set this season.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Volleyball Player of the Week
Offense: Kalista Lukovich (EWU), Ada Isik (UI), Cayton White (UI), Alayna Tessena (UNC), Willow Watson (PSU), Ashlynn Archer (SAC), Rose Moore (WSU)
Defense: Judith Bolomboy (EWU), Sydney Pierce (UM), Reese Ampi (SAC), Brielle Rueckert (WSU)
Week 3 Highlights
Weekend three action was full of wins as four Big Sky Volleyball teams went 3-0 on the weekend, and two teams picked up Power 4 wins.
Conference leaders Weber State was one of those squads as the Wildcats traveled to Missouri and came back to Ogden with a 3-0 record, one of those wins being over Iowa.
Northern Arizona opened up their home slate in a big way going 3-0 in Flagstaff, including a straight-set victory over Texas Tech on Friday night.
Portland State and Montana capped off 3-0 weekends. The Grizzlies are looking to extend their six-match win streak this weekend against Gonzaga and Seattle.
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.
Follow the Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky and TikTok for all the latest news around the league and use the hashtag #ExperienceElevated.
2025 Big Sky Volleyball Schedule (Week 4)
Thursday, Sept. 18
Northern Arizona at USC Upsate // 9:00 a.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho State vs Portland // 2:00 p.m. MT (MW Network)
Utah Valley at Weber State // 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Seattle at Eastern Washington // 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Nevada at Montana State // 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Montana at Gonzaga // 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
CSU Bakersfield at Sacramento State // 8:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Friday, Sept. 19
Northern Arizona vs Marshall // 9:00 a.m. MT
Idaho vs Indiana State // 11:00 a.m. MT
Northern Arizona vs Gardner-Webb // 1:00 p.m. MT
Northern Colorado vs Utah Tech // 12:00 p.m. MT
Montana vs Seattle // 3:00 p.m. MT
Idaho at Tennessee State // 7:00 p.m. MT
Eastern Washington at Washington State // 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho State at Wyoming // 6:30 p.m. MT (MW Network)
Northern Colorado at Air Force // 7:00 p.m. MT (MW Network)
Pacific at Sacramento State // 8:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Oregon at Portland State // 8:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Saturday, Sept. 20
Idaho State at Long Beach State // 10:30 a.m. MT (MW Network)
Gonzaga at Eastern Washington // 12:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho vs Chattanooga // 12:00 p.m. MT
Weber State at Utah State // 12:00 p.m. MT (MW Network)
Fresno State at Sacramento State // 1:30 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Northern Colorado vs Denver // 3:00 p.m. MT (MW Network)
Northern Arizona at Wofford // 5:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Oregon State at Portland State // 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Santan Clara at Montana State // 7:00 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.