STOCKTON, Calif. - The Pacific volleyball team's (18-10, 10-6 WCC) 2023 season continues after earning a berth in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. The Tigers face Montana State (21-8, 12-4 Big Sky) in the first round at 4 p.m. at host Sacramento State on Thursday, Nov. 30.
 
The Bobcats moved to their best record in the past decade, earning 21 wins this season and finishing third in the Big Sky. In neutral site matches, Montana State went 3-3 this year. While the Bobcats went 12-4 in conference, they split matches with host Sacramento State.
 
Montana State is led by senior outside hitter Kira Thomsen, who's first on the team in kills (488) and aces (48), while ranking second on the team in digs (268). She went for a season high 28 kills twice this season, including in Montana State's regular season finale. 
 
Junior setter Nellie Stevenson leads the Bobcats with 922 assists, going for a season high 51 assists twice this year, including in Montana State's win over Sacramento State. She has 30 aces and 216 digs so far this season. Sophomore libero Lauren Lindseth has a team leading 449 digs, while also recording 33 aces on the year. She went for a season high 34 digs earlier this season.
 
Pacific is led by senior outside hitter Alexa Edwards. Edwards earned the WCC's final offensive player of the week honor after leading the team in its final two conference matches of the season. She leads the Tigers with 375 kills this year, while ranking second on the team in digs (283) and blocks (49.0). She had a season high 21 kills in Pacific's win over San Francisco. Edwards was named to the All-WCC First Team this year.
 
Aiding her are junior setter Jenna Heller and fifth year senior outside hitter Biamba Kabengele. Both joined her on the All-WCC First Team, while Kabengele earned WCC offensive player of the week earlier this season. Heller has a team leading 899 assists. She went for a season high 51 assists in Pacific's win over the WCC Champion Pepperdine. 
 
Kabengele has a team leading 35 aces this year, while ranking second on the team in kills (334). She tied her season high five aces in Pacific's winning matches over Sacramento State and Pepperdine. Kabengele went for a season high 20 kills twice this season.
 
Junior libero Megan Nishimura leads the Tigers with 340 digs so far this season, while sophomore middle blocker Emily Van Groningen leads the Tigers with 86.0 blocks.
 
Pacific faced Montana State most recently in its 2017 season, with the Bobcats taking the match 3-2. The Tigers are 3-2 in neutral site matches this year. The Tigers earned their third berth in a row to the NIVC after recording 18 wins this season. 
 
The Tigers take on the Bobcats in the first round of the NIVC on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 4 p.m. in Sacramento, Calif.