Briefs: Tech’s Henley named All-Region by AVCA

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Three Montana Tech volleyball players, including Flathead High graduate Taylor Henley, were named All-Region by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) on Tuesday.

Henley was joined by Tech teammates Maureen Jessop — the Frontier Conference player of the year — and Olivia Muir.

The team is chosen by a committee of volleyball coaches, and members of the all-region team are eligible for the NAIA All-America team.

Henley, a 6-foot-1 middle blocker, was named first team all-conference this season and this is her first all-region team honor. Henley had a career year leading the Frontier and the NAIA in blocks much of the season. She was second in the conference in hitting percentage at .267 and averaged a career high 2.15 kills per set.

Jessop, a 6-1 outside hitter from Corvallis, Montana, earned her third spot on the all-region team.

Muir, a 5-11 outside hitter from Smoot, Wyoming, was a first team all-conference selection and is earning her first spot on the all-region team.

Montana Tech were the Frontier Conference regular season champions finishing with a 9-1 record in the conference and a 24-9 overall record.

Whitney scores 23, Griz thump SDSU Tuesday

MISSOULA (AP) — Brandon Whitney’s 23 points helped Montana defeat South Dakota State 81-56 on Tuesday night.

Whitney was 10 of 12 shooting and 3-for-3 from the free throw line for the Grizzlies (4-5). Aanen Moody was 6-of-10 shooting, including 2 for 5 from distance, and went 6 for 8 from the line to add 20 points. Dischon Thomas recorded 17 points and shot 7 for 13, including 3 for 8 from beyond the arc.

Matthew Mors led the Jackrabbits (3-7) in scoring, finishing with 15 points. Matt Dentlinger added 12 points for South Dakota State. Zeke Mayo also recorded 11 points.

S. DAKOTA ST. (3-7) — Dentlinger 4-9 4-4 12, Kyle 2-5 2-4 6, Arians 0-2 0-0 0, Easley 2-8 0-0 5, Mayo 2-7 7-7 11, Mims 0-6 5-6 5, Te Slaa 0-2 0-0 0, Mors 5-8 4-4 15, Lien 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 16-48 22-25 56.

MONTANA (4-5) — Bannan 3-8 0-1 6, Di.Thomas 7-13 0-0 17, Martin 1-4 2-2 5, Moody 6-10 6-8 20, Whitney 10-12 3-3 23, Vazquez 2-5 0-0 6, Nap 0-0 1-2 1, Anderson 1-1 1-2 3, Oke 0-0 0-2 0, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Solomon 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-53 13-20 81.

Halftime—Montana 48-24. 3-Point Goals—S. Dakota St. 2-18 (Mors 1-3, Easley 1-5, Arians 0-1, Te Slaa 0-1, Mayo 0-4, Mims 0-4), Montana 8-23 (Di.Thomas 3-8, Moody 2-5, Vazquez 2-5, Martin 1-4, Whitney 0-1). Rebounds—S. Dakota St. 20 (Mors 5), Montana 33 (Bannan 14). Assists—S. Dakota St. 6 (Mayo 2), Montana 15 (Moody 4). Total Fouls—S. Dakota St. 19, Montana 21. A—1,502 (7,321).

Utah’s Worster named Pac-12 player of week

SALT LAKE CITY — University of Utah junior Rollie Worster was named Pac-12 Player of the Week Monday, after leading the Utes to a 2-0 start in league play.

Worster, a 2020 Missoula Hellgate graduate, nearly recorded a triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in an 81-66 home win over then-No. 4 Arizona last Thursday. His 11 rebounds is a career high, and he held Arizona’s Kerr Kriisa to four points on 1-of-9 shooting.

Three days later on the Palouse, the 6-foot-4 guard went to work for Utah on both ends of the floor tying his career-high with 19 points with seven rebounds and four assists. The Utes won 67-65 in overtime.