MSUB volleyball Day 2 in Seattle

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu

September 11, 2015 ‘Jackets start drop both matches on Day 2 in Seattle GNAC/PacWest Crossover Interactive Box Score 1 Interactive Box Score 2 MSUB Volleyball Stack on ISSUU

Freshman Taylor Albertson at the net for MSU Billings.

MSUB volleyball drops both matches in straight sets on Day 2 of the GNAC/PacWest Crossover tournament hosted by Seattle Pacific.

SEATTLE. – MSU Billings dropped both matches on Day 2 of the GNAC/PacWest Crossover tournament hosted by Seattle Pacific.

The Yellowjackets lost matches to Azusa Pacific (25-17, 25-15, 25-15) and Hawaii Pacific (25-19, 25-17, 25-18) in straight sets during the second day of competition in Brougham Pavilion.

The two losses drop Montana State University Billings to 1-6 on the season. The Yellowjackets have one match left in the tournament; MSUB will play Cal Baptist on Saturday, Sept. 12 beginning at 2:30 p.m. Pacific time.

Taylor Albertson was chosen as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day. The freshman was solid during both matches at the net finishing with 13 kills and 6.0 blocks.

“Taylor Albertson had a great match for us,” MSUB head coach Lisa Axel said. “She had looks both in the middle and on the right side and was able to terminate from both positions. Also, our setter Kyndal Williams has done a great job the last two matches of being more offensive-minded for us.”

Match 1 – Azusa Pacific 3, MSU Billings 0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-15) MSU Billings ran up against a hard-hitting Azusa Pacific (2-4) volleyball team as the Yellowjackets fell in straight sets (2517, 25-15, 25-15) to the Cougars on Day 2 of the GNAC/PacWest Crossover tournament hosted by Seattle Pacific.

MSUB was held to a negative -.010 attack percentage as Azusa Pacific combined for a .255 total. The Cougars outhit the ‘Jackets 40-23, but both teams were even at the net on blocks with seven total apiece.

For the Yellowjackets Taylor Sherman led the team with six kills while Albertson had five. Audri Marrs with three and Albertson and Miranda McConnell with two blocks led MSUB at the net.

Kyndal Williams led all players with 17 assists and Kimmy Kirk at 17 digs tied for the most during the match.

From APU Mattie Shelford hit double-digit kills with 12 while Ally Gonzalez struck nine. Jaden Louie and Jewels Tavera shared the assists with 15 and 13 respectively. Ashley Swatek tied the match-high with 17 digs.

Every time Azusa Pacific would start to pull away in the first set, the Yellowjacket would find a way to pull themselves back in. Down 14-11, MSUB got a kill from Albertson and an error from the Cougars to climb back to within two, 15-13.

From there, Azusa Pacific opened up a four-point advantage on a kill and solo block from Gonzalez to take the advantage 17-13. Out of a Yellowjacket timeout, Williams used a bad pass and sent it deep into Cougar territory for the point back.

Four more points from Azusa Pacific and a seven point 21-14 lead had the ‘Jackets back to the bench to try and stop the Cougar momentum. Out of the pause, McConnell struck a hard kill and a block for the MSUB counter. An APU service error gave MSUB some life, but the Cougars used their solid lead to punch through three more points to take Set 1 25-17.

The second frame started close as both teams were determined to get out front. MSU Billings tied up the score on a long rally with a hard cross court kill from Sherman to knot the score at six. The teams continued to trade points as a second kill from Sherman and the third kill of the match from Gonzalez retied the score at seven.

Azusa Pacific used an 8-2 run to start to pull away. Getting two huge blocks from Crystal Dedes and kills from Joy Reinke, and Shelford, APU made it 16-9. MSUB made one more short run at the end of the set scoring five of the last six points, including a kill from Albertson and a block from Marrs, but the Cougars lead was too big as APU closed out the set on a sixth kill from Gonzalez to end the frame 25-15.

The third set started much like the second with the teams battling it out at the beginning. Williams gave the ‘Jackets the lead on a service ace for an early 9-8 advantage. The Cougars responded with a 5-1 run take back control of the match.

MSUB fought back with a double block from Albertson and Marrs and a nice kill from Albertson.

Stretching their lead out, the Cougars stayed up at the net hammering out eight more points. The match ended on a 7-2 run from Azusa Pacific as the Cougars used six kills and a service ace from Louie to close out the contest.

Match 2 – Hawaii Pacific 3, MSU Billings 0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-18) MSU Billings fell for the second time on the day as Hawaii Pacific (2-4) won the match in straight sets (25-19, 25-17, and 25-18).

Albertson had a big match for MSUB during the second contest for the Yellowjackets. The freshman middle blocker had eight kills on 17 attempts and no errors for a .471 attack percentage. She also led all players in total blocks, finishing with 4.0.

Four Yellowjackets had five or more kills against Hawaii Pacific. Siemion was just behind Albertson with seven while Williams and Marrs completed six each.

Siemion led the team in digs with 12 while Williams contributed 28 assists.

Hawaii Pacific’s Pomai Recca finished just shy of a double-double ending with a match-high 12 kills on a .348 attack percentage while coming up with nine digs. Setter Tenika Wentworh led all players with 29 assists.

MSU Billings finished with a .119 attack percentage and 35 kills while Hawaii Pacific earned a collective .308 striking 43 kills on 107 attempts with 10 errors. The Sharks held the edge in total blocks 8.0-4.0.

MSUB’s second match of the day started close with an early score of 5-all. Into the middle of the set, Hawaii Pacific began to pull away adding four points, including a kill from Lea Felton and a service ace from Wentworth.

Keeping the tempo steady, HPU maintained a comfortable margin through the first set, never letting the ‘Jackets closer than three points. After a block on McConnell by Recca, MSUB called its first timeout at 18-13. Needing a point to get back in the set, MSUB setter Williams sent it high up the middle for McConnell again who this time forced the ball through the block.

After a second timeout at 22-16, Siemion smacked a shot down the line for a Yellowjacket point. An error from HPU brought the ‘Jackets back to within three, but HPU continued to climb the scoreboard ending the set on a kill from Jacqueline Wolf and forcing an error from MSUB to win Set 1 25-19.

The Yellowjackets started Set 2 with a stuff block from Ward and Albertson. MSUB followed that with a kill from Abbie Mikelson and one from Albertson sending Hawaii Pacific scrambling, forcing the team to take their first timeout. After the break, MSUB kept its foot on the gas with some incredible defense, but a strong presence at the net had the ball switching sides to HPU. Albertson won the ball back with a hard kill cross court, but three errors from MSUB and a kill from Wolfe switched the lead to the Sharks at 5-4. Hawaii Pacific gained some ground adding two points, but a touch kill from Marrs tied the score at seven. Back-to-back kills from Recca and a deep shot from the back row by Elizabeth Culpepper sent the Sharks back up by three, 10-7.

HPU opened up its largest lead of the set after a block from Wolfe and Culpepper pushed the Yellowjackets to a timeout at 15-10. Off the pause, the Sharks added four more points to one from the ‘Jackets as HPU continued to keep MSUB offbalance. A 7-2 run gave Hawaii Pacific a set point at 24-13, but two smart set dumps from Williams and a kill from Albertson kept the set alive. The comeback from MSUB fell short as a kill from Carson Pyle ended the frame at 25-17, putting HPU up 2-0.

Another good opening start as MSUB jumped out to a 3-0 lead on a kill from Mikelson and Albertson with an error from the Sharks. The third frame was tight into the middle. An error from MSUB gave the Sharks a 9-7 lead, but two kills from Ward and a double block from Mikelson and Albertson gave the ‘Jackets the lead again at 10-9.

The longest rally of the match at 18-15 went for Hawaii Pacific as the ‘Jackets fell behind by three points. The Sharks kept MSUB on its toes with another kill from Recca as the offensive firepower of HPU was too much for the Yellowjackets.

Hawaii Pacific ended the set on an 8-3 run winning the final frame 25-18.

NEXT UP: MSUB finishes the GNAC/PacWest Crossover tournament with a match Saturday, Sept. 12 against Cal Baptist starting at 2:30 p.m. Pacific time. To follow the action live please visit the tournament website HERE.

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