FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Friday, September 16, 2016 New Faces: MSUB Volleyball Freshman Angala Jensen
Stepping up into one of the most crucial positions on the floor as setter, MSUB freshman Angala Jensen is taking on the challenge in stride for MSUB’s volleyball team. MSUB SPORTS – The ball screamed off the hands of senior hitters Stormy Siemion and Ashlynn Ward a combined total of 44 times before meeting its fate by colliding with the hardwood on Sept. 3 in Hawaii. It was the fourth match of the year for the Montana State University Billings volleyball team, and the Yellowjackets’ senior swingers were finding a groove and rhythm with their attack. Siemion ended the match with 28 kills alone, more than she’d ever had in a single match in her four-year career. While the non-stop attack by two of MSUB’s veterans garnered headlines and attention, none of it would have been possible without the work of one of the newest faces in the program. “They both have completely different sets, and Stormy likes the ball more off the net while Ash likes it a little tighter,” said MSUB freshman setter Angala Jensen. “I have to talk to all of my hitters in between every single play and decide what we want to run.”
Whether it was the career-high in kills for Siemion, or a season-best 51 assists overall in the match for Jensen, it has become clear that the Colorado Springs, Colo., native is keeping up with the pace of learning the college game in her first season with the ‘Jackets. “Angala had a confidence about her which I thought would translate well onto the court when she came here on her visit,” said first-year head coach Casey Williams. “She has stepped into her role really well.” Jensen may not have fully understood the void that was left by 2015 senior setter Kyndal Williams, whose 4,019 assists during her prolific four-year career are second-most in MSUB history. But the pressure to step into a starting role immediately is part of what attracted Jensen to MSUB. “It was always my dream to play as a college freshman, and I just want to become the best setter I can be,” Jensen said. “Having this experience playing in my first year will help allow me to grow to my full potential.” Part of Jensen’s athletic maturity lies within her pedigree, as both of her parents competed in sports in college. Her mother Darlene was a two-sport standout in volleyball and softball at Depauw University, while her father Paul competed in basketball and football for one year. Though Jensen indicated that her parents were major influences on her athletic career, she developed a passion for sports on her own as a kid. “My parents didn’t really push me to do athletics, they just let me and my brother discover what we liked to do,” Jensen said. “But when we got into sports, they were the biggest part of it and pushed us all the time.” Jensen idolized three-time Olympic gold medalist volleyball legend Kerri Walsh-Jennings growing up, and learned how to play every position on the court as a young player. Setting didn’t become Jensen’s full-time focus until she reached middle school, when she began learning the ins and outs of how to run a team’s offense. “I worked a lot with Morgan Evans, who really pushed me and helped me to become the athlete that I am now,” Jensen said, referring to the senior setter at fellow NCAA Division II school University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Through her first nine matches, Jensen has already accumulated 363 assists, posting 40 or more five times in her young career. She admits that the pressure of making decisions as the team’s play caller can be intense at times, but she relies on her teammates to help guide her on the court. “There are times, if we are down in a game or if we just got blocked three times in-a-row, where I feel pressure to make the right decision,” Jensen said. “But my hitters help me out with that a lot, and our defenders behind me can see a lot more than I can, so they help me make adjustments.” Angala Jensen Assists By Attacker Player Total 9/1 9/2 9/3 9/3 Stormy Siemion 118 10 10 17 24 Ashlynn Ward 110 10 18 14 12 Lexa De Jesus 55 10 7 3 6 Miranda McConnell 46 3 2 9 7 Casey Rich 23 6 1 0 2 Bre Rodrigues 10 0 0 1 0 Faith Taylor 1 0 0 1 0 Totals 363 39 38 45 51 *Repeat dates indicate multiple matches on same day.
9/8 11 14 7 1 1 0 0 34
9/9 8 10 6 14 2 0 0 40
9/9 18 13 6 9 0 1 0 47
9/10 11 6 4 1 3 3 0 28
9/12 9 13 6 0 8 5 0 41
The speed of play at the college level has required an adjustment from Jensen, but it is something she has been preparing for since getting serious with the sport and playing club volleyball around age 14. Williams recognizes that Jensen’s mental toughness has been one of the keys to the success she has had in handling the transition. “Angala is one of our toughest players mentally, and she has done everything we have asked of her and then some,” Williams said. “She is very coachable, and has done a great job to tweak a few of her sets to fit our offense. She is only going to get better in the coming years, and I’m excited for what she can do in her career here at MSUB.” Overall Jensen recognizes a special bond that carries throughout the entire team, but she relies on her duo of senior hitters as her biggest role models. “I have really leaned on Stormy and Ash, and they are great senior mentors,” Jensen said. “They don’t hold themselves above anybody on the team.” Jensen and the ‘Jackets are set to kick off their Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule at home on Friday night, as MSUB plays host to Simon Fraser University at 7 p.m. Though her career with the navy and gold is just starting, her volleyball roots span much further back to her days as a 7-year-old first learning the game on her team with the Woodland Park Parks and Recreation department. A sense of confident leadership from then up until now has molded her into an exciting young player with the potential for a historic career with the Yellowjackets.
Jensen (9) and the ‘Jackets celebrate after winning a point in a match at Rocky Mountain College on Sept. 12.
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