WOU takes final 3 sets in 3-2 win over MSUB

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu November 14, 2015 Spikers win first 2, WOU takes next 3 in 3-2 win over MSUB Volleyball on Facebook Volleyball Stack on ISSUU Interactive Box Score

Audri Marrs had season-high 17 kills in 3-2 loss to Western Oregon.

Audri Marrs pounds 17 and Ashlynn Ward 16 kills in 3-2 loss to Western Oregon.

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Audri Marrs and Ashlynn Ward combined for 33 kills in a 3-2 (15-25, 18-25, 26-24, 25-22, 15-9) loss on the road to Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent Western Oregon Saturday.

The Yellowjackets won the first set handily by 10 points, but Western Oregon (8-19. 5-13 GNAC) fought hard in the final sets to take the match the distance, winning the final frame for the victory on Senior Night.

“Tonight we got out-worked in the last three sets,” MSUB head coach Lisa Axel said. “Western Oregon played their hearts out towards the end and we were not able to respond. I thought Audri had a great match and was very effective from the middle.”

Marrs had 17 kills on a .500 (173-28) match-leading attack percentage. The senior middle blocker bested her previous season-high in kills by one, while also contributing three blocks.

Ward hit .222 (16-6-45) finishing with 16 kills, and two blocks.

Freshman Taylor Sherman completed her third straight double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs in the match while senior setter Kyndal Williams had her second in-a-row with 50 assists and 10 digs. Williams’ 50 assists is one off her seasonhigh, which she completed during the opening match of the season against Academy of Art. Miranda McConnell led MSU Billings (6-21, 5-13 GNAC) in blocks with four.

Libero Kimmy Kirk finished with a career-high 34 digs across the five sets, besting her previous record of 27 from last season.

Led by 16 kills from Sidney Blankinship (adding in four blocks) on a .448 attack percentage, four players from WOU ended the match with double-digit kills. Leila Holt had 42 assists. GNAC-leading libero Christie Colasurdo tied Kirk for a match-high 34 digs.

MSUB hit .306 in the first set and .444 in the second, before falling to a match finish of .205. Western Oregon raised its attack percentage from .132 in the first set to finish at .206.

The Yellowjackets finished the first set scoring the last 24-29 points. In the second frame, WOU closed the gap to 20-18 on a kill from Blankinship before the ‘Jackets finished with five straight.

Blankinship broke the tie at 24 in the third set with a kill as the Wolves forced an MSUB error to take the third set. The Wolves evened the match in the fourth frame with two huge blocks on the outside and another kill from Blankinship.

WOU used an 8-0 scoring drive in the final set for a 9-3 advantage MSUB closed to within three at 12-9 before the Wolves finished the match with three straight.

THE BUZZ: Marrs named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Match…the win by the Wolves gives WOU the season sweep…Western Oregon defeated MSUB in straight sets earlier in the year.

UP NEXT: MSU Billings finishes out the season on the road…the Yellowjackets are at Northwest Nazarene on Thursday followed by a match against Central Washington on Saturday. msubsports.com | #JacketNation--