FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu October 26, 2016 Volleyball finishing busy week in Alaska MSUB Volleyball on Facebook | MSUB Volleyball Stack on ISSUU | GNAC Standings
The MSUB defense led by Faith Taylor (back) and Stormy Siemion helped MSUB post 92 team digs on Tuesday.
After a four set win over non-conference opponent Rocky Mountain College, MSUB volleyball is heading to Alaska for two GNAC matches on Thursday and Saturday. BILLINGS, Mont. – The MSU Billings volleyball team has a busy schedule this week. After playing a match against nonconference Rocky Mountain College on Tuesday, early Wednesday morning the Yellowjackets left Billings for their longest road trip of the year to Anchorage and Fairbanks. In front of an energized crowd during MSUB’s annual pink match, the Yellowjackets defended their home court against rival and non-conference opponent Rocky Mountain College on Tuesday with a four set win. The defense provided the backbone of the victory, as the back line for MSUB recorded a team season-high 92 digs against the Battlin’ Bears. Montana State University Billings (4-18, 2-10 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) returns to the conference circuit with matches at No. 11 Alaska Anchorage and Alaska to finish the week on the road.
SEVENTH ALL-TIME: Senior outside hitter Ashlynn Ward posted 14 kills against Rocky and completed a double-double with 11 digs. The native of Rexburg, Idaho, has 1,070 career kills which makes her only the eighth Yellowjacket in the program’s history to achieve that feat. Ward is now seventh all-time at MSUB in career kills, needing 107 to move to No. 6. Ward is second in the GNAC in kills per set at 3.63 and 15th in attack percentage at .246 (312-108-830). STORMING THE COURT: Senior Stormy Siemion recorded her 10th double-doubles this season with a 22 dig, 14 kill performance against RMC. This week on the career charts, Siemion has 709 kills and 850 digs for MSUB. The outside hitter is third in the GNAC in kills per set at 3.48 and 20th in digs with 3.15. FIERCE DEFENSE: The MSUB defense put-up some big numbers against Rocky. Five players for MSU Billings posted double-digit digs. Freshman Faith Taylor had a standout performance. In the libero position, the native of Huntley, Mont., recorded a season-high 27 digs. Kylee Cornelio had 15 and Mataia Robinson 11, adding in 20 assists for her third double-double of the season. The front line returned to double-digit team blocks with 10.0 against Rocky. Casey Rich and Miranda McConnell each posted five and freshman Bre Rodrigues added four. Rich has moved into the GNAC’s top-10 in blocks at ninth with an average 1.01 per set. FRESHMAN ASSET: Angala Jensen finished with 26 assists for a match-high against Rocky. The freshman is eighth in the GNAC in assists with 8.72 per set. Jensen is fourth on the team in blocks with 38.0 this year. MCCONNELL IN THE MIDDLE: McConnell produced one of her best matches of the season against Rocky with 14 kills on a match-high .367 attack percentage. The middle blocker has 40.0 total blocks this season. With the match against Rocky, McConnell moved into triple digits in kills with 112 this season.
Miranda McConnell had 14 kills against Rocky.
Thursday – Oct. 27 – at Alaska Anchorage University Seawolves – 7:00 PM AKST Alaska Airlines Center – Anchorage, AK – Live Video – Live Stats 2016 Record – 22-2, 12-1 GNAC Head Coach: Chris Green, 8th season After dropping an epic five set match at home against No. 17 Western Washington, the No. 11 Alaska Anchorage Seawolves got back in the win column with a straight set victory hosting Alaska on Tuesday. The Seawolves lead the conference and are 22-2 overall and 12-1 in the GNAC.
UAA leads the league in opponent hitting percentage at .110. Erin Braun is fourth in the GNAC in hitting percentage at .307. Leah Swiss is fifth in kills per set at 3.42 with senior setter Morgan Hooe fifth in assists per set at 10.25. Libero Kyla Militante-Amper is second in the conference in digs at 6.01. The Series: (10-42, 4-20 Away) MSUB has faced Alaska Anchorage 52 times in the two school's history with UAA holding the overall edge. The Seawolves are on a 13-match win streak against the Yellowjackets. The last time MSUB won a match was Sept. 28, 2009 at home in four sets. Last Time Out: MSUB lost in straight sets, 25-20, 25-21, and 25-18. Saturday – Oct. 29 – at Alaska Nanooks– 7:00 PM AKST Alterowitz Gymnasium – Billings, MT – Live Video – Live Stats 2016 Record – 2-18, 1-12 GNAC Head Coach: Brian Scott, 2nd season Alaska lost to No. 11 Alaska Anchorage on the road in straight sets on Tuesday. The Nanooks opened their conference season with a win against Seattle Pacific at home, but since then have fallen in 12 straight matches. Alaska has gone five straight matches without winning a set. Kim Wong is 14th in the GNAC in attack percentage at .249. Rachel Nichols is seventh in assists with 9.18. Riley Podowicz is ranked sixth in service aces with .39 per set. The Series: (27-26, 19-11 Home) The Yellowjackets moved ahead in the overall record against Alaska this season, leading 27-26 all-time, and are on a six match win streak versus the Nanooks. This year, MSU Billings won in straight sets, keeping a seven match win streak at home alive. Last Time Out: MSU Billings won in straight sets 25-20, 25-17, and 27-25.
The MSUB front line had 10.0 blocks against Rocky on Tuesday.
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