FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu November 12, 2016 Dramatic comeback falls just short in strong defensive 5 set battle MSUB Volleyball on Facebook | MSUB Volleyball Stack on ISSUU | Box Score
The MSUB defense led by 18 digs from senior Kylee Cornelio helped MSUB challenge the Cavaliers to a five set match.
MSU Billings falls just short of a comeback win, battling from two sets down to force a fifth and deciding set on the road at Concordia (Ore.). PORTLAND, Ore. – After falling behind by two sets, MSU Billings battled back to win sets three and four to force a fifth and deciding set before falling in a hard-fought battle 25-13, 25-21, 23-25, 21-25, and 15-9 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference road match at Concordia (Ore.) Saturday. The Yellowjackets benefited from a strong defensive effort to climb back from a 2-0 deficit to even the match at 2-2. Senior Kylee Cornelio recorded 18 digs to lead the ‘Jackets. At the net, MSUB had 11.0 blocks as junior Casey Rich recorded five with Bre Rodrigues and Stormy Siemion both adding four each. “We started out a little sluggish, but I was happy that we competed in set 2,3, and 4,” MSUB head coach Casey Williams said. “Concordia came out with a lot of energy in the fifth set and they were hard to match. I though both Kylee and Bre played really well tonight. They stepped-up and led us on defense to take us into the fifth set.”
Both match against Concordia (Ore.) have gone to five sets this season with the Cav’s winning 15-7 in Billings and 15-9 in the final frame at home on Saturday. With the win, CU improves to 15-11 on the season and 11-7 in the GNAC. MSUB slides to 7-21 and 5-13 in the conference. The Yellowjackets hit .237 in the match, including a big .386 in the third set. CU was just behind at .235 for the match. Concordia (Ore.) benefited from nine service aces on the night, including seven from Lindsey Dorsey. Siemion tied a match-high of 15 kills with Ashlynn Ward recording 11. Angala Jensen had a double-double of 35 assists and 10 digs. For CU, five players were in double-figures in kills led by 15 from Jessica Wheeler. Allie Spear finished with a match-high 20 digs. Michele Brown had a monster night from the setter’s position recording 60 assists with 10 digs. A series of three straight service aces from Dorsey drove the Cavaliers up 7-3 to open the match in the first set. Ward earned a side out on a kill through the block off a bump set from Rich. More tough serving from CU, this time a service ace from Colby Barnette pushed the Cav’s ahead 11-4. Siemion earned a kill off an assist from Jensen. More errors from MSUB as the Yellowjackets continued to struggle on serve receive. Dorsey earned another ace in the set to put Concordia (Ore.) up by 10, 19-9. A block from Siemion and Miranda McConnell stopped a set point, but Brenna Huwe cleared a kill over the block to push CU out to 1-0 lead. Tied at 2-all, MSUB engaged on a 6-2 run to take the lead 8-4 in the second frame. The Cavaliers drew to one back on a short 3-0 rally, before Rodrigues stopped the surge with a kill on a back set from Jensen. A kill from Lexa de Jesus off the block continued the scoring for the Yellowjackets. Cornelio found an open spot in the back court and Ward punched a kill crosscourt for a 15-11 lead. A run of five straight points ended on a kill from Huwe gave the Cav’s the lead back at 2017. The ‘Jackets fought back with a kill from de Jesus and a double block from Ward and Rich for 23-21 before two points pushed Concordia (Ore) ahead 2-0. After the break to regroup, Siemion tied the early third frame at five with a kill after two big digs from Cornelio. Rallying, MSUB drove ahead 13-7. Siemion made an easy put away after a Cavalier overpass to push MSUB ahead by five, 20-15. Out of a timeout, Ward pounded a ball off the block for a set point. The Yellowjackets had to withstand two more points from CU before Siemion put the ball away for a 25-23 third frame win. The Yellowjackets owned most of the fourth set. MSUB jumped ahead 12-5 with strong offense, including back-to-back kills from Siemion to put the ‘Jackets ahead by seven. On the strength of a 5-1 run, the Yellowjackets took an 11-point 21-10, lead. A kill from Jensen off a feed from Mataia Robinson put MSUB three points from evening the match. Rodrigues finished the frame on a solo block to force a final set. With the crowd on their feet, the final set was tight as the teams battled point-for-point. The Cav’s went ahead on four straight points, including back-to-back aces from Dorsey for a 7-3 advantage. Ward used an off-speed attack to earn the side out. A run of five points seemed to pull the match away from the Yellowjackets as they went down 12-5. Siemion closed the gap with two points after great defensive hustle from the MSUB back line. One more kill from Siemion before Concordia closed out the match on a point from Brianna Hogan. UP NEXT: MSUB has two matches left this year. Both matches are on the road as the Yellowjackets will finish out their schedule at Western Washington on Thursday, Nov., 24, followed by the final contest at the year, a match-up in Canada against Simon Fraser on Saturday, Nov. 26.
THE BUZZ: Cornelio named the St. Vincent Healthcare Athlete of the Match. --msubsports.com | #JacketNation--