FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu September 3, 2016 Siemion pounds the ball to career-highs, ‘Jackets drop 2 matches in 5 sets MSUB Volleyball on Facebook | MSUB Volleyball on ISSUU | Box Score HPU | Box Score SFSU
Stormy Siemion recorded 23 kills against Hawaii Pacific and 28 kills against San Francisco State, racking up 51 total in one afternoon.
Stormy Siemion plays two outstanding matches in Hawaii, topping her career-record twice, finishing the day with 51 total kills in one afternoon. The MSUB volleyball team ends trip to Hawaii dropping a pair of matches in five sets. HONOLULU. – Senior Stormy Siemion pounded home 51 total kills in one afternoon, topping her career record in the first match by one at 23 and then destroying it an hour later by posting 28 kills. The Yellowjackets lost both matches Saturday at St. Andrew’s Priory during their last day in Hawaii. MSUB dropped its first contest to Hawaii Pacific 23-25, 25-18, 25-20, 26-28, 15-11 and the second against San Francisco State University 26-24, 15-25, 17-25, 25-22, 15-11. Montana State University Billings (1-3) finished up its trip to Hawaii with a pair of losses. The Yellowjackets were in the Aloha state for four matches to start the 2016 season. MSUB won its first match against BYU-Hawaii in four sets on Thursday, but lost its second match to Chaminade in four on Saturday. All four matches in Hawaii were played to four or more sets. The 2016 season marks the opening year of competition under head coach Casey Williams. “We fought really hard in the first five set match today,” Williams said. “Every time Hawaii Pacific pulled away our team was able to respond. Our defense played well and was able to keep up with their hitters. In the second match we didn’t
show up to play. We had that tough loss earlier and just couldn’t seem to get much to go our way against San Francisco State.” “Stormy had an outstanding day,” Williams continued. “She was doing a great job of getting into position and striking the ball hard. I am really happy for her and what she was able to accomplish.” Hawaii Pacific University 3, MSUB 2 (23-25, 25-18, 25-20, 26-28, 15-11) The Yellowjackets won the opening set before the Sharks took the lead taking the next two frames. MSUB won the fourth set in extended points to force a fifth set. Down 10-7 in the deciding frame, MSUB tied the set with three straight points capped by a block from Angala Jensen and Miranda McConnell. Hawaii Pacific pulled ahead with a pair of kills from Pomai Recca. A kill from McConnell pulled MSUB to within two, 12-10. After a kill from Siemion, Recca went to work again, ending the match with the final two points for the Sharks. Junior Mataia Robinson recorded a new career-high, doubling her previous record of three service aces with six in the match. For MSUB, Ashlynn Ward finished with 16 kills and McConnell also had double-digits at 10 kills. Yellowjacket freshman setter Jensen topped all players with 45 assists. At the net, McConnell matched her career-high in blocks with 5.0 block assists. Casey Rich also had 5.0 block assists as the Yellowjackets led HPU 10.0 - 4.0 blocks at the net. On defense, Kylee Cornelio posted nine digs with Jensen adding eight. Hawaii Pacific (3-1) outhit MSU Billings 76-51 and in attack percentage .302 - .258. Recca posted big numbers with a double-double of 25 kills and 20 digs. Teammate Perla Escobar wasn’t far behind with 23 kills and 18 digs. Recca also led the team at the net with 3.0 block assists. Mahea Pescaia finished with 44 assists with Sierra Dawson adding 27. Tied at 22, a kill from Siemion pushed the ‘Jackets to two points away from the first set. Recca responded with a kill off the hands of Dawson to re-knot the score, but an attack from McConnell put MSUB in reach and an error from HPU gave MSUB the lead 1-0. Both the second and third sets were close. The Sharks took a 2-1 lead after winning the third set on a 6-2 run punctuated with a kill from Recca. The fourth set was just as close. Down 25-24, a gutsy move from Siemion saved the set and match tying the score at 25. Hawaii Pacific went back up again on an error from MSUB, but a block from McConnell and Siemion again tied the set. Ward came through with a kill, earning the ‘Jackets their first set point. On a serve from Siemion, MSUB forced an error on the HPU side to even the match 2-2. Both teams battled it out in the fifth set. On a score of 9-all, HPU was able to put together a 6-2 run to finish out the match.
San Francisco State 3 University, MSUB 2 (26-24, 15-25, 17-25, 25-22, 15-11) Errors and missed opportunities plagued the Yellowjackets in the second match of the day. Montana State University Billings led San Francisco State University (1-3) in almost every category, but the Gators found a way to secure points in the important moments. MSUB topped SFSU in kills by 20, 71-51, and in attack percentage .248-.188. The ‘Jackets posted more assists, 58-46, and more digs, 63-49. The Gators led in blocks, 9.0-6.0, and service aces. 8-6. Siemion with 28 kills and Ward with 16 accounted for 44 kills combined. Jensen topped her previous day’s total with 51 assists in the match. Cornelio accumulated 18 digs and Faith Taylor added 11. At the net, Rich led all players with 6.0 block assists. In the opening set, MSUB was down 21-14, but staved off three match points with two kills from Siemion and a SFSU error. A kill from SFSU’s Lauren Williams and another error from MSUB gave the first set to the Gators. The Yellowjackets took the lead in the match with two commanding performances in the second and third sets, winning in decisive fashion by 10 and eight points. Unable to maintain their momentum, MSUB couldn’t string enough points together in the fourth and fifth frames. SFSU used their serve and block to an advantage, pulling together down the stretch for the win. SFSU’s Christine Johnson (13) and Abby Griffith (11) had double-digit kills. Linda Aerne recorded 35 assists and Emily Johns 19 digs. THE BUZZ: On the day, Siemion tops her previous career-high of 22 kills which she did against Rocky Oct. 29, 2013…Robinson topped her previous record of three service aces which she had done in two previous matches…28 kills is the highest by an individual since Monica Grimsrud posted 30 in a match against Central Washington in 2013…6 is the most service aces since Taylor Sherman accomplished it in 2015 against Academy of Art…51 assists by Jensen matches the 2015 season-high by Kyndal Williams. UP NEXT: MSUB travels to the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase hosted by Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Yellowjackets have matches scheduled Sept. 8-10, beginning with Azusa Pacific on Sept. 8, at 4:30 p.m. Pacific time. msubsports.com | #JacketNation--