MSUB volleyball falls to Cal Baptist 3-0

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu September 12, 2015 ‘Jackets hold early leads, but Lancers strike back as MSUB falls 3-0

Senior setter #4 Kyndal Williams and to her left outside hitter Stormy Siemion.

At their final GNAC/PacWest Crossover match in Seattle, the MSU Billings volleyball team starts each set strong, including a 5-point lead in the third frame, but a big effort from Cal Baptist pushes the Yellowjacket back as MSUB falls 30 in Seattle.

SEATTLE. – MSU Billings ended the GNAC/PacWest Crossover tournament with a 3-0 loss to Cal Baptist Saturday afternoon. The Yellowjackets fell 25-18, 25-19, and 25-21 on the final day of the Seattle Pacific-hosted event.

MSUB opened sets two and three with early leads, but a tough-minded Cal Baptist team maintained their presence, gradually climbing back into each set for the win. The victory pushes Cal Baptist to 7-1 on the season, while MSU Billings falls to 1-7. The Yellowjackets lost all four of their matches at the GNAC/PacWest Crossover event.

MSUB freshman Taylor Albertson had another good day at net, finishing the match with 11 kills and 4.0 total blocks.

Junior outside hitter and St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day, Stormy Siemion completed nine kills and came up with seven digs.

Senior Kyndal Williams added a team-high 30 assists with two kills, four digs and a block. Fellow senior Audri Marrs added six kills and 2.0 blocks. Defensive specialist Kimmy Kirk led the team in digs with eight.

“I am very happy with the way our team responded this morning and played with confidence,” MSUB head coach Lisa Axel said. “Stormy Siemion had a great match really stabilizing our serve receive game and had her best offensive match of the season. Audri did a great job at the net blocking for us and Taylor Albertson had another great match leading the team in kills.”

From Cal Baptist, Lauren Hackett and Jenna Perry tied for a match-high 13 digs. Jordyn Siko was tops in assists at 36 while Kristin McCord tied Kirk for a match-high eight digs.

The Lancers had 44 kills on 98 attempts with 16 errors for a .286 attack percentage. MSUB completed 35 kills on 95 attempts with 18 errors for a match .179 attack percentage.

The Yellowjackets held the advantage in total blocks 6.0-5.0. MSUB did struggle on service points as the team wound up with eight errors for the match.

The first frame opened with a small Cal Baptist lead, but a kill from Ashlynn Ward moved the ‘Jackets to within two, 8-6.

CBU kept up the pressure using an ace and two kills to open up a 5-point lead, but Williams won a battle at the net on an overpass to return the ball to the MSUB side.

CBU’s Perry connected on her fourth kill of the set followed by one from Lauren Marr down the right side line. Abbie Mikelson and Siemion pulled MSUB to within five, 15-10. Albertson laid down a kill followed by a double block from Albertson and Abbie Mikelson, closing the Cal Baptist lead down to three, 20-17.

The Yellowjackets added one more point on another block from Mikelson, but the Lancers added five more points ending the set off the MSUB block to go up 1-0.

The second set was very close. MSU Billings opened the second frame with the Yellowjackets’ fourth block of the match – a big stuff down from Albertson and Miranda McConnell. Back-to-back kills from Siemion and Albertson put the ‘Jackets up by three, 5-2. The Lancers got back in the set with kills from Perry and Hackett followed by a block from Marr.

MSUB regained the lead with three straight points courtesy of a strong presence at the net from the Yellowjackets.

Siemion laid down a kill for the ‘Jackets, but a counter by Abbie Gortsema knotted the score at 10.

Both teams battled for ground, trading points until a kill from Hackett and a forced error against MSU Billings put Cal Baptist up by two, 20-18. After a timeout from MSUB, the Yellowjackets and Lancers engaged in the longest rally of the set with the ball finally landing deep in ‘Jacket territory. The Lancers added an ace from Tori Ortman for a 22-18 lead.

CBU added another point, but Marrs found a spot on the CBU floor with a slide kill from the right side. The Lancers stood tough. A kill from Hacket and a MSUB error ended the second frame 25-18, giving Cal Baptist a 2-set lead.

MSUB opened the third set with a 7-2 advantage forcing Cal Baptist into a timeout. The Yellowjackets kept up the pressure. Siemion fired off a kill, but the Lancers reeled off five straight points to creep back into the set one back from MSUB at 9-8. A service error from CBU added a point to the MSUB scoreboard. A huge kill from Hackett and a kill from Jordyn Siko had the Lancers up by one, 12-11.

McConnell served up an ace for the ‘Jackets, but three straight points from CBU had the Lancers ahead 19-16. The teams traded points through the next eight rallies, keeping the score apart by three points. At 23-20, the Lancers held strong for two more points and the win.

NEXT UP: After two weeks on the road, the Yellowjackets are returning home for two matches. MSUB opens the 2015 season with a match against Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent Central Washington on Sept. 17, at 7:00 p.m. in Alterowitz Gymnasium.

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