FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu October 10, 2016 Volleyball Alumni Night Thursday, 2 matches at home MSUB Volleyball on Facebook | MSUB Volleyball Stack on ISSUU | GNAC Standings Preview Interviews with Ashlynn Ward, Miranda McConnell, and head coach Casey Williams
MSUB opens a five match home stand hosting Concordia (Ore.) during Alumni Night on Thursday, Oct. 13.
MSU Billings opens a five match home stand hosting Concordia (Ore.) during Alumni Night on Thursday, Oct. 13, at Alterowitz. BILLINGS, Mont. – MSU Billings opens a five match home stand by hosting Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent Concordia (Ore.) on Thursday, Oct. 13, at Alterowitz. MSUB is home for the extended series that includes four conference matches and a rematch against rival Rocky Mountain College. After falling in a pair of league road matches last week, the Yellowjackets will have an opportunity to play in front of their home crowd as MSUB opens the five match home stand hosting two conference opponents at Alterowitz. On the road in league action, the ‘Jackets fell in straight sets at Seattle Pacific and in four at Saint Martin’s. This week, MSU Billings begins its home charge with Concordia (Ore.) on Thursday, Oct. 13, during Alumni Night. All MSUB volleyball alumnae are invited to the match free of charge, and will be recognized between the second and third sets.
Two weeks ago, Montana State University Billings (2-15, 1-7 GNAC) earned a win at home in straight sets over Alaska. The Yellowjackets are looking to capitalize on returning to their home court when they host conference opponents Concordia (Ore.) and Western Oregon. BACK TO DOUBLE-DIGITS: Senior outside hitter Ashlynn Ward returned to her double-digit ways, pounding home 18 kills at Seattle Pacific then 15 at Saint Martin’s. Ward is second in the GNAC in kills per set at 3.55 and leads the team in attack percentage at .249. With 989 career kills, the native of Rexburg, Idaho, moved to No. 8 on the MSUB all-time list last week and is just 11 from reaching the 1,000 mark. BACK COURT ANCHOR: Senior Kylee Cornelio recorded 25 digs at Seattle Pacific and a season-high 30 in the match at Saint Martin’s. Cornelio has been a key member of the defense this season and continues to lead the ‘Jackets in the backcourt. The libero is 11th in the GNAC in digs per set at 3.91. The native of Hawaii rocketed past the 200 mark in season digs last week and sits at 254 heading into Thursday’s match. STORMING THE COURT: Senior Stormy Siemion added 22 kills to her total for 227 on the year. She had 14 recorded kills in the match at Saint Martin’s The outside hitter is tied for fourth in the GNAC in kills per set with 3.69. On defense, Siemion had 13 digs at Seattle Pacific and nine at Saint Martin’s. The native of Huntley, Mont., has 197 digs this season for MSUB. OPPOSITE SIDE: Junior Lexa de Jesus led the team in attack percentage at Saint Martin’s. The right side hitter finished with eight kills against the Saints and just one error on 19 attempts for a .368 hitting percentage. The native of Puerto Rico is also closing-in a milestone as de Jesus has accumulated 98 kills for MSUB, two shy of moving into triple digits. She added three block assists on the season and has 16.0 total. FRESHMAN ASSET: Angala Jensen produced her fourth 40 or more assist match for MSUB recording 44 in the match at Saint Martins. She also had 36 at Seattle Pacific taking her week total to 80. Jensen has 564 assists this year and 99 digs. She is ranked eighth in the GNAC in assists per set with 8.68. MCCONNELL IN THE MIDDLE: Miranda McConnell posted 11 kills last week, including seven at Seattle Pacific. The sophomore is closing-in on 100 kills this year at 87 on the season. She totaled 5.0 blocks and has 33.0 for the Yellowjackets. ROBINSON’S RESULTS: Junior Mataia Robinson has 148 digs this season and is averaging 2.31 this season. She is second on the team in assists with 233. At the service line, Robinson leads the team with 22 aces on the year and an average .34 per set. DEFENSIVE COURT: Casey Rich posted one of her best matches for MSUB this season at Saint Martin’s with seven kills, a season-high seven digs, and four block assists. Rich has 55.0 total blocks this year, averaging .92 per set. Faith Taylor recorded her fourth match this season for MSUB in double-figures with 10 digs at Saint Martin’s. The freshman recorded a service ace in both matches last week, pushing her total to nine on the year. Thursday – Oct. 13 – vs Concordia (Ore) University Cavaliers – 7:00 PM Alterowitz Gymnasium – Billings, MT – Live Video – Live Stats 2016 Record – 9-8, 5-4 GNAC Head Coach: Melanie Hambelton, 8th season
Concordia (Ore.) finished off Western Oregon this week in straight sets, pushing CU’s record in conference matches above the .500 mark at 5-4. The Cavaliers have a straight sets win against Saint Martin’s and defeated Northwest Nazarene in four sets, during which CU posted a GNAC single-match record of 21.0 team blocks. The team is averaging a fourth-best in the GNAC 2.16 blocks per set. Colby Barnette is eighth in the league at 1.12 blocks per set and is seventh in attack percentage at .281 (134-39338). Lindsey Dorsey is eighth in kills per set at 3.25. Setter Michele Brown is third in the GNAC in assists, averaging 10.89 per set. On defense, Anna Dols is just above MSUB’s Cornelio in digs with 4.20 per set for a league 10th best. The Series: (0-2, 0-1 Home) Against the GNAC’s newest member, MSUB has lost both matches against CU. Last year, MSUB lost in three sets at home Last Time Out: MSUB fell in four sets on the road. Saturday – Oct. 15 – Western Oregon University Wolves – 7:00 PM Alterowitz Gymnasium – Billings, MT – Live Video – Live Stats 2016 Record – 6-10, 3-6 GNAC Head Coach: Tommy Gott, 1st season Western Oregon has a new head coach this year in Tommy Gott. The first-year leader had been an assistant coach at west region opponent Cal State Chico since 2009 before making the move to WOU. The Wolves were defeated in three sets this week at Concordia (Ore.). WOU is on a four-match road swing that will end at MSU Billings on Saturday. Western Oregon is third in the GNAC in digs this year at 18.00 per set. Christie Colasurdo is fourth in the league at 4.90 per set. Sydney Blakenship is leading the offense and is second in the GNAC in attack percentage at .341 (96-25-208). Alisha Bettinson is third in kills per set with 3.54. Maddie Mehciz is fourth in assists with 10.09 per set. The Wolves split its matches on the road in Alaska last week, losing to nationally-ranked Alaska Anchorage, but defeated Alaska in four sets led by 15 kills from Bettinson. The Series: (6-16, 4-5 Home) The Yellowjacket are behind in the overall series, but are 4-5 at home against Western Oregon. MSUB is 2-2 in the last four matches against WOU, winning the series in 2014, but dropping both matches in 2015. Last Time Out: MSU Billings lost the match on the road in five sets. --msubsports.com | #JacketNation--