2016 MSUB volleyball team opens season in Hawaii

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu August 30, 2016 2 returning to home state as MSUB volleyball opens 2016 season in Hawaii MSUB Volleyball on Facebook | MSUB Volleyball Stack on ISSUU | Preview Interviews

Kylee Cornelio is one of two MSUB players on the roster returning to her home state of Hawaii this week.

The 2016 MSUB volleyball team is opening their regular season in the state of Hawaii with four in-region matches.

BILLINGS, Mont. – After two solid weeks of practice, the 2016 MSU Billings volleyball team is headed for the state of Hawaii and four regular season opening matches. The Yellowjackets have scheduled contests against west region teams Sept. 1-3, as MSUB kicks off its inaugural season under head coach Casey Williams in the Aloha state.

The ‘Jackets have one match scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 1, one on Friday, Sept. 2, and two matches on Saturday, Sept.

3. MSU Billings will face three Hawaii-based PacWest teams and San Francisco State University from the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

With a new coaching staff and more incoming players than returners, MSUB is looking to find its footing against regionally tough competition. Williams expects their opponents to provide an opportunity for the team to find an identity for the 2016 season.

“I want to be competitive,” Williams said on the opening week’s matches. “The Hawaii schools give us a chance to see some quality opponents. Also, the teams in Hawaii have a little different style play than a lot of the schools we see around here so I am excited to dive into that and hopefully we can match-up with them pretty well.”

“We have two Hawaiians on our roster right now,” Williams continued. “I know both Kylee and Bre are excited to return to their home state and it will be nice for them to play in front of their family and friends. Right now we have a really small, but tight-knit team. They have all been working really hard and we have been asking them to do a lot both on and off the court and they have really stepped-up to that challenge.”

Williams returns four active Yellowjackets to the roster while adding six new players - three of them transfers and three incoming freshmen.

Kylee Cornelio is a senior transfer from Division I Prairie View A&M. A native of Mililani, Hawaii on the island of Oahu, Cornelio played her first two years at Laredo CC. An experienced leader, Cornelio will play a big role in the defensive court for the Yellowjackets this year.

Bre Rodrigues is the second native of Hawaii.

Hailing from Pukalani, Hawaii on the island of Maui, Rodrigues is a freshman opposite side hitter who has also Bre Rodrigues is a freshman from the island of Maui in Hawaii. been taking some swings in the early preseason out of the middle.

Senior outside hitters Ashlynn Ward and Stormy Siemion return to the team as the major offensive weapons for the Yellowjackets. A Great Northwest Athletic Conference Honorable Mention last season, Ward finished fourth in the league in kills per set with 3.30. She led the ‘Jackets in kills last season with 347 and needs 99 more this year to move into MSUB’s all-time top-10. Siemion recorded 111 kills last year for the team and was third in digs with 209.

Also returning to the team this year are junior setter and defensive specialist Mataia Robinson and sophomore middle blocker Miranda McConnell.

Thursday, Sept. 1 – at BYU-Hawaii Seasiders - 11 AM HST Cannon Activities Center – Laie, HI – Live Video – Live Stats 2016 Record: 0-1 Head Coach: Mona Ah-Hoy, 4th season 2015 Record: 15-13, 13-7 PacWest After finishing fourth last year in the PacWest with a record of 13-7, BYU-Hawaii was voted to finish seventh in the conference preseason coaches’ poll. The Seasiders return six players from last year’s team.

BYU-Hawaii played No. 14 Alaska Anchorage at home last week, falling to the Seawolves in four. BYU-Hawaii outside hitter Leilani Adolpho led the team in double-digit kills with 11. Freshman libero Penina Sao tied Sinamoni Tonga at 22 digs each. Kayle Park and Sydney Bunker split the setting duties pitching in 14 assists apiece.

The Seasiders won the first set 25-22, before falling in the last three.

The Series: (3-13, 1-6 Away) As a fellow member of the PacWest conference, MSU Billings played BYU-Hawaii routinely between 2001 and 2004. Since then, MSU Billings played the Seasiders once in 2009 and 2010, dropping both matches in Hawaii.

Last Time Out: MSU Billings has a record of 2-3 against BYU-Hawaii in the last five matches against the Seasiders, falling in 2010 in a straight sets loss.

Friday, Sept. 2 – at Chaminade University Silverswords - 11:30 AM HST McCabe Gymnasium – Honolulu, HI - Live Stats - Live Audio 2016 Record: 1-0 Head Coach: Kahala Kabalis Hoke, 5th season 2015 Record: 19-9, 12-8 PacWest Chaminade kicked off its 2016 season last week with an upset win over No. 14 Alaska Anchorage in a straight sets victory. Chaminade handed the Seawolves their first regular season, non-conference defeat since 2014. The ‘Swords got it done by holding UAA to a .081 attack percentage and outhitting the Seawolves 40-35. CUH also put up 12 blocks and added six service aces. Three players from Chaminade factored into the offense with eight kills each. Two players led the defense with 18 and 10 digs each.

The Silverswords return nine players from a 2015 team that finished with a 12-8 record in the PacWest. CUH was voted to finish sixth in the preseason PacWest coaches’ poll, just ahead of BYU-Hawaii.

The Series: (7-20, 2-12 Away) The Yellowjackets faced Chaminade 27 times between 1994 and 2012. The last eight matches between the two teams were played to four sets or more.

Last Time Out: The Yellowjackets split their last four matches against the Silverswords falling in the team’s last meeting in Honolulu in 2012, 3-1.

Saturday, Sept. 3 – at Hawaii Pacific University Sharks - 1:30 PM HST St. Andrew’s Priory – Honolulu, HI 2016 Record: 0-1 Head Coach: Daryl Kapis, 10th season 2015 Record: 15-13, 10-10 PacWest Hawaii Pacific opened its 2016 season with a three sets loss to No. 14 Alaska Anchorage. The Sharks started strong in the first set before being overwhelmed in the final two. HPU struggled against a UAA front row that posted 11.0 blocks. The No. 14 Seawolves held HPU to a -.009 hitting percentage.

Hawaii Pacific was voted to finish ninth in the PacWest preseason coaches’ poll after finishing 2015 with an even 10-10 record in the PacWest. HPU returns five players to its roster from last season.

The Series: (1-20, 1-7 Away) MSUB has one win in 21 meetings against Hawaii Pacific. The Yellowjackets single win against the Sharks was a five set victory in Hawaii in 2009.

Last Time Out: MSUB did face Hawaii Pacific last season in Washington at a tournament hosted by Seattle Pacific where the ‘Jackets lost in three.

Saturday, Sept. 3 – vs. San Francisco State University Gators - 4:00 PM HST St. Andrew’s Priory – Honolulu, HI 2016 Record: 0-0 Head Coach: Matt Hoffman, 1st season 2015 Record: 14-14, 12-8 CCAA San Francisco State returns seven players and added seven under first-year head coach Matt Hoffman. The Gators finished last season 14-14 overall and 12-8 in the CCAA. This year, SFSU was voted to finish fifth in the North CCAA preseason coaches’ poll.

SFSU will play the same opponents as MSUB in Hawaii this week, beginning with HPU on Thursday.

The Series: (0-2 Neutral) The Yellowjacket have two matches on their record against SFSU – a loss in 2008 and 2013.

Last Time Out: MSUB lost its 2013 match in California to the Gators in straight sets. msubsports.com | #JacketNation--