FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu September 20, 2016 MSUB continues GNAC schedule on the road MSUB Volleyball on Facebook | MSUB Volleyball Stack on ISSUU | GNAC Statistics | GNAC Standings Preview Interviews with Senior Stormy Siemion, Freshman Faith Taylor, and head coach Casey Williams
Stormy Siemion, Faith Taylor, and Kylee Cornelio on defense for MSUB.
The Yellowjackets are playing their first conference road matches this week against Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington. BILLINGS, Mont. – The Yellowjacket volleyball squad heads out this week for the team’s first Great Northwest Athletic Conference matches on the road this season. MSUB travels to Northwest Nazarene on Thursday, Sept. 22, followed by a contest at Central Washington on Saturday, Sept. 24. Last week in Alterowitz, MSU Billings (1-10, 0-2 GNAC) hosted conference opponents Simon Fraser and No. 20 Western Washington. The ‘Jackets fought hard against both the Clan and Vikings, ultimately falling to each team during opening weekend of conference competition. With their first conference matches away from Billings on-tap, head coach Casey Williams looks for the team to continue to work hard against another round of quality of opponents. Although MSUB is on a 10-match slide, the Yellowjackets have been battling in the early season with nine of their 11 matches being determined by extra sets.
HEADING TOWARD TRIPLE DIGITS: Senior Ashlynn Ward put-down 14 kills last week to add to her career total. The outside hitter has now amassed 912 kills during her time at MSUB. Ward is No. 8 all-time in career kills for the Yellowjackets and needs an additional 39 to advance a spot. The native of Rexburg, Idaho, is ranked 10th in the conference in hitting percentage at .275 (254-45-396) and No. 6 in kills per set at 3.42. Ward holds the second-highest GNAC individual hitting performance in the league this season with a .594 (21-2-32) against Chaminade in Hawaii. SENIOR STORM: Stormy Siemion produced a team-high 24 kills for MSUB last week. The outside hitter is holding at second in the GNAC in kills per set at 3.82. Siemion is ranked fourth nationally in total attacks with 412 this season. She is also 11th in total kills this year with 172. Siemion holds the record for most kills this season in the GNAC with 28, which she completed against San Francisco State during MSUB’s final match in Hawaii. FRESHMAN ASSIST: Angala Jensen accumulated 49 assists last week, including 34 against Simon Fraser. The freshman is ranked 29th in Division II in total assists and second in the GNAC with 412. She is eighth in the conference in assists per set at 9.16. UP AT THE NET: Casey Rich added nine blocks to her total last week and is leading the team with 33.0 on the season which ranks the middle blocker 12th in the GNAC. The junior is leading the team in blocks per set with .82. DEFENSIVE COURT: Mataia Robinson leads the team in service aces per set at .36 and is third in digs per set at 2.18. The junior totaled 12 digs last week and is just two shy of 100 for the season. Faith Taylor contributed 15 digs last week and is also closing-in on 100 during her freshman campaign with 82 this year. NATIONAL RANKINGS: MSUB is ranked 36th in Division II in team kills with 538 and 39th in total attacks at 1,557. The Yellowjackets are also ranked 47th in team assists at 488. Thursday – Sept. 22 – at Northwest Nazarene University Crusaders – 7:00 PM Johnson Sports Center – Nampa, ID – Live Video – Live Stats 2016 Record – 8-1, 1-1 GNAC Head Coach: Doug English, 4th season 2015 Record: 19-9, 16-4 GNAC, tied for 3rd After being ranked No. 24 nationally in the AVCA poll last week, a 3-1 loss to Concordia on Saturday knocked Northwest Nazarene out of the top-25. The Crusaders split their opening conference weekend on the road, taking care of Western Oregon 3-0, but falling to the Cavaliers two days later. The loss was the first one of the season for the previously undefeated NNU squad. The Crusaders began the year with 3-0 record at the Dixie State Tournament, followed by a 4-0 run at the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase. NNU is ranked No. 2 in the league in opponent hitting percentage at .130. The Crusaders are fourth in kills per set at 12.91. Madi Farrell is sixth in the league in hitting percentage at .311 (101-32-222). Kendra Bodine leads the GNAC and is 33rd in the nation in kills per set at 3.94. Libero Shayli Siegfreid is second in the conference and seventh in the nation in digs per set at 6.06. Setter Hailey Cook is ranked third in the conference in assists at 10.85 per set.
The Series: (5-18, 1-9 Away) The Yellowjackets are on a 7-match losing streak against NNU that dates back to 2012. The last time MSUB defeated the Crusaders was a home match 3-1 on Sept. 27, 2012. Last Time Out: MSU Billings lost both matches last year to the Crusaders in straight sets. Saturday – Sept. 24 – at Central Washington University Wildcats – 7:00 PM PST Nicholson Pavilion – Ellensburg, WA – Live Video – Live Stats 2016 Record – 5-5, 1-1 GNAC Head Coach: Mario Andaya, 21st season 2015 Record: 20-8, 16-4 GNAC, tied for 3rd Central Washington had a 5-match win streak snapped with a 3-2 loss on the road to Western Oregon last week. The Wildcats opened the season with four straight losses, but rebounded with four tournament wins at the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase followed by a 5-set win at conference opponent Concordia (Ore.). The Wildcats lead the conference and are second in the nation in blocks per set at 2.64. Junior Sabrina Wheelhouse leads the league in individual blocks per set at 1.50 which is third in Division II. The middle blocker is also ranked third in the GNAC in service aces (.47) and 13th in hitting percentage (.259). On defense, Kyla Morgan is sixth in digs per set at 4.49. Shelby Mauritson leads the team offensively in kills per set at 2.84 The Series: (4-17, 2-8 Away) The Yellowjackets are on a two-year slide against the Crusaders. MSUB split its 2013 matches, winning a five set marathon at home on Nov. 7, 2013. Last Time Out: Last season MSUB was swept in straight sets during both conference matches against CWU. --msubsports.com | #JacketNation--