MSUB spikers on the road to face Saints and Falcons

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu October 7, 2015 Spikers on road to face Saints and Falcons MSUB Volleyball on Facebook Interviews with Mataia Roderick and head coach Lisa Axel MSUB Volleyball Stack on ISSUU

MSUB spikers are on the road at Saint Martin’s and Seattle Pacific this week.

After winning their first conference match two weeks ago, the Yellowjackets dropped two at home, but are back out for more GNAC competitions this week at Saint Martin’s and Seattle Pacific.

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Yellowjacket volleyball squad is headed out for two Great Northwest Athletic Conference matches this week. First the team is set for a tilt at Saint Martin’s followed by a match at Seattle Pacific.

Two weeks ago, MSU Billings won its first conference match in Alaska against the Nanooks. This week, the Yellowjackets are looking to get back in the win column with matches against the Saints on Thursday, Oct. 8, followed by one against the Falcons on Saturday, Oct. 10.

WARDING THE COURT: Junior outside hitter Ashlynn Ward continues to be the most potent offensive threat for the Yellowjackets. Against No. 15 Western Washington, the Rexburg, Idaho, native dominated at net, finishing with a match-

high 19 kills on a .333 hitting percentage (19-5-33). Against Simon Fraser, Ward added 15 kills for the week and three solo blocks. On the season Ward is second in the GNAC in total kills with 178.

SHERMAN STEPPING UP: With junior Stormy Siemion just in the defensive court for MSUB the last two matches, freshman Taylor Sherman has had to start the last four contests for the Yellowjackets. Needing points from the new member, the all-court player has stepped up, contributing double-digit digs for MSUB and averaging close to half a dozen kills.

WILLIAMS HALFWAY TO 1,000: Senior Kyndal Williams is nearing the 500 mark this season in assists. At 496, she is fifth in the conference in total assists with an average 9.54 per set. The setter is also having a strong defensive year, averaging over two digs per set placing her third on the team overall. Williams also added two service aces last week moving her total to 17 on the season.

KIRK KEEPS CALM: Junior Kimmy Kirk transitioned to the libero role for MSUB this season and continues to lead the defensive effort for the Yellowjackets in the back court. She leads the team in total digs with 197 averaging 3.79 per set. She has been in the double figures the last four matches for the ‘Jackets, including a 15 dig performance against No. 15 Western Washington.

The Yellowjackets are seventh in the conference in hitting percentage at .158. The team is sixth in service aces at 1.25 per set and eighth in digs with 14.04 per set.

Thursday, October 8 – 8:00 p.m. Mountain time Saint Martin’s University Saints Marcus Pavilion Head Coach: Kara Peterson, 3rd season 2015 record: 2-10, 1-5 GNAC

Sophomore Mataia Roderick has been a steady presence in the defensive court for MSUB this season.

Saint Martin’s in on equal footing with the Yellowjackets in the GNAC, sitting at a 1-5 record in conference play. On Tuesday, the Saints will face off against Seattle Pacific at home for the team’s seventh GNAC match of the season before hosting MSUB on Thursday.

After winning a GNAC match against Western Oregon 3-2, SMU is currently on a 3-match slide, dropping matches against Alaska (3-2) and Alaska Anchorage (3-0) last week on the road. The Saints were down by two sets to Alaska before mounting a comeback, winning the next two and forcing a deciding set that the Nanooks ran away with closing out the match 15-7.

Last year, the Saints finished the season 1-17 in conference play, but did add 11 new players to their roster this year.

Senior outside hitter Julia Wabinger leads the Saints with 101 kills on the season and an average 2.73 per set. Behind her, SMU’s second outside hitter sophomore Rebecca Mitchell is averaging 2.40 kills per set.

The Saints are 11th in the conference in hitting percentage at .092 and 11th in kills with 9.90 per set. On defense, SMU is seventh in the GNAC in blocks at 1.86 per set and 10th in digs with 13.52 per set.

Elizabeth Colon is averaging 4.44 digs per set for SMU with Cassandra Fenton running the offense, averaging 6.47 assists per set.

Senior middle blocker Kyra Davidson is ranked eighth in the conference in blocks per game with 1.1.

The Series: (14-4, A: 5-3) The Yellowjackets hold an overall 14-4 winning record against Saint Martin’s, including victories in the last three matches. The last time the two teams met was in Lacey where MSUB took care of SMU in straight sets.

Saturday, October 10 – 8:00 p.m. Mountain time Seattle Pacific University Falcons Brougham Pavilion Head Coach: Chris Johnson, 11th season 2015 record: 4-10, 2-4 GNAC In the conference season, Seattle Pacific is 2-4 on the year picking up wins against Concordia (Ore.) (3-0) and Western Oregon (3-0), but last week falling in matches to Alaska Anchorage (3-0) and Alaska (3-1) on the road.

Against Alaska, SPU hit was limited to .056, but is averaging .122 on the year for 10th in the conference. The Falcons are eighth in both kills (11.06 per set) and assists (10.06 per set) in the GNAC. Freshman Shaun Crespi, a 6’2” middle blocker, is hitting a team-high .221 (72-30-190). Sophomore outside hitters Hannah Lautenbach and Lexi Biondi are leading the team in kills with 2.81 and 2.86 per set, respectively.

Senior libero Breanne Wiekamp is averaging 5.23 digs per set with freshman setter Symone Tran sitting at sixth in the GNAC in assists per set with 8.85.

The Series: (9-26, A: 4-13) The Falcons hold the upper-hand in the overall record, but MSU Billings won the last match between the teams, taking a 3-0 win on the road.

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