FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu
September 22, 2015 Volleyball heads to Alaska in search of GNAC win View this story online Interviews with Taylor Sherman and head coach Lisa Axel MSUB Volleyball on ISSUU
MSU Billings is travelling to Alaska this week for two conference matches.
It will be a long trip for the MSUB volleyball squad as the Yellowjackets are travelling to Alaska this week for two matches. BILLINGS, Mont. – After falling in both conference matches last week, the Yellowjackets are on a long trip this week to Alaska to play matches against Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks. MSU Billings (1-9, 0-2) lost Great Northwest Athletic Conference matches last week to Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene in straight sets, but MSUB head coach Lisa Axel is ready for this week’s matches with a renewed emphasis on defense. “The team has been working hard this week to improve our defensive effort so we can give ourselves second and third opportunities to score,” Axel said. “We are still looking to put together a complete game. We have shown we can play hard for a series of points, but then lose a little of our focus. The team is looking forward to getting on the court again and competing hard on the trip up to Alaska.”
Junior Ashlynn Ward had a big week for the Yellowjackets finishing with 23 kills (23-3-51) on a .392 attack percentage. The outside hitter had her best match this season against Northwest Nazarene, pounding down 13 kills while not committing an error, ending the match with a .591 hitting percentage. On the season, Ward is attacking at a .271 clip (11834-310), which ranks her 12th in the GNAC. Freshman Taylor Albertson produced 12 kills for the ‘Jackets last week and is second on the team in attack percentage at .213 (68-28-188) and in kills per set with 2.19. Senior Kyndal Williams topped 30 assists in both GNAC contests and sits at an average 9.55 assists per set, ranking her fifth in the conference. The setter has also been a factor at the net, producing 4.0 total blocks for the team across the two matches. Freshman Taylor Sherman is one of three true freshman making a big impact on the Yellowjackets team this season.
Thursday, Sept. 24 – 7:00 p.m. Alaska time University of Alaska Anchorage Alaska Airlines Center 2015 record: 10-0, 2-0 GNAC Alaska Anchorage has had a big start to its 2015 season. The Seawolves are a perfect 10-0, with some big wins against nationally-ranked opponents. In the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll released Monday, UAA was ranked No. 11. The Seawolves began the year ranked No. 14 and have steadily moved up with wins over west region opponents, Azusa Pacific (3-1), Cal Poly Pomona, (3-0), Fresno Pacific (3-0), No. 21 Point Loma (3-1), No. 21 BYU-Hawaii (3-2), and Dixie State (3-0). Alaska Anchorage also had wins over No. 23 Rockhurst (3-1) and No. 5 Nebraska Kearney (3-1). The No. 11 Seawolves opened their conference action with wins over Western Oregon (3-1) and Concordia (Ore.) (3-0). This week Alaska Anchorage will play travel partner Alaska Fairbanks on Tuesday, Sept. 22, in Fairbanks before hosting MSU Billings on Thursday. Alaska Anchorage is sitting atop the conference in hitting percentage (.283), assists (12.97 per set), kills (14.00 per set) and service aces (1.82 per set). Julia Mackey leads the Seawolves in hitting with a .344 (115-27-264). Just behind her is Erin Braun at .288 (50-14-125). Katelyn Zanders sits at the No. 1 spot in the GNAC for kills per set with 4.19. Mackey is fourth with 3.19 per set. Leading the conference with more than 11 assists per set is Morgan Hooe at 11.19. Not to be outdone, the Anchorage defense is holding their opponents to a .144 hitting percentage. Leading the charge in the back court is Kyla Militante-Amper who is picking up 4.15 digs per set. The Series (10-39) MSU Billings is 10-39 all-time against Alaska Anchorage. The Seawolves hold a 19-4 advantage at home and have won the last 10 matches in a row against the Yellowjackets. The last time MSUB won against Alaska Anchorage was a home match in 2009, 3-1.
Saturday, Sept. 26 – 2 p.m. Alaska time University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks Patty Center, Alaska Airlines Court 2015 record: 0-9, 0-2 GNAC Alaska Fairbanks has struggled in the early going of the season, and is still winless on the year. At the helm of the program for the Nanooks is first-year head coach Brian Scott. Scott was previously at Weber State and Utah State where he served as an assistant coach for both programs. Although the Nanooks have yet to win a match, more than half of their matches have gone to multiple sets, including their first two of season, which they dropped 15-12 in the final set, first to Minot State and then to Saint Joseph’s College. Since their opening home tournament, Alaska has been on the road for six straight matches, and Tuesday open their home conference season with No. 11 Alaska Anchorage on Tuesday. Last week, the Nanooks dropped matches to GNAC opponents Concordia (Ore.) and Western Oregon in straight sets. Back for her final season with the Nanooks is senior outside hitter Sam Harthun. The 6’1” all-GNAC selection just surpassed 1,200 career kills during UAF‘s match against Western Oregon. On the season, Harthun is hitting .165 this season (112-58-328), but is averaging 3.29 kills per set, ranking her third in the conference. Back for her second season with Alaska, transfer setter Miranda Grieser is averaging 5.47 assists per set. Leading the conference in service aces this year is sophomore middle blocker Riley Podowicz. The 6’0” native of Olympia, Wash., also leads the team in hitting percentage at .201 (54-24-149). The Series: (24-26) MSU Billings is 24-26 all-time against Alaska and is 6-14 on the road against the Nanooks, but have won the last three straight matches against Alaska, including both matches last season in straight sets. Both matches this week will have a live video stream and stats available via the MSU Billings Stretch Internet Portal. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--