FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu September 16, 2016 ‘Jackets swept by the Clan in home opener MSUB Volleyball on Facebook | MSUB Volleyball Stack on ISSUU | Box Score
MSUB opened its GNAC schedule hosting Simon Fraser.
The MSUB volleyball squad falters early, struggling to comeback from big opening leads as Simon Fraser sweeps the Yellowjackets during the home conference opener at Alterowitz. BILLINGS, Mont. - The MSUB volleyball team was swept by conference opponent Simon Fraser in the Yellowjacket home opener 25-20, 25-20, and 25-23 at Alterowitz Friday. MSUB picked-up its pace in the third set, using some off-speed shots and well-placed attacks, but the Clan defense punctuated by well-timed attacks provided Simon Fraser the sweep in the second Great Northwest Athletic Conference match for SFU of the season. With the win, Simon Fraser improves to 9-1 on the season and 2-0 in the GNAC. MSUB falls to 1-9 and 0-1 in GNAC action. Stormy Siemion was just short of a double-double for MSUB, striking 13 kills and collecting nine digs. The senior also had two of the three service aces for MSUB and added a block. Lexa de Jesus hit .412 in the match with eight kills and just
one error in 17 attempts. Libero Kylee Cornelio earned a team-high 16 digs. Faith Taylor tied Siemion with nine digs for MSUB. Freshman Angala Jensen finished with 34 assists and three block assists. Junior Casey Rich led the match in total blocks with four, adding in six kills and three digs. “Simon Fraser is a good team and were ready to go from the get-go,” MSUB head coach Casey Williams said. “For the first set and a half we weren’t able to match them. Stormy was a consistent force for us tonight and I thought Kylee did well on defense. We are going to have to be better all-around when we go up against a tough Western Washington team tomorrow.” MSU Billings hit .194 in the match (39-15-124). Simon Fraser ended with 52 kills on a .273 attack percentage. The Clan led the match in total blocks, 6.0-4.0, and digs, 61-47. Emma Jennings (13), Devon May (12), and Betsie de Beer (10) all finished with double-digit kills. De Beer had a doubledouble adding in 11 digs. Tamara Nipp accumulated 49 assists. The Clan had four players factor-in double-digit digs. Libero Alison McKay led the team with 16 digs, adding in all three service aces for the team. Two kills from May helped the Clan begin the match with a 7-3 lead. Out of a MSUB timeout Siemion found her spot on the floor deep in the corner to earn the ball back for the ‘Jackets. Nipp used an overpass to go on the attack, pushing the Clan lead to 11-5. A long block from Rich on the outside earned a point back, and a well-timed attack from Jensen pulled MSUB to within five at 13-8. Siemion pounded the ball down the line to send the Yellowjackets into double-digit points. Siemion continued to push points on the outside, adding two service aces on the back line for three straight points. De Jesus pushed a ball through the block and Rich found an open spot down the middle. A block from Jensen and Rich and a solo attack on a high-ball from Siemion pulled MSUB to 23-17. A service error from the ‘Jackets gave SFU a set point. A service ace from Jensen and a block from Siemion closed the gap, but the Clan finished the set on a kill from May. MSUB took the early lead in the second frame with a kill from Siemion. The Clan’s May countered with an attack inbetween the block. A huge swing from Siemion pushed another point for MSUB and an error from the Clan kept the ‘Jackets ahead. De Jesus provided two big attacks down the line for the Yellowjackets and an 11-9 advantage. A defensive dig from Cornelio in the front sent the ball to Jensen who fed the ball on a back slide to Rich. MSUB freshman Bre Rodrigues tried for a ball into the corner that just missed the line. Siemion responded, reaching for a ball set behind her and winning a point to the far corner. Jennings gave the Clan a 2-point lead on two balls set out of the middle. SFU kept the run alive with an off-speed attack from de Beer and a kill from May down the line. Rich pulled the ‘Jackets to three back, 22-19. A long rally ended on a push down the line from the Clan. Rich saved a set point on her second attack down the line. May ended the second frame on a kill from Nipp. The Yellowjackets came out of the extended break between the second and third sets, utilizing a variety of swings. The opening part of the final frame featured good defense from both teams. A kill from Jennings drew out a 4-point lead at 10-6 for SFU. After a double-block from MSUB, Miranda McConnell hit a short ball deep into the court for a Yellowjacket point. Putting some distance on the scoreboard the Clan took control, opening up a 17-9 advantage. Battling back, Ward pounded the ball to the ground to pull the ‘Jackets into double-digit points. Rich produced two points on a solo attack and block. Siemion collected a kill and Rodrigues used an overpass to block the ball straight down. De Jesus kept the run alive with an off-speed kill over the top of the block and a well-placed shot cross court for
21-20. The Clan won a point, followed by a counter point from Jensen. Ward just missed the line, but de Jesus was there again on a hard hit into the block. Ward came through for the Yellowjackets with her biggest kill of the match to tie the set at 23. Ward’s kill was the loudest point of the match, giving the Yellowjackets a chance to earn a set. Buckling down, the Clan’s de Beer and May came through for the last two points of the match. THE BUZZ: MSUB’s Simeon named the St. Vincent Healthcare Athlete of the Match…the Yellowjackets hit .257 in the opening set…eight players from MSUB collected a dig in the match. UP NEXT: The Yellowjacket return to their home court tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 17 against GNAC opponent No. 19 Western Washington at 7:00 p.m. --msubsports.com | #JacketNation--