MSUB defeats UAF 3-2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu October 22, 2015 ‘Jackets claim 5-set victory in GNAC battle against Nanooks

Kimmy Kirk finished with 21 digs in the win against Alaska Fairbanks.

MSUB Volleyball on Facebook Interactive Score MSUB Volleyball Stack on ISSUU MSU Billings pulls out a battle against Alaska Fairbanks that went the distance as the Yellowjackets finish the GNAC match 16-14 in the fifth set for the conference win against the Nanooks.

BILLINGS, Mont. - Four players from MSU Billings tallied kills above 10, and three recorded 10 or more digs in a volleyball battle that went the distance Thursday. Deep into the fifth set with neither team giving an inch, MSU Billings pulled out a 16-14 fifth set victory for the 3-2 (16-25, 25-15, 25-22, 21-25, 16-14) win over Alaska Fairbanks in conference action.

For the second consecutive match, Audri Marrs led the MSUB offensive effort as the senior finished with a season-high 16 kills and six blocks. Ashlynn Ward recorded 14 terminations. Taylor Albertson logged in 10 kills on a team-high .292 attack percentage. Stormy Siemion completed a double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs.

Kyndal Williams finished with 49 assists. Libero Kimmy Kirk led all players with 21 digs while Taylor Sherman kicked in 15.

MSU Billings (4-16, 3-8 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) was dominate in top categories including kills (59-55) and digs (68-65).

Also for the second straight match, MSUB was above double-digits in blocks, standing stronger at the net 12.0-7.0.

The Yellowjackets had a slight-edge in hitting .178-.140. UAF did have seven service aces, but countered that with nine errors.

For Alaska (2-17, 2-10 GNAC), Sam Harthun was impressive at the net finishing one under her career-high with 30 kills. She also earned a match-high .393 attack percentage (30-8-56) and contributed seven digs. Setter Miranda Grieser did set a careerhigh of 52 assists completing a double-double with 18 total digs.

Libero Meagan Olsen tied Grieser with a team-high 18 digs.

The Yellowjacket came out of the gates slow, opening with a short first set. Marrs earned MSUB its first point on a slide kill to the right. Maddie Davis came back with the off-speed kill for UAF. Two aces from the GNAC-leading Riley Podowicz opened-up a 3-point lead for UAF. MSUB gained two back on errors from the Nanooks and another on a kill straight down the line from Abbie Mikelson.

Kyndal Williams finished the match with 49 assists.

Ward attacked on the outside sending the ball careening off the floor, but Podowicz countered with a touch kill off the block. A great block from Mikelson and Albertson allowed MSUB to hang around though the middle of the frame.

UAF’s Harthun took over down the stretch, pumping up the Nanooks with six straight points before a kill from Albertson stopped the streak. A service error from the Yellowjackets sent the ball right back over taking the score to 21-14 in favor of Alaska.

MSU Billings pulled out one more point from Mikelson and an error from UAF, but the margin was too big as the Nanooks earned the first set 25-16.

The second frame opened close. Back-to-back points from Albertson on a kill and service ace opened up a 7-4 lead. From there, MSUB pushed points. A good serve from Mataia Roderick and a big block from Marrs kept the ‘Jackets ahead.

After a great up from Williams, Siemion delivered with a placement kill to the back. Ward and Marrs followed that up with a block for 11-8.

Harthun struck a rolling serve, but a defensive move from Sherman and a nice kill from Marrs off a set from Williams took the score to 16-13. A kill from Siemion and an error from UAF brought the score to 18-13 and had Alaska calling for a timeout.

A kill from Lilah Hudson drew UAF one closer, but the Yellowjackets finished up the set with a 6-1 run ending on a point from Ward at 25-15 to even the match at a set apiece.

The Yellowjackets and Nanooks were even in the middle of the third set. UAF took a slight edge on a kill by Kensey Mix, but then started to draw away. A good service run from Grieser pushed the Nanooks ahead by five 16-10. MSUB won the ball back on a kill from Albertson to keep MSUB in the set.

The Nanooks moved ahead by four 19-16, but deep into the set the Yellowjackets came storming back. MSU Billings stepped up its defense, forcing three straight errors from Alaska, and engaged on a 9-1 point-spread. A point from Marrs pushed MSUB ahead by one, and a follow-up block from Marrs and Ward gave the Yellowjackets two points. A block from Alaska’s Amberly Jeane stopped the momentum temporarily, but a huge double block from Albertson and Ward ended the set at 25-22, giving MSUB a 2-1 set advantage.

The ‘Jackets jumped ahead in the fourth frame 8-5, but two errors from the MSUB side had UAF behind by two. Siemion gained a point on a placement dump on the opposite line. The Yellowjackets pushed ahead by five, including another kill from Siemion and one from Ward for 13-8.

Audri Marrs completed a team-high 16 kills.

15.

Ward smoked an attack in front of a UAF defender to move MSUB ahead 14-10, but three straight points from Harthun ending on an ace pulled the Nanooks back to within one, 16-

The two teams held tie scores from 17-21, but it was Alaska that found an answer first, scoring the last four points of the set for 25-23, sending the match to a deciding fifth set.

The fifth set was a true battle as both teams traded consecutive points. Siemion pushed MSUB ahead with a kill off the block for 5-3, but a kill from Harthun pushed off a counter attack.

MSUB opened up a slight 8-5 lead on a double block from Ward and Williams. Mix responded with a slide kill for UAF, but coming right back, Marrs countered with her own, pushing the ‘Jackets ahead 9-6.

Into the match for MSUB, Miranda McConnell made her presence known on a long rally that ended with a block from Williams and McConnell for 12-7.

Punching back, UAF scored three points, including two from Harthun for 12-10, but a timely set dump from Williams caught Alaska’s defense off-guard.

Ward earned a match-point for MSUB at 14-11, but a nice recovery from Alaska’s defense stalled the win. The Nanooks tied the score at 14 on a kill on the outside from Podowicz.

MSUB earned its second match point on a UAF error, and Marrs ended the longest match of the season for MSUB with a kill straight down the middle.

THE BUZZ: This is the eight consecutive match for Williams with 30 or more assists…this is the third 5-set match for MSUB this season and the first time the Yellowjackets have won one…Kirk was selected the St. Vincent Healthcare Athlete of the Match.

UP NEXT: MSU Billings welcomes No. 13 Alaska Anchorage on Saturday, Oct 24 for a match at 7:00 p.m. Saturday’s contest marks the end of a five match home stand for the Yellowjackets.

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