FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu September 9, 2016 Yellowjacket spikers suffer pair of comeback defeats MSUB Volleyball on Facebook | MSUB Volleyball Stack on ISSUU | Box Score UHH | Box Score HSU
Miranda McConnell pounded 14 kills and put up 5.0 blocks against Hawaii Hilo.
MSUB volleyball finishes the second day of competition in California dropping a pair of matches in comeback defeats as opponents Hawaii Hilo and Humboldt State keep the Yellowjackets from finishing off late sets. CARSON. Calif. – On Day 2 of the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase, MSU Billings was upended by two opponents, falling to Hawaii Hilo 3-1 (21-25, 25-23, 25-21, and 25-19), and in a dramatic fifth set loss, 3-2 (18-25, 25-12, 22-25, 2518, 19-17), to Humboldt State in the Friday nightcap at the Torodome in California. The Yellowjackets won the first set in both matches, but couldn’t maintain distance as both west region opponents found a way to disrupt MSUB’s flow. “I think they lost focus,” MSUB head coach Casey Williams said. “The team was a little complacent with our early score and didn’t continue their drive late into the match. We need to be more aggressive and mentally tough in upcoming sets in order to carry through with a win.”
“We are going to need to come out a little more prepared for tomorrow’s match,” Williams continued. “We were too inconsistent. I think more people on the team need to step-up and show dominance in their position. All of the teams we have seen have come out strong and ready to play. Bre did well in the middle for us today stepping-up, and Mataia at libero. We are looking to close out the tournament on a positive note.” UHH 3, MSUB 1 (21-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-19) In a similar match to yesterdays against Azusa Pacific, the Yellowjackets opened with a first set win and held leads in the following frames, but couldn’t close out against their opponent. Hawaii Hilo (1-1) had three players finish with double-digit kills in Marley Stand-Nicolaisen (20), Sierra Green (14) and Kyndra Trevino-Scott (11). Hawaii Hilo also benefited from a .275 attack percentage (62-20-153) over a .232 (52-17-151) from MSU Billings. Sienna Davis led the match in assists at 45 as Mina Grant powered in 35 digs for the Vulcans. For Montana State Billings, sophomore middle blocker Miranda McConnell matched a career-high in blocks with 5.0 and was a single kill short of tying her career best with 14. McConnell led the match with a .526 attack percentage (14-4-19) leading the team in points with 16.5. Three Yellowjackets recorded double-doubles against the Vulcans. Freshman Angala Jensen cleared back-to-back matches with 40 assists and 12 digs. Ashlynn Ward matched McConnell with a team-high 14 kills and 11 digs. Stormy Siemion produced 10 kills and 11 digs. Mataia Robinson added her own 11 ups as four players from MSUB factored into double-digits in the dig column. The Yellowjackets broke out of the gates holding a 5-3 lead in the opening set. A strong outside solo block from Casey Rich helped MSUB put some distance on the scoreboard. Siemion went up high and finished with the second solo block of the match for MSUB and an 11-7 lead. The teams traded points for six rallies until Ward added two straight for MSUB and out of the back row Siemion hit a strong shot through the middle block. The Vulcans climbed to within three with a short run at the end of the set until Lexa de Jesus hooked a ball down the right side line to end the frame. A double block from McConnell and Ward broke a 12-12 tie in the second set. McConnell kept the action rolling, connecting with Jensen for two straight points out of the middle. Siemion powered a point off the UHH block and Ward found a roll on the outside. The end of the frame was tight. A kill from McConnell and a service ace from Jensen put the ‘Jackets up 22-20. Hawaii Hilo countered with four straight and a set point from Katrina Johnson to even the match at 11. MSUB used a 7-0 run to take early command in the third frame. The Yellowjackets held onto their advantage until Strand-Nicolaisen punched through two kills and a block to put UHH ahead 18-17. Ward retied the score at 18 with a kill on a feed from Siemion in the back. The Vulcans kept control of the set, completing their response with a kill from Armani Moultrie for a 2-1 advantage. In the final set, the Yellowjackets held an 18-17 lead before the Vulcans rallied for the comeback. A kill from Ward off an assist from Robinson was the solo point MSUB made in the final nine of the match as UHH closed out its first win of the season on an 8-1 run. HSU 3, MSUB 2 (18-25, 25-12, 22-25, 25-18, 19-17)
The second match of the day for the Yellowjackets was full of mountain highs and valley lows. The five set thriller featured 19 ties and seven lead changes. Each team both led and made comebacks in the double-digits. The match was the third 5-set contest of the year for MSUB and the first at the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase. Both Montana State University Billings (1-6) and Humboldt State (4-3) had match points in the fifth set. MSUB kicked-off the match winning the first set, withstanding a late surge from the Jacks. McConnell drilled home a kill for a 23-13 advantage. HSU picked up points from Nicole Bewley and on a double block in the middle. McConnell and Ward collected the last two points of the set for the 1-0 lead. The Jacks burst out to a 14-7 lead on two kills from Symone Hayden and one from Bewley. Siemion found the back line for MSUB and a Jensen and McConnell block countered for two points. HSU began a big swing with a 10-3 push, taking control of the second set 21-11. MSUB found one more point from Siemion on an assist from Kylee Cornelio before HSU claimed the second frame on a kill from Katherine Rifilato. MSUB mounted a massive third set comeback to pull the match back. Down 17-12, the ‘Jackets used an 11-2 blitz to tie the set at 19 and take over the lead at 23. The surge was helped along by two tough kills from de Jesus and one from Ward. A nifty shot from Siemion and a block from Rodrigues and Jensen after a big defensive get from Robinson kept MSUB ahead. Siemion kept looking for the open court, finding it twice in the last two points of the set for the Yellowjackets. The ‘Jackets tried to provide the same magic in the fourth set, but could couldn’t overcome an opening 11-1 deficit at the start of the fourth frame. The Jacks steamed ahead by 10. The Yellowjackets put together a short run on consistent serving from Cornelio, forcing a HSU timeout. The ‘Jackets pulled it as close as 21-18 on three straight kills from Siemion, but ran out of time to make up the substantial ground lost in the opening rallies. The fifth set ended the match in dramatic fashion. MSUB built-up a 5-2 advantage. HSU’s Janelle Ayala snuck in a point. The Yellowjackets battled back hard, forcing through four points. A block from Siemion and Bre Rodrigues pumped the ‘Jacket score into double-digits. A continued presence at the net by McConnell and Jensen with a kill from Siemion placed MSUB within reach of the match at 13-7. Not going away, the Jacks pounded the ball at the net, collecting a streak of 8-0 for the lead at 14-13. A kill from Siemion and a block from McConnell and de Jesus earned a match point for MSUB. Unable to defend the outside, a kill from Bewley gave HSU its first match point. An error from HSU and a kill from Ward tied the score at 17. Humboldt State finished the match with two points from Hayden and Alex Hasenstab. The Yellowjackets were more efficient at the net with a .306-.263 attack percentage. The Jacks ended the match with more kills, 66-63, and blocks, 7.0-6.0. HSU also benefited from 13 service aces, five from Sarah Shively. Hayden led HSU in kills at 19. Jessica Lammers finished with 33 assists. Shivley featured 20 digs. Siemion produced her third 20-plus match in kills, finishing with 24. Ward had 17 kills and led the match in attack percentage at .395 (17-2-38). Jensen led all players with 47 assists. She also had eight digs, two service aces, and 2.0 block assists. Rodrigues and McConnell both had 3.0 block assists for the team. Robinson collected 19 digs in the match. THE BUZZ: Robinson selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Athlete of the Day.
UP NEXT: MSU Billings plays its final match of the tournament on Saturday, Sept. 10, against host Cal State Dominguez Hills at 10 a.m. PST. Live video and stats for the match can be found at the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase tournament site here. --msubsports.com | #JacketNation--