FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu October 15, 2016 Defense earns Yellowjackets thrilling 5 set win over Wolves MSUB Volleyball on Facebook | MSUB Volleyball Stack on ISSUU | Box Score Post match interviews with Bre Rodrigues, Faith Taylor, and head coach Casey Williams
MSU Billings earned a five set victory over GNAC opponent WOU at home in Alterowitz.
MSU Billings earns redemption with a five set win over Western Oregon after taking a five set league loss two days earlier at Alterowitz. BILLINGS, Mont. – MSU Billings took it to the wire, earning a five set victory over Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent Western Oregon in five sets 17-25, 25-23, 25-17, 21-25, and 15-13 Saturday at Alterowitz. After falling in a five set match on Thursday against Concordia (Ore.), the Yellowjackets were powerful in tonight’s final frame, jumping out to an 8-2 lead. MSUB needed to withstand a surge from the Wolves, but buckled down in the final two points of the match for the ‘Jackets second GNAC victory of the season. “I thought tonight was a step in the right direction for us,” MSUB head coach Casey Williams said. “We had some younger players that stepped-up and had a big night. Both Faith and Bre did a good job at staying consistent and making plays when they needed to. I was excited by the team’s effort, and happy that they earned the win.”
“We have some tough opponents coming in to play us next week so we are excited to get some practices in before hosting two more GNAC teams,” Williams continued. “I know our team looks forward to carrying tonight’s momentum into our upcoming matches.” The defense put up some big numbers in the victory. MSU Billings recorded a season-high 15.0 team blocks and 87 total digs. Ashlynn Ward earned a career-high nine block assists in the match while pounding home a match-high 17 kills. Freshman Bre Rodrigues finished with eight block assists and nine kills. Freshman Faith Taylor collected 20 digs for the ‘Jackets and Kylee Cornelio 19. Two players earned double-doubles. Angala Jensen had 44 assists and a season-high 17 digs. Stormy Siemion had 15 kills and 10 digs. Casey Rich cleared nine kills on a team-leading .304 attack percentage while adding six block assists. Lexa de Jesus finished with a season-high 10 kills with two block assists. Mataia Robinson also had double-digit digs with 14. The win improves Montana State University Billings to 3-16 overall and 2-8 in the GNAC. The loss drops Western Oregon to 6-11, 3-7 in league action. For Western Oregon, Paige Orth had 14 kills, Amanda Short 13 and Alisha Bettinson a double-double of 12 kills and 21 digs. Christie Colasurdo had 25 digs in the match. Maddie Mehciz finished with 51 assists. Mariella Vandenkooy had five block assists and nine kills. In the opening set, Western Oregon used runs of 7-0 and 4-1 to distance themselves. In the early going, WOU pulled ahead 8-5. A service error by the Wolves opened the door for the Yellowjackets. Out of the back row, Siemion hammered home a kill crosscourt. Bre Rodrigues finished a point on a block, angling the ball straight down. A counter block from Vandenkooy and Sydney Blankenship pushed WOU ahead 13-8. Bettinson cleared a ball from the back row and a move by the setter to dump the ball into the open court drove the Wolves ahead 17-11. An attack by Siemion to the far back corner stopped the run from WOU. A big dig from Taylor sent the ball to Siemion who came out of the middle for back-to-back points. Rodrigues pumped a ball down the right side and after a long rally, a block from Rodrigues and de Jesus kept the set alive before an attack by Orth gave the opening set to the Wolves. MSUB’s right side won the first two points of the second frame. Rodrigues set-up a block and Ward put the ball down on an overpass. Cornelio served an ace for a 5-2 lead. On a ball that came back to the ‘Jackets side, Cornelio sent the ball straight into the corner. The Wolves took the lead back on a service ace from Libbie Hoene at 8-7. Two kills from de Jesus on swings to the right side tied the set at nine. Siemion shot the ‘Jackets ahead, pounding a ball into the block. A kill by Ward tied the set at 12. The teams traded points. Two smart kills from de Jesus pulled the ‘Jackets to within a point, 17-16. Short clocked a ball down the line for the Wolves. Rodrigues used a nice tip kill and Ward contributed a point. A kill from Siemion off a bump set from Cornelio tied the match at 21. A back set to de Jesus pulled MSUB ahead 22-21. Rich went up out of the middle to push a ball down for 23-22. A ball handling error from WOU gave the ‘Jackets a set point and a touch kill from Siemion leveled the match. MSUB opened the third frame jumping ahead 5-1. A block from Ward and a kill by de Jesus earned two more points. Two big blocks at the net by Siemion and Rodrigues, and a kill by Rodrigues sent the ‘Jackets into double-digits. A smart shot off the top of the block by Ward cleared a 14-6 advantage. Cornelio served two points and Rich went up for a solo block for 19-11.
Out of a timeout, Orth collected a point for the Wolves. Siemion bounced a ball back and Rodrigues and Ward were there for a double block. Jensen and Rodrigues collected back-to-back defensive points to pull MSUB within two points of the set. Western Oregon made one last push to close the gap to 23-17. Two errors from the Wolves earned the ‘Jackets a 2-1 set advantage. Siemion leveled the fourth frame on a roll tip for 4-all. Rodrigues and Jensen on a block finished a run to kick the lead up to 9-5. The Wolves stormed back into the set with a 4-1 rally to pull within one, 10-9. Western Oregon kept up its momentum, rolling to a 14-11 lead. After a timeout, Rodrigues used a kill off a back set for a MSUB side out. Rich shot the ball into the corner to draw within two, 15-13. The Wolves kept up the pressure with kills from Orth and Bettinson. The Yellowjackets kept fighting. Rodrigues pushed a short ball into the arms of the defense and cleared a kill off the top of the block. A block from Ward and Rich pulled MSUB to two points back, 23-21. Mehciz earned WOU a set point and an error from the ‘Jackets sent the match to a fifth deciding set. Taylor dug a ball at the back line and Ward finished the point with a kill. Ward came back again on the next point with a put back. The MSUB front line kept the points rolling with another double block and a kill from Rich in the middle for 5-2. Three straight hitting errors by the Wolves pushed MSUB ahead 8-2. WOU halved the deficit before a smart shot from Jensen earned the ‘Jackets a side out. Down by six, Western Oregon found its way back into the set with seven points to close to 10-9. Siemion rocketed up on the outside for a point. An error from the Wolves pushed the ‘Jackets to within three. Rodrigues sent a ball off the block for 13-10. WOU leveled the set at 13 on a kill from Short. Needing two points, Ward forced a ball into the block for the match point. A block from Rich and Ward finished the win. THE BUZZ: After dropping all four of its five set matches this season, the win over Western Oregon earns MSUB its first five set victory of the year…Rodrigues named St. Vincent Healthcare Athlete of the Match…MSUB is half-way through its conference season and opens the back half the season at home next Thursday. UP NEXT: MSUB continues its hosting duties with a pair of conference matches next week. MSU Billings welcomes Central Washington on Thursday, Oct. 20, followed by Northwest Nazarene on Saturday, Oct. 22. --msubsports.com | #JacketNation--