Yellowjackets Fall in Four to Chaminade (Nov. 1, 2003)
Box Score

BILLINGS, MT – Chaminade earned a weekend volleyball split with a 3-1 win over MSU Billings on Saturday (29-31, 30-22, 33-31, 30-23).  The Yellowjackets, who won by the same score on Friday, dropped to 5-17 for the season.  The Silverswords improved to 10-10. 

The Yellowjackets looked to have the Silverswords’ number for the second night in a row, winning the first game 31-29 in front of the biggest crowd of the year.  However, Chaminade rebounded for a convincing win in game two and a narrow 33-31 victory in game three.

“We didn’t play real well tonight, but we had our chances,” said Yellowjacket coach Pa’ulasi Matavao.  “In that third game, we had some swings when it was 30-30, but Chaminade started picking up some balls.  That was a crucial time.  I think the winner of that game had the momentum.  Whenever you have two teams like us and Chaminade playing back and forth like that, the third game is crucial.”

Olivia Munro (Jr., Toronto, Ontario) led all players for the second night with 22 kills.  She finished the weekend series with 43 kills on 146 attempts.  She also added a match-high 22 digs and two of the Jackets’ six service aces.

“We went to her 70 times last night and 70 times tonight,” said Matavao of Munro.  “She was also digging a lot of balls.  I think she kind of wore down.”

Katrina Dahlgren (Sr., Missoula, MT) had another steady night with 15 kills against just three errors on 28 attempts (.429 hitting percentage).  She also had six total blocks, reaching 71 for the season.  Her 315 career total blocks are second in school history.  Sandy Beal (Sr., Troy, MT) had seven block assists and Cortney Metzler (Jr., Roundup, MT) had five.

Chaminade was led by 19 kills from Valasi Sepulona and 17 kills each from Kahala Kabalis and Patti Hardimon.  Michelle Norman handed out 60 assists to go with three service aces.

“I think we’re coming around defensively,” said Matavao.  “It took a little while to figure out what we’re doing because we are young.  But this team is a different team than when we went to Hawaii.  We have a lot more confidence.  Even when we went to New Mexico last week, our kids were having better practices.  I think offensively we have some kids that can give us what we’re looking for and our future looks pretty bright.”


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