Yellowjackets Finish Humboldt Tournament Winless (Sept. 6, 2003)

BILLINGS, MT – The MSU Billings volleyball team couldn’t get the offensive wheels turning this weekend, losing all four matches at the Humboldt State tournament.  The Jackets lost 3-1 to Sonoma State (27-30, 30-23, 30-19, 30-18) in Saturday’s early game and 3-1 in the nightcap to Humboldt State (23-30, 32-30, 31-29, 30-24).  MSU Billings falls to 2-6 overall for the season.

In the early match against Sonoma State, the Yellowjackets opened with a 30-27 win but couldn’t keep the offense rolling for the remainder of the match.  Jessica Bratton (Casper, WY) continued the solid start to her freshman campaign with a team-high 13 kills against just two errors.  She also added 19 digs. 

Olivia Munro (Jr., Toronto, Ontario) had 11 kills in 50 attempts for just a .080 hitting percentage.  Besides Bratton and Sandy Beal (Sr., Troy, MT), the Jackets had a tough time finding the floor on the attack.  Bratton finished with a .250 hitting percentage while Beal was at .333, but the team only managed a .153 hitting percentage in the match.  Freshman setter Alberta Letoa (Laie, HI) had 31 assists and a team-high 20 digs.

In the late match against host Humboldt State, the Jackets again jumped to an early 1-0 lead but couldn’t hold on despite out-hitting the Lumberjacks .213 to .181.  Munro led MSUB with 16 kills and 20 digs.  Bratton added 15 kills and Cortney Metzler (So., Roundup, MT) had 14.  Letoa finished with a season-high 43 assists.

The Yellowjackets will be idle next week and will host Rocky Mountain College in their home opener on September 17.