Lady Yellowjackets Sweep Rocky in Home Opener (Sept. 17, 2003)

BILLINGS, MT – The MSU Billings volleyball team got back on the winning track Wednesday night by sweeping cross-town rival Rocky Mountain College, 3-0 (30-18, 30-16, 30-15).  The Yellowjackets dominated the match from the get-go to improve to 3-6 for the season.  Rocky falls to 8-9.

The Jackets’ hitters were on the mark in game one, out-hitting the Bears .375 to .037.  That trend continued for the match as MSU Billings went on to hit a combined .280 over the three games, and Rocky committed more errors than it recorded kills. 

Suited up for the Yellowjackets for the first time this season was sophomore setter Natalie Bills (Provo, UT).  She handed out 13 assists and added four digs in her first action as a Yellowjacket.  Also in uniform for the first time since the opening weekend was setter Kari Jones (Jr., Hermiston, OR).  Jones didn’t play in the match but is available for the start of the PacWest Conference schedule on Monday.

“We’re finally getting most of our players back and we’re finally having fun,” said outside hitter Jessica Bratton (Fr., Casper, WY).  “Out in California we weren’t having fun.  We’ve been having good practices lately, so that helped too.  When everyone is playing their natural positions, people feel more comfortable.  Our chemistry is better because we know where we should be and where the other girls should be.”

Bratton had six kills and seven digs in a match that was difficult to build any big statistical numbers.  Olivia Munro (Jr., Toronto, Ontario) led all players with 10 kills and also added seven digs.  Libero Alexis Sandru had a match-high 10 digs, and Alberta Letoa (Fr., Laie, HI) added 13 assists and six digs in splitting setting time with Bills.

With the win the Yellowjackets avenged two 3-0 losses to Rocky last season.  The last time MSUB beat Rocky was October 16, 2001.  The overall series record between the teams is 20-9 in the Yellowjackets’ favor.

“It’s definitely good to get the win against Rocky,” said Bratton.  “It’s just our first game against them and it’s good playing someone you know is going to play you tough, no matter what conference they’re in.” 

The Jackets will open PacWest Conference play next Monday when they host defending NCAA National Champion BYU-Hawaii.  MSUB will play host to the second-ranked Seasiders on Monday and Tuesday and to fifteenth-ranked Hawaii Pacific on Thursday and Friday.

“It’s exciting [to play the national champions] because you know you have to play your best game,” said Bratton of her first conference match as a Yellowjacket.  “It gives you some motivation to step up and play as hard as you can.”