Sea Warriors Down Yellowjackets in Four (Oct. 15, 2004)
Box Score

BILLINGS, MT – Hawaii Pacific moved into a first place tie in the Pacific West Conference with a 3-1 (30-27, 29-31, 30-21, 30-26) win over MSU Billings on Friday night.  The win improved the Sea Warriors to 6-1 in the PacWest and 12-2 overall.  The Yellowjackets dropped to 3-4 in the PacWest and 10-7 overall.

Hawaii Pacific stormed to a 15-6 lead in the first game and cruised to a 29-24 lead.  The Yellowjackets held on through three game points before finally falling 30-27.  MSU Billings was able to keep the Sea Warriors off balance in game two, leading by as many as six at the midpoint and holding on for a 31-29 win to even the match at 1-1.

The third game was all HPU with the Yellowjackets leading only once in the game.  Three consecutive attack errors by the Sea Warriors led to a 5-4 MSUB advantage, but Hawaii Pacific rallied for a 30-21 win.  The Yellowjackets had their chances in the fourth game, leading as late as 23-22.  Three kills from Flavia Brakling swung the momentum to the Sea Warriors, who won eight of the final 11 points to prevail 30-26.

Brakling led the Sea Warriors with 22 kills and 20 digs.  She was one of four Sea Warriors posting double-doubles.  Nadica Karleusa finished with 15 kills and 12 digs, and Barbara Martin added 14 kills and 11 digs.  Setter Vera Oliveira handed out 60 assists to go with 11 digs.

The Yellowjackets were paced by a 20-20 performance from Olivia Munro (Sr., Toronto, Ontario).  She knocked down 23 kills and picked up 22 digs.  Setter Natalie Bills also doubled up with a match-high 64 assists and 12 digs.  Jessica Bratton (So., Casper, WY) reached the 20-kill mark with 20 kills on a .211 hitting percentage. 

Andrea Donahue (Sr., Whitefish, MT) and Alicia Cazemier (Fr., Vauxhall, Alberta) both had solid nights at the net for MSU Billings.  Donahue had 12 kills on a .267 attack percentage and was also in on four blocks.  Cazemier had eight kills and five blocks.

The Yellowjackets and Sea Warriors meet again on Saturday night in a non-conference match.  Start time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium.

Photos of Volleyball vs. Hawaii Pacific (October 15)