MSUB Volleyball Sweeps Heartland Awards (10/11/06)

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State-Billings volleyball players Ali Watson, Natalie Bills, and Nicole Kruse swept the Heartland Conference Player of the Week awards for the week of October 2-8.  The Lady Jackets have tallied five POTW awards this season with the honor being Watson’s first and Bills’s and Kruse’s second.

Watson, a senior outside hitter from Calgary, Alberta, Canada continued to lead the Montana State-Billings attack, averaging 5.67 kills per game on a .400 attack percentage as the Yellowjackets remained unbeaten in Heartland Conference play.  On Friday Watson pounded out 17 kills with just two errors as the Jackets swept Incarnate Word in three games.  She also had 10 digs for a double-double.  On Saturday Watson again knocked down 17 kills with just six errors as the Jackets swept the Cardinals for the second-straight day.  Her 14 digs gave Watson her 13^th double-double for kills and digs in 20 matches.  Watson ranks in the top 10 in the HLC for attack percentage, kills per game, service aces per game, and digs per game.

Bills, a senior setter from Provo, Utah was named Heartland Conference Setter of the Week.  Bills guided the Yellowjackets to a pair of efficient three-game sweeps of the University of the Incarnate Word, keeping the Jackets perfect in heartland Conference play at 4-0.  Bills handed out 44 assists on Friday as the Yellowjackets hit a blistering .333 as a team.  On Saturday she dished out 40 assists to lead the Jacket attack to a .304 attack percentage.  It was the first two-match set this season that the Yellowjackets had an attack percentage over .300 for the weekend.  Bills currently leads the Heartland Conference in assists per game and eclipsed 3,300 career assists at MSUB placing her second all-time in school history.

Kruse, a junior libero from Huntley, Montana anchored the Yellowjacket reception and defense to help the Jackets to a pair of wins against Heartland Conference opponent University of the Incarnate Word over the weekend.  Kruse posted a reception percentage of .964 and had at least 20 digs in each three-game match.  She averaged 7.33 digs per game to increase her season average to 4.22, ranking in the top five in the HLC.  She also moved into the top 15 in school history for career digs with 662.

The Yellowjackets defend their home court at Alterowitz Gymnasium October 13 and 14 against Heartland Conference opponent St. Edward’s University (6-15, 4-1).  First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Friday while Saturday’s match will begin at 2:00 p.m.