Lady Yellowjackets Open Conference Volleyball Schedule on the Road (September 10, 2002)

BILLINGS – Even though many people around the country will be uneasy about flying on September 11, there will be at least one group in the skies that day.  The Montana State University-Billings women’s volleyball team leaves for Hawaii Wednesday for their first conference games of the year.

The Yellowjackets will open PacWest Conference play at BYU-Hawaii on September 13, followed by games at Chaminade on the 14^th, Hawaii Pacific on the 16^th, and Hawaii-Hilo on the 17^th.  The game at BYU-Hawaii was the determining factor in when the team left Billings.  

Ironically, MSU Billings was scheduled to play its conference opener against BYU-Hawaii in Billings on September 11, 2001.  Despite all that unfolded throughout the day, the Yellowjackets and Seasiders still played their match at 7:00 p.m. that evening.  BYU-Hawaii entered the game ranked No. 14 in the nation, and MSU Billings entered having never beaten a ranked team.  The Jackets defeated the Seasiders in five games, making a little school history on a day when history will only remember one event. 

When the Yellowjackets take the court in Laie on Friday, they’ll be facing a BYU-Hawaii team that has built an 8-0 record, including wins over the No. 1 and No. 11 ranked teams on their home courts.  After starting the season ranked out of the top 25, the Seasiders climbed to No. 7 last week and could be ranked even higher when the AVCA poll is released later today.

The MSU Billings coaches are focusing less on the fact that they are flying on 9-11 and more on the issues that have them off to a 4-5 start this season.  With five new players on the roster, the team is has yet to gel in coach Pa’ulasi Matavao’s up-tempo style of play.  While Matavao thinks the Yellowjackets have the skills to be competitive, he acknowledges that they must play better together and improve collectively.  Matavao believes the four conference games in five days will give the Jackets the perfect opportunity to make that progress.