Rattlers Slip Past Jackets in Five (9/17/05)
Box Score

BILLINGS, MT – Momentum can be a powerful thing in college volleyball.  St. Mary’s University (TX) used a momentum shift in Saturday’s fourth game to come from behind to defeat Montana State-Billings, 3-2.  The Jackets let a 2-1 lead in the match slip away, falling 29-31, 32-30, 17-30, 30-23, 15-11. 

The loss dropped the Yellowjackets to 11-3 overall and 1-1 in the Heartland Conference.  St. Mary’s improved to 7-6, 1-1.  MSU Billings continues conference play next Friday and Saturday when the Yellowjackets host Western New Mexico.  Both matches start at 7:00 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium.  It will be the Mustangs’ final trip to Billings before they jump to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference next season.

The Yellowjackets appeared to be in firm control of Saturday afternoon’s match after the third game.  After splitting the first two games in tight extra-point affairs, the Yellowjackets cruised through the third game to win by 13.  MSU Billings was unable to capitalize on the momentum from game three, however. 

The Jackets opened the fourth game with a 2-0 lead, but St. Mary’s tied the game at 3-3 and never trailed after that point.  St. Mary’s eventually broke away from a 6-6 tie to win the game easily and tie the match at two games apiece.

With the momentum firmly in hand, the Rattlers controlled the fifth and deciding game from the start.  The Rattlers struck quickly for an 8-4 lead.  After the teams traded sides, St. Mary’s doubled its cushion for a 12-4 advantage.  MSU Billings was able to battle back and close the deficit to three at 13-10, but the Rattlers’ lead was too large to overcome.

St. Mary’s was led by 22 kills by Mallary Moehrig.  She had just three errors on 41 attempts for a .463 attack percentage.  Anna Seals finished with 16 kills, and Maegan Lowry added 14.  Setter Courtney Matula handed out 62 assists and also added seven digs.

Ali Watson (Jr., Calgary, Alberta) paced the Yellowjackets with 22 kills and 20 digs.  It was her fifth 20-20 performance of the season.  Jessica Bratton (Jr., Casper, WY) knocked down a season-high 20 kills on a .306 attach percentage.  Middle blocker Alicia Cazemier (So., Vauxhall, Alberta) matched her career high with 19 kills.  She had just four errors on 30 attempts for a .500 percentage.  Cazemier also had four of the Jackets’ 11 service aces.

Jessica Lechner (Fr., Huntley, MT) finished with a career-high 11 kills.  Setter Natalie Bills (Jr., Provo, UT) dished out 66 assists, besting her career high by one.  She also had a career-high seven kills without an error.  Libero Nicole Kruse (So., Huntley, MT) picked up 14 digs.  Alexis Sandru (Jr., Twin Bridges, MT) added 10 digs and six kills.