Lady Jackets Tame Mustangs in Five (9/23/05)
Box Score

BILLINGS, MT – Momentum shifts and defense ruled the match Friday as Montana State-Billings battled to a 3-2 Heartland Conference win over visiting Western New Mexico.  The Yellowjackets cruised to a 2-0 lead in the match before the Mustangs rallied back to easily win the third and fourth games.  MSU Billings used a quick start to the fifth and deciding game, taking the match 30-21, 30-25, 18-30, 16-30, 15-11.

The Yellowjackets improved to 12-3 overall and 2-1 in the Heartland Conference.  The Mustangs had an 11-match winning streak snapped to fall to 12-4 overall and 2-1 in the conference.  The Jackets and Mustangs now sit in a tie for second place in the Heartland behind St. Edward’s, which is 2-0.  The Hilltoppers will remain in first place since their conference match with Dallas Baptist on Saturday has been cancelled due to Hurricane Rita.

MSU Billings led all but one point through the first two games, and that was when the very first game was tied 1-1.  The trend shifted dramatically in the third game.  After MSU Billings built a 5-2 lead, the Mustangs rallied to tie the game at 6-6 and never looked back.  The Jackets led at just one other point over the next two games, and the Mustangs entered the fifth game with a surge of momentum.

“After we lost the fourth game, we knew whoever made the first run in the fifth game would win,” said Yellowjacket middle blocker Alicia Cazemier (So., Vauxhall, Alberta).  “Last week St. Mary’s had a good start and beat us in the fifth game.  When you only play to 15 you have to get an early lead.”

After watching the Mustangs’ Stephanie Higgins dominate for two straight games, the Yellowjackets answered the bell in game five with a 4-0 start behind the service of Nicole Kruse (So., Huntley, MT).  The Jackets built leads of 4-1 and 8-3 to take control of the match.  Taylor Faught (Fr., Billings, MT) drilled an ace to give MSU Billings an 8-3 advantage.  Western was able to get as close as three points, but kills from Alexis Sandru (Jr., Twin Bridges, MT), Jessica Bratton (Jr., Casper, WY), and Cazemier down the stretch closed out the match.

“It was definitely a defensive game,” said Cazemier who recorded a career-high 13 blocks.  “I was very impressed with the blocking and digging.  It was fun.  The crowd was getting into it; they were great.”

The Mustangs out-hit the Yellowjackets .160 to .134 and held a 68-54 edge on kills.  But the Yellowjackets managed a 14-9 blocks advantage and capitalized on 13 Mustang service errors.  Both teams had their struggles on offense, with the MSU Billings defense picking up 78 digs to the Mustangs’ 75.

Cazemier had a team-high 13 kills to go with her 13 blocks.  Ali Watson (Jr., Calgary, Alberta) and Bratton each knocked down a dozen kills with Watson also adding 17 digs.  Sandru had the most consistent offensive night for the Yellowjackets with 10 kills on a .375 attack percentage.  She also had 14 digs.  Setter Natalie Bills (Jr., Provo, UT), the Heartland Conference assists leader, dished out 43 assists.  Kruse finished the night with a match-high 20 digs.

The Mustangs’ Higgins led all players with 27 kills on 68 attempts.  Last week’s Heartland Conference hitter of the week didn’t disappoint the Jackets’ largest crowd of the season, pounding laser beams to the floor all night.  She also had 13 digs.  Jennifer Snowbarger added 15 kills and 11 digs.

The Yellowjackets and Mustangs, who have a history of playing five-game matches, will meet again on Saturday.  Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium.  The winner will likely have the early edge in the race to qualify for the Heartland Conference tournament, which takes the top four teams in the league.

Saturday’s match will likely be the last between the two schools unless they meet again at the conference tournament.  It will almost certainly be the Mustangs’ final trip to Billings before they jump from the Heartland Conference to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference beginning next year.