Lady Jackets Clinch HLC Tourney Berth (10/22/05)
Box Score

AUSTIN, TX – The Montana State-Billings volleyball team clinched a berth in next month’s Heartland Conference tournament with a 3-1 win over St. Edward’s University on Saturday afternoon (30-23, 26-30, 30-27, 30-18).  The Yellowjackets improved to 18-5 overall and 7-3 in the Heartland Conference.  The loss dropped the Hilltoppers to 8-19, 3-6. 

MSU Billings and Western New Mexico are the first two teams in the conference to reach seven wins in league play after both teams won convincingly on the road Saturday.  The Mustangs defeated Incarnate Word to take over first place at 7-1.  Both teams clinched spots in the HLC tournament that will be held in Austin on November 11-12.  St. Mary’s and Incarnate Word are the two other likely participants in the tourney.  St. Edward’s would need to win its remaining three conference games and get some help in order to bump SMU or UIW out of the tournament.

After struggling to find any offensive consistency Friday night, the Yellowjackets controlled much of Saturday’s match.  They out-hit the Hilltoppers .223 to .143 and had a dozen more kills in the match. 

“We did not play well at all last night,” said Yellowjacket head coach Pa’ulasi Matavao.  “We looked really slow and tired.  We had a better day today.  Our kids did a really good job of controlling the game from the start.  We played really well serving and passing.  That’s our game right there.  We had a little more bounce in our step today.”

Alicia Cazemier (So., Vauxhall, Alberta) had her second huge match in as many nights.  She pounded out a career-high 24 kills on a .364 attack percentage and was in on five blocks.  On Friday she had 22 kills and five blocks.

“Alicia had a big night tonight,” said Matavao.  “She was the key for us.  That was probably the best I’ve seen her play.  She had a great match last night, too.”

Jessica Bratton (Jr., Casper, WY) added 15 kills and three blocks.  Ali Watson (Jr., Calgary, Alberta) had a dozen kills to go with a match-high 22 digs.  Nicole Kruse (So., Huntley, MT) had 18 digs, and Alexis Sandru (Jr., Twin Bridges, MT) added 15.  Setter Natalie Bills handed out 55 assists.  Freshman Taylor Faught (Billings, MT) knocked down a season-high six service aces.

St. Ed’s was led by 14 kills from Lindsey Douglas.  Angela Vorpahl added 10 kills and 10 digs.  The Hilltoppers out-blocked the Yellowjackets 7.5 to 5.0 in the match.

MSU Billings will wrap up the regular season with three matches at home.  The Yellowjackets host Rocky Mountain College on Wednesday, October 26.  They finish the season with two important conference matches against Incarnate Word on November 4 and 5.  Those two matches may determine the seeding for the conference tournament the following week.