2006 Volleyball Wrap-Up

BILLINGS, MT – With every player from last year’s Montana State-Billings volleyball team returning for the 2006 campaign, the Yellowjackets were poised for another very successful season.  They entered the year with high hopes and delivered by posting the most successful season in school history.  Under the direction of head coach Pa’ulasi Matavao, the team had a very specific pre-season goal  

“The main goal this year is to get to the NCAA Tournament,” said Matavao prior to competition this season.  “That’s what we’re playing for this year, and the kids all know that.  The ultimate goal for us is to win our conference and get to the regional.  I think we have the team to get there now.  It’s just up to the kids to see how far we can go.”

Living up to the expectations, the Jackets accomplished exactly what they set out to do.  The team dominated the Heartland Conference for the entire season and indeed earned a trip to the Regional Tournament after sweeping the conference championship.

Despite finishing perfect in Heartland Conference play, the Yellowjackets received the No. 5 seed at the regional. MSUB was the only team out of the Heartland to earn a spot in the NCAA tournament and entered relatively unknown.  In their first round match-up, they upset fourth-seeded Western New Mexico with a three-game sweep.  The team looked ready to continue their first-round success by jumping out to a big lead early in the first game against top-seeded West Texas A&M, but after losing momentum mid-way through the first game, the team fell in three straight. 

“We couldn’t ask for more,” said Bills after their final loss and her final match as a Yellowjacket.  “It’s hard to swallow (the loss), but we couldn’t ask for a better team.  We were so close.  We did our best.  We made it to the regional semifinals, and that’s better than anyone expected.”

The success achieved by the team this year really began last year.  The nearly identical squad of last season had posted the best season in MSUB history to date.  Riding that success, the Jackets entered this season picked to win the 2006 Heartland Conference championship in a preseason poll of league coaches and sports information directors.  Still, the team faced a schedule which kept them on the road for the majority of the year, including the entire first half of the season.

It did take a few games for the Yellowjackets to catch their winning-stride.  They stumbled early, dropping two of their first three matches at the Mountain Lion Invitational in Colorado Springs.  After sweeping the opener against Quincy University, they were defeated by both Fort Lewis and Armstrong Atlantic, 3-1. The Jackets salvaged a tourney split by knocking off host UC-Colorado Springs, 3-1. The tournament losses would be the only time all season that the team would lose in consecutive matches. Senior Ali Watson and junior Alicia Cazemier were named to the all-tournament team, the first of many honors each would receive in 2006.

MSUB’s next competition came at the Hampton Inn Classic, where they split two matches against tough competition.  The Yellowjackets opened the tourney with a 3-2 loss to 18^th-ranked Seattle Pacific before closing the tournament with a 3-2 upset of previously unbeaten Fort Lewis College.  After the first two weeks of the season, the Yellowjackets sat at 5-3 overall. They would lost only once more in the next two months.

The torrid pace at which the Jackets started racking up consecutive wins began at the tail end of their opening road schedule.  They notched seven straight victories before playing their home-opener, including a tournament win at the Lonestar/Heartland Crossover held in Wichita Falls and a stunning comeback victory against cross-town rival Rocky Mountain College. The team’s 11-3 record was tops in the conference and became a strong indication of the Jacket’s Heartland reign to come.

Their winning streak kept building and made it all the way to ten.  During that time, the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Committee released its first Division II regional polls of the year.  Sure enough, the Jackets’ hard work was rewarded with a No. 2 ranking in the Southwest Region, trailing only Fort Lewis College. By a large margin, the No. 2 regional ranking was the highest in the history of volleyball at MSU Billings.

“I think we are doing well as a team and are on pace,” said Ali Watson of the Jackets’ play at that point.  “We just want to continue rolling and not peak too early in the conference season.”

The team finally lost their consecutive win streak in their bid for an eleventh-straight win, falling 3-1 to Texas A&M International.  The loss only seemed to refocus the Jackets in their bid for solidifying a high postseason spot.  Nine matches and nine wins later, had their top seed in the Heartland Conference Tournament, gaining an unprecedented No. 1 regional ranking during that span.

Finishing the season with four-straight sweeps and a 23-4 record, the Jackets entered the conference tournament having not lost to anyone in the conference all year.  They somehow slipped from the top ranking to seventh, and finally tenth in the region. The team’s play in the coming days made it obvious that they had something to prove. 

“The girls really wanted to finish the season strong,” said coach Matavao of the team’s season finale and upcoming tournament.  “They had that attitude coming into the weekend, and they were able to do that.  They’re really looking forward to the tournament.”

The first-time host and top seeded Yellowjackets were matched up the against the No. 4 seed conference rival St. Edward’s in the opening rounds of the Heartland Conference Tournament. That night illustrated the true versatility of the Jackets, with a swarming defense and pounding offense, they cut down the Hilltoppers in straight games, 30-20, 30-19, 30-16. 

With the winner moving on to play the Jackets for the title, No. 2 Dallas Baptist jumped out to a convincing two-game lead against No. 3 seeded St. Mary’s and seemed to have the championship game within their grasp.  St. Mary’s, however, battled back and was able shift the momentum enough to capture the semifinal win.  MSUB finally had their last hurdle in order to make the NCAA tournament.

The Jackets came ready to play and executed a near perfect match en route to capturing their first-ever conference championship, again winning every game of the championship match against St. Mary’s.  Armed with tournament MVP Alicia Cazemier, the Jackets easily earned their coveted automatic invite to a first ever NCAA tournament.  Ali Watson and Natalie Bills joined Cazemier with all-tournament honors.

 “I couldn’t be more excited,” said Cazemier of the Heartland crown.  “It’s just awesome that we could come from last year’s loss (in the conference championship match) and come this far and win it.  Our defense was amazing again.  I’m looking forward to regionals.  It’s the first time in school history, so that’s an honor in itself.  We’ll just do the best we can.”

After their opening NCAA tournament win, MSUB couldn’t overcome the offensive onslaught put forth by the eventual regional champion West Texas A&M, and their dream season came to a close.  Led by a blistering offense which resulted in a .227 team attack percentage, 15.53 kills average, 14.26 assist average, and 2.15 aces average – all of which rank either No.1  or No. 2 in school history- the Jackets tallied 26 wins and first ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

Just after the season wrapped up, Pa’ulasi Matavao announced that he was stepping down as Montana State University-Billings head volleyball coach.  Citing personal and family reasons, the Jackets lost their most successful coach in school history.  Matavao’s 99-97 career record at MSU Billings is the only winning record of the nine coaches the school has had since reinstating volleyball in 1984.  The Yellowjackets posted three-straight winning seasons in the last three years, the first three winning seasons in school history. He leaves as the all-time leader in school history for career wins and career winning percentage.

“It’s been a good seven years,” said Matavao.  “I am very proud of what the kids were able to do.  I just want to thank all those who were involved with the program, and I wish the program and the kids all the best in the future.”

In Matavao’s final season, his team became very familiar with shattering MSUB records.  As the season progressed, each win cemented their place in school history.  The team’s accomplishments also yielded an abundance of individual success.  Perhaps most notably was senior Jessica Bratton’s eclipsing the all-time career kills record at MSU Billings.  Bratton, a 6’0” outside hitter from Casper, WY, was able to record her 1,289^th career kill in front of an appreciative home crowd in a 3-1 win over Rocky Mountain College on October 17.  Bratton went on to finish the season with 1,376 kills.

“It’s good to set a record, but now I’m just raising the bar for someone else to come beat it,” said Bratton, “It’s just one more thing for someone else to beat.  But it’s good to have.  It’s exciting.”

MSUB also placed five players on the Heartland All-Conference teams including three first team selections in ‘06. Ali Watson, Natalie Bills, Alicia Cazemier, Nicole Kruse, and Jessica Bratton joined coach Matavao with Heartland honors.  Watson’s incredible season garnered the award for Heartland Conference Most Valuable Player. The 5’11” outside hitter from Calgary, AB finished her two-year career at Montana State-Billings in the top 10 in school history in kills, digs, hitting percentage, and as the career record holder for kills per game (4.10). 

The accolades kept coming when Alicia Cazemier was named to the All-Southwest Region Volleyball Team for the second straight year. Cazemier, a 6’0” junior from Vauxhall, AB, also broke the school record for career solo blocks (67) and is within five blocks of the school record for total blocks.  She also ranks in the top 10 in school history for kills, aces, block assists, attack percentage, kills average, and blocks average.

Alexis Sandru, an outside hitter from Twin Bridges, MT, was joined by Cazemier with the distinction of being named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VII teams by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Sandru finished her career fifth in school history for career digs and is also in the top 10 for career games played.

Members of the team wracked up other numerous distinctions during the year, including a collection of Heartland Conference Player of the Week awards. Natalie Bills, a 5’7” setter from Provo, UT, brought home the award three times during the course of her record-setting season.  Bills was just three assists shy of tying the school season record for assists and her four seasons as a Yellowjacket resulted in 3,782 assists, also second all-time. Her 12.52 assists per game in 2006 is good for best in Montana State-Billings history.

Junior libero Nicole Kruse (Huntley, MT) made her mark this season and is climbing up the record books as well.  Kruse was a single dig away from tying the season record and will likely set the record for career service aces in 2007.

Kruse will be accompanied by her teammates next season with the task of ushering in a new era at MSUB.  With a new coach taking the reigns and having to replace four standout seniors, the team will be looking at new faces for leadership.  MSUB does plan on returning eight players from this year’s team, including three starters and two seniors.

Alicia Cazemier, now a three-year veteran, will be among those returning.  Sophomores Taylor Faught (Billings, MT) and Jessica Lechner (Pompeys Pillar, MT) will likely step into larger roles for the team next season.  Lechner finished ’06 with 210 kills and should provide a large portion of the offense for the Jackets.  Faught was also very effective this year, notching 308 digs in 107 games.

The unparalleled achievement of the 2006 team has definitely set a new standard and pushed Montana State-Billings further toward forefront of Division II Volleyball. A shift in conference from the Heartland to the Great Northwest Athletic next year will also provide unfamiliar competition and new challenges.

Single Season Records set in 2006
Ali Watson – 3^rd in kills (443)
Ali Watson – 9^th in digs (397)
Ali Watson – 5^th in kills per game (4.18)
Ali Watson – 12^th in digs per game (3.75)
Alicia Cazemier – 8^th in kills (395)
Alicia Cazemier – 2^nd in blocks (164)
Alicia Cazemier – 1^st in solo blocks (67)
Alicia Cazemier – 5^th in block assists (97)
Alicia Cazemier - 5^th in hitting percentage (.321)
Alicia Cazemier – 11^th in kills per game (3.66)
Alicia Cazemier – 1^st in blocks average (1.52)
Jessica Bratton – 7^th in kills (400)
Jessica Bratton – 10^th in kills average (3.74)
Natalie Bills – 2^nd assists (1,327)
Natalie Bills – 5^th service aces (50)
Natalie Bills – 1^st assists per game (1,216)
Nicole Kruse – 2^nd in digs (439)
Nicole Kruse – 9^th in service aces (42)
Nicole Kruse – 4^th in dig average (4.06)
Jessica Lechner – 11^th in hitting percentage (.269)

Career Records of 2006 Yellowjackets
Ali Watson – 7^th in kills (857)
Ali Watson – 8^th in digs (790)
Ali Watson – 9^th in hitting percentage (.192)
Ali Watson – 1^st in kills per game (4.10)
Ali Watson – 3^rd in digs per game (3.78)
Alicia Cazemier – 4^th in kills (1,010)
Alicia Cazemier – 6^th in service aces (88)
Alicia Cazemier – 1^st in total blocks (403)
Alicia Cazemier – 1^st in solo blocks (143)
Alicia Cazemier – 2^nd in block assists (260)
Alicia Cazemier – 1^st in hitting percentage (.315)
Alicia Cazemier – 6^th in kills per game (3.34)
Alicia Cazemier – 1^st in blocks per game (1.33)
Jessica Bratton – 1^st in kills (1,376)
Jessica Bratton – 9^th in block assists (147)
Jessica Bratton – 10^th in hitting percentage (.187)
Jessica Bratton – 5^th in kills per game (3.52)
Jessica Bratton – 4^th in games played (391)
Natalie Bills – 2^nd in assists (3,782)
Natalie Bills – 2^nd in service aces (160)
Natalie Bills – 1^st in assists per game (12.16)
Natalie Bills – 10^th in games played (311)
Nicole Kruse – 7^th in digs (793)
Nicole Kruse – 5^th in service aces (104)
Nicole Kruse – 4^th in digs per game (3.76)
Nicole Kruse – 20^th in games played (211)
Alexis Sandru – 7^th in games played (346)
Alexis Sandru – 5^th in digs (905)
Alexis Sandru – 17^th in digs per game (2.62)