Jackets Come Away with Two (9/8/06)
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WICHITA FALLS, TX – The Montana State-Billings volleyball team was a perfect 2-0 after the first day of matches at the Lone Star/Heartland Conference Crossover Tournament held in Wichita Falls, Texas.  The Lady Jackets improved to 7-3 in early season tournament play.

The Jackets upset the 2005 Lone Star North Champions University of Central Oklahoma in the early match going the distance in five games to win 30-32, 30-17, 30-28, 32-34, and 15-11.  The evening match up against Texas A&M – Commerce saw the Lady Jackets breeze through winning in three straight games (30-17, 30-23, 30-14). 

In the match against Central Oklahoma, Ali Watson (Calgary, Alberta) led the Jackets with 22 kills and 25 digs.  Jessica Bratton (Casper, WY) added 21 kills while teammate Natalie Bills (Provo, UT) dished out 58 assists.  Taylor Faught (Billings, MT) had 18 digs.

In the late game, Bills led the team with 14 digs.  Bratton and Faught had 12 and 10 digs respectively.

The Yellowjackets play their final match of the tournament against Southwestern Oklahoma (1-9) September 9 before traveling to University of Texas - Permian Basin for two matches September 11 and 12.  The Jackets then return home to play against cross town rival Rocky Mountain College at Rocky September 19 before hosting Heartland Conference opponent Dallas Baptist in the Jackets’ home opener of the season September 22 and 23.