Lady Jackets Cruise, 3-0 (9/22/06)
Box Score
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Coach P post game audio

BILLINGS, MT – The Montana State-Billings volleyball team posted a 3-0 win in its season home opener against Heartland Conference opponent Dallas Baptist.  The Jackets started slow in game one eventually winning 30-28.  Games two and three hardly saw the Yellowjackets break a sweat wrapping up the match 30-11 and 30-19.  The Lady Jackets improved to 12-3 overall and 1-0 in league play.  The win marks the eighth in a row for the Jackets while the Patriots dropped to 5-12 and 0-1.

In game one Dallas Baptist out-hit the Jackets 22 to 14, posting a .381 attack percentage.  The Patriots deflated from there totaling just 13 kills in the final two games.  The Yellowjackets hit a blistering .556 and .250 in games two and three respectively and combined for 30 kills.

“After game one, we came together and realized we needed to get a run, rather than just hitting it back and forth,” said Ali Watson.  “We served well and by getting the Patriots out of their offense it makes it a lot easier to win the point.”

The Jackets’ Ali Watson (Calgary, Alberta) led all players with 13 kills.  Watson posted a .344 hitting percentage and dove for seven digs.  Alicia Cazemier (Vauxhall, Alberta), Jessica Lechner (Pompeys Piller), and Jessica Bratton (Casper, WY) added eight kills a piece.  Setter Natalie Bills (Provo, UT) served six aces, tying her career-high, and handed out 35 assists on the night.  The Patriots were led by Jenny Pry with 10 kills followed by Brandi Moss with eight.  Ashlee Hawkins led all players with 12 digs.

“I think we are doing well as a team and are on pace,” added Watson.  “We just want to continue rolling and not peak to early in the conference season.”

As a team the Lady Jackets had a .327 attack percentage with 44 kills off 101 attempts, 12 service aces and four team blocks.  The Patriots hit just .113 off 106 attack attempts and matched the Jackets with four team blocks.

The Lady Jackets meet the Patriots for a rematch Saturday, September 23 at Alterowitz Gym.  The afternoon game is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.