October 20, 2007

Lady Jackets Rally to Down Nanooks
Box Score
MSUB Season Stats
Game Photos

BILLINGS, Mont. – Montana State Billings overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat Alaska Fairbanks in five games Saturday night in GNAC volleyball at Alterowitz Gym, 25-30, 25-30, 30-22, 30-24, 15-8.  Devon Crotteau (Casper, Wyo.) and Alicia Cazemier (Vauxhall, Alberta) each pounded out 21 kills to lead the comeback.

“The main thing we had to change from games one and two to games three, four and five was to not make so many unforced errors,” said Yellowjacket head coach Sara Schaub.  “We needed to keep the ball in play.  We did a good job of making that change.”

Each team had 13 kills in each of the first two games, but the Yellowjackets committed four more attack errors and a number of ball handling and passing errors.  MSUB shored up the attack after the intermission, hitting a combined .216 over the final three games.  Alaska Fairbanks hit just .042 as a team over the final three games.

“Our outside hitting struggled in the first game, and our middle blocking struggled in game two,” said Schaub.  “We brought everything together in the final three games and had all cylinders going.  When we play at the top level that we can, I think we’re one of the strongest team in the conference.  We have to remain at that level on a more consistent basis.”

With the win, the Yellowjackets improved to 15-7 overall and 8-5 in the conference.  The Nanooks dropped to 9-12, 3-10. 

Cazemier’s 21 kills came on a .316 attack percentage.  She is now just two kills short of tying Jessica Bratton’s all-time school record of 1,376 kills.  The senior captain was also in on seven blocks, surpassing 500 career total blocks.  The NCAA does not keep career blocking records, but 500 is a noteworthy accomplishment.  The GNAC career record is 402.

Crotteau had 17 digs to go with her 21 kills.  Stefania Aladjova (Sofia, Bulgaria) had 45 assists, 14 digs, and four aces.  Nicole Kruse (Huntley) picked up a match-high 21 digs. 

The Nanooks were paced by Megan Thigpen’s 17 kills and 17 digs.  Melissa Refuerzo added 13 kills, and Jessica Hill had 10.

The Yellowjackets have a critical Great Northwest Athletic Conference road trip next week when they play at Central Washington on Thursday and at league-leader Western Washington on Saturday.  Cazemier is sure to become the all-time school record holder for career kills on Thursday, adding it to her list of records that includes total blocks, solo blocks, block assists, and hitting percentage.