November 1, 2007

Lady Jackets Down Bears in Four
Box Score
MSUB Season Stats
Game Photos

BILLINGS, Mont. – Devon Crotteau’s career-high 27 kills led MSU Billings to a 3-1 non-conference win over Rocky Mountain College on Thursday.  The Yellowjackets defeated their cross-town rivals for the 10th-straight time, 30-26, 21-30, 30-27, 30-19.

The teams traded the first two games of the match in similar fashion.  The Yellowjackets led wire-to-wire in the opening game, out-hitting the Bears .170 to .100.  Crotteau (Casper, Wyo.) had eight kills in the game.  The Bears responded with a resounding 10-point win in the second game, hitting a solid .243.

Rocky maintained control of the match after the intermission and built a 22-19 lead in the third game.  But the Jackets battled back behind the service of Hillary Morrison (Evansville, Wyo.)  The sophomore was instrumental in the Jackets’ 3-1 win at Rocky back in early October when she served up 10-straight points in the deciding fourth game.  On Thursday, Morrison served seven straight MSUB points starting when the Jackets trailed 22-21.

By the time the Bears finally broke Morrison’s serve, the Jackets led 27-23, and they cruised to a 2-1 lead in the match.  In the fourth game, MSUB broke from a 9-9 tie to win going away.  Stefania Aladjova (Sofia, Bulgaria) had three of her match-high five service aces to help the Jackets close the game and the match.  MSUB out-hit RMC .261 to .075 in the game.

With the five aces, Aladjova broke the all-time single season school record for aces held by Nicole Kruse.  Aladjova has 65 aces with three matches remaining in the season.  She also picked up a career-high 17 digs and handed out 52 assists.

“One of our goals in the beginning of the match was to come out aggressive serving and passing,” said Yellowjacket head coach Sara Schaub.  “The difference between the three games we won and game two was that we did that.” 

“Devon had a great match.  She played solid in all four games; 27 kills and a .290 hitting percentage is excellent for an outside hitter.  It was great to see Stefania get on a roll with her serving again.  We’ll look for her continuing that tough serving through the next three matches.”

Jennifer Boe (Casper, Wyo.) also had a career high for kills with 17.  She hit .227 on 44 attempts and added 16 digs.  Crotteau had 15 digs, and Kruse added 11.  Alicia Cazemier (Vauxhall, Alberta) knocked down 13 kills.

The Bears (13-15) were led by 10 kills apiece from Kelly Fox and Jessica Eliasson.  Rocky out-blocked the Yellowjackets 11-1 in the match.  Fox was in on six blocks, and Eliasson had five.

The Yellowjackets (16-9) return to Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on Saturday when they host Seattle University.  Tip off is 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym.  As with all MSUB home matches this season, live video of the match will be available at www.pennatlantic.com, and live stats will be available on the MSUB Athletics website.