November 8, 2007

Jackets Sweep Season Series with SPU
Box Score
MSUB Season Stats
Match Photos

BILLINGS, Mont. – Four players hit for double-digit kills to lead Montana State Billings to a 3-2 win over Seattle Pacific in GNAC volleyball on Thursday.  The Yellowjackets won 30-32, 30-21, 30-25, 15-10.

MSU Billings improved to 18-9 overall and 10-7 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  Seattle Pacific, ranked ninth in the NCAA Pacific Region entering the night, fell to 14-11, 9-8. 

The Yellowjackets gave up the first game after having game point at 29-28.  The Falcons ran off four of the next five points for the win.  Neither team hit well early in the match.  SPU had a .000 attack percentage in the opening game while MSUB hit in negative territory.  The Falcons hit for a negative percentage in the second game and didn’t get back above water until early in the fourth game.

The Yellowjackets used the Falcons’ cold hitting to full advantage, cruising to wins in the second and third games.  With an opportunity to close out the match in game four, the Yellowjackets were never in the game.  SPU led wire to wire to take the match the distance.

MSU Billings rebounded nicely from its game four stumble, jumping to a 10-1 lead in the fifth game.  SPU rallied to within 12-9, but the Falcons’ had dug themselves too deep a hole. 

Jessica Lechner was instrumental in the Jackets’ attack.  She pounded out a career-high 18 kills on a .279 attack percentage.  Alicia Cazemier also finished with 18 kills and was in on nine blocks.  Devon Crotteau added 17 kills and 22 digs, and Jennifer Boe had 14 kills.  Nicole Kruse ended with 19 digs.

Setter Stefanie Aladjova dished out 51 assists and had a career-high 18 digs.  Katrina Solomon handed out a career-high nine assists.  The Jackets hit for 73 kills in the match, the first time they’ve gone over 70 since Oct. 11.  MSUB overcame 17 service aces in the match.

The Falcons were led by Alyssa Given’s 17 kills, although it took the GNAC kills leader 65 attempts to get there.  Angie Wodrich added 14 kills and a dozen digs.  Torii Mount picked up a match-high 23 digs.

The Yellowjackets will finish the regular season on Saturday against Northwest Nazarene, currently ranked sixth in the region.  Tip off is set for 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym.  The match will be streamed live at www.pennatlantic.com.  Saturday will be Senior Night for Cazemier, Kruse, and Solomon.