Montana State University Billings Athletics

Career Resume

Bills was a member of the MSU Billings women's volleyball team from 2003-2006. She was part of the 2005 team that finished 20-8 on the year and reached the Heartland Conference tournament championship match.
 
In 2006, the MSUB team ended the season 26-5 and 10-0 in the Heartland Conference. The Yellowjackets were the regular-season Heartland Conference winners as well as the Heartland Conference Tournament Champions beating St. Mary's (Texas) 3-0 for the title. The team then traveled to the NCAA Division II Southwest Regional Tournament, winning its first game against Western New Mexico 3-0.
 
Bills was part of the only MSU Billings team that has reached the NCAA regional tournament. She is No. 2 all-time in assists at MSUB with 3,782 and No. 2 all-time in service aces with 160. Her name appears four times on the single-game records and six times on the MSUB single-season records.
 
She made the single-season top-10 at MSUB three out of four years on both assists and service aces. Bills was a two-time all-Heartland Conference first team selection, and an honorable mention pick her sophomore season in the PacWest Conference.

Bills currently serves as a counselor at Alkali Creek Elementary School in Billings, and also coaches freshman volleyball at Billings West High School.

 

Feature Story: Bills Keeps 'Jackets in Good Hands (By: Joe Kusek/Billings Gazette, 10/31/2006) - Original Publication
 

Natalie Bills just knows. In the split second that determines success or failure, she can find that favorable matchup for a teammate.

She knows where the put the ball and to which hitter.

The competitor in her can spot the vulnerable and she attacks accordingly.

Bills knows volleyball … every nuance, every rhythm.

It was like Bills was born to play the sport.

In a way, she was.

Bills' mother Wendy is a long-time volleyball coach at Provo High School in Utah. Her only daughter has been around the sport all of her life.

"My earliest memory was being in the gym while the high school players were warming up," said Bills. "I remember stealing the ball so I could play with it up against a wall."

Her mother eventually remedied that problem. "I finally got my own ball. It was purple," Bills finished with a smile.

Bills still has the ball in her hands.

She is the setter for the Montana State-Billings volleyball program. The senior has been a starter since she first stepped on campus.

With the heady Bills directing the Yellowjackets' fast-paced offense, MSU-B has posted three straight winning seasons - a first for the program - and records of 20-8 and 23-4 the past two years.

This year's team went a perfect 10-0 in the Heartland Conference and will host the league tournament this weekend. The winner earns an automatic berth in the NCAA Division II tournament.

And make no mistake, Bills is the quarterback, the unquestioned leader, of the offense.

"She sees everything," said Pa'ulasi Matavao, the Yellowjackets' head coach. "Natalie is a very smart player. She knows what plays to run, who to set to and where to work the ball. She is always on the right spot."

Bills ranks second all-time for career assists with 3,610, and is only the second player in the history of the program to have more than 3,000 in a career. Her 12.51 assists per game in 2004 remains a single-season record and her 12.01 assists per game is a career record. She also ranks among the top 10 for career digs.

"I knew I always wanted to be a setter," said Bills, who already has her degree in human services and is now pursuing a master's degree in education.

"When you're the setter, you play all the way around and you're involved in every play. You get to be tricky when you're the setter."

Bills originally planned to come to MSU-B right out of high school, but decided to remain in Utah her freshman year to stay close to a grandmother who was battling cancer. Bills joined the Yellowjackets in 2003 but her season was cut short by a torn labrum in her shoulder. She took over the offense for good in 2004.

Bills first primary target was Olivia Munro, who held the career kills record. The past two seasons, Bills has been an equal opportunity distributor for Jessica Bratton, Ali Watson, Alicia Cazemier and Alexis Sandru. Bratton has since become the all-time career kills leader, while Cazemier and Watson are among the top 10.

Bills watches and anticipates during a match, trying to stay one step ahead of an opposing defense.

"You try to throw off defenses," she explained. "You find the best match ups to get your hitters one-on-one against the blocker. Then it's 'Gotcha.' Sometimes, you just feel it.

"Every hitter is different. Jess likes them low, Ali likes them high and Alicia likes them quick and low. My goal is to get our hitters the best opportunities for kills."

During timeouts and between games, Bills and Matavao make sure they are watching the same game. "I'll tell him what I see and he'll tell me what he sees," said Bills. "He can take an objective approach and see things I might miss. But we're pretty similar."

But make no mistake, the ball rests in Bills' hands.

"I don't call anything. It's her show," said Matavao.

It's that control Bills relishes when serving. Her 155 aces rank second on the all-time list.

"I love serving," said Bills, the enthusiasm rising in her voice. "There are no variables but yourself. It's the only time you get to be on the offensive."

Bills will have more chances this weekend to slice up opposing defenses and maybe some more in the post-season.

"We're all really competitive," Bills said of herself and her teammates. "We hate losing.

"We're excited about having the tournament here. It's a chance to show what we can do."