BILLINGS, Mont. – The 2010 Montana State Billings volleyball season kicks off Thursday versus Western New Mexico at the Vulcan Classic hosted by University of Hawaii Hilo. Game time is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Hawaii time.
After Western New Mexico, the Yellowjackets then battle Hawaii Pacific on Friday, face Ashland University (Ohio) and a road game at Hawaii Hilo on Saturday.
There will be web streaming available for the match Saturday versus Hawaii Hilo (7:30 p.m. Hawaii time). In addition, live stats are slated to be available for all matches by logging onto http://hiloathletics.com/index.aspx?path=wvball&
MSUB returns five starters from a year ago when it went 17-10 and 10-6 in league play finishing tied for third in the league standings. The Jackets graduated the school's first All-American in volleyball in Devon Crotteau, but returns two honorable mention all-conference selections in Jennifer Boe and Jody Lutz.
Boe averaged 2.94 kills, 2.89 digs and 33 blocks as a junior, while Lutz added 1.41 kills and had 108 blocks ranking her fourth in the conference as a redshirt freshman. Also returning is junior Melissa Porter and sophomores Hannah Johnson and Morgan Moss.
Western New Mexico begins the 2010 season after finishing 2009 with a 12-16 record and a 10-9 mark in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Mustangs were picked second in the West Division and seventh overall in the Preseason Coaches' poll.
The Mustangs lead the all-time series with MSUB 22-15. The Jackets own a 9-8 mark in Billings, while WNMU is 11-4 in Silver City. WNMU also owns a 3-2 mark in neutral site games. MSUB has won three of the past five meetings, but was just 3-14 in the previous 17 meetings prior. The teams haven't played since the Jackets won a 3-1 decision in Golden, Colo., on Sept. 1, 2007.
Hawaii Pacific finished the 2009 season with a 14-11 record overall and an 11-5 mark in the Pacific West Conference. MSUB defeated HPU 3-2 in the opening game of the 2009 season. The Sea Warriors were picked fourth in the Pac West Preseason Coaches' Poll, but do have the Preseason Conference Player of the Year in Kelly Balanay.
The win last season versus HPU was the first win for MSUB in school history against the Sea Warriors. HPU owns a 15-1 record against the Yellowjackets. Prior to last season, the team had not played since 2004. In addition, it was the first time MSUB had taken two or more games from HPU. The Sea Warriors had won 24 of 25 games prior. That streak was a span of eight matches.
Ashland University finished the 2009 season with a 16-14 record and a 9-7 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Eagles were picked third in the South Division in the preseason coaches' poll. The Eagles return eight letterwinners led by Brittany Snider who tallied 504 kills, 295 digs and 26 aces a year ago. AU also has three starters back from 2009.
This is the first meeting between MSUB and Ashland.
Hawaii Hilo went 25-2 last season and 15-1 in the Pac West before losing to Alaska Anchorage in five sets in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2009. The host Vulcans were picked second in the preseason coaches' poll behind Dixie State. UHH had two first team Preseason All-Pacific West Conference selections in Kawena Cubi-Otineru and Katie Swenson. Both were second team all-conference selections in 2009.
Hawaii Hilo leads the all-time series with MSUB 16-11. MSUB leads in Billings 8-7, while Hilo is 8-3 at home and 1-0 in neutral site contests. The Jackets have won three of the past five meetings, but have dropped the last two including a 3-0 loss last year in Oahu, Hawaii.
After this weekend's games, the Jackets stay in Hawaii to face BYU-Hawaii, both Hawaii Pacific and Hawaii Hilo again and Chaminade, beginning a week from Thursday. The Jackets then return home for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener, Sept. 16 versus Northwest Nazarene at 7 p.m. in Alterowitz Gymnasium.
