BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings volleyball team opens the 2010 home slate Thursday at 7 p.m. versus Great Northwest Athletic Conference rival Northwest Nazarene in Alterowitz Gymnasium.  The Yellowjackets then host Central Washington at 7 p.m. on Saturday to conclude the first weekend of conference play.

The Jackets (0-8) return from a tough two-week road trip in Hawaii where they dropped eight matches.  Despite the losses, the youthful Yellowjackets fought hard and had opportunities to win a number of the matches, but couldn't close the door.

Leading the way for the Yellowjackets this season is junior setter Brooke Tolman (Honeyville, UT, Central Wyoming College) who leads the team with 221 assists and a .191 attack percentage which leads everyday starters.  Her 7.13 assist per set average ranks seventh in the league.  Senior Jennifer Boe (Casper, WY, Kelly Walsh HS) leads the team in kills with 89 and is 10^th in the league in kills per set at a 2.87 clip.  She also is 10^th in points with 98.5 overall and a 3.18 average.

Freshman Taylor Adams (Anchorage, AK, Diamond HS) leads the team with nine service aces and is first in the league in services aces per set at a 0.50 average.  Sophomore Morgan Moss (Fowler, CO, Fowler HS) is fifth in the league in digs (4.29 per set) and leads the team with 133.

Junior Melissa Porter (Redmond, UT, North Sevier HS) leads the team with 28 total blocks and a 0.90 average per set.  Sophomore Geneva Blunt is second on the team in total blocks with 23 and leads the team with seven solo blocks.

As a team, the Yellowjackets have struggled this season offensively, hitting to the tune of a 0.98 attack average.  The team has 287 kills (9.26 k/s), 254 assists (8.19 a/s) and 431 digs (13.90 d/s).  Errors have loomed large for the Yellowjackets this season as they have 182 on the year and 43 service errors. 

Northwest Nazarene enters the match with a 2-5 record overall and a 2-1 mark in GNAC play after sweeping a doubleheader from GNAC newcomer Simon Fraser this past Saturday.  The Crusaders opened league play last Thursday with a tough, 3-2 loss to nationally ranked Western Washington.

The Crusaders are led by Reisa Feesler who leads the team with 57 kills and a 2.11 kills per set average.  Becky Flores leads the team with a .221 attack percentage and is second in kills with 54.  Briana Classen leads the team with 143 assists and a 5.50 assists per set average.  She also has a .208 attack average.

The Crusaders are led by 132 digs from Haley Hevern and 20 total blocks from Haley Abbott.  Abbott also leads the team with five solo blocks.

As a team, the Crusaders are hitting .138 on the year with 267 kills, 236 assists and 416 digs.  NNU has recorded 52 total blocks and 13 solo blocks.  Serving, the Crusaders have 41 service aces and 41 service errors to go along with 140 total errors.

Northwest Nazarene leads the all-time series 8-3, including 3-1 in Billings.  The Crusaders have won six-straight in the series and seven of eight.  MSUB's last win versus NNU was a 3-2 home victory Dec. 12, 2000.  Since 2000, the Jackets are just 5-18 in games versus the Crusaders.

Central Washington enters the week with a 2-4 record and a 1-1 mark in conference play.  The Wildcats spilt two matches last weekend with a 3-1 victory at Simon Fraser and a tough 3-2 loss at home to nationally ranked Western Washington.

Four of the first seven matches for CWU have been against nationally ranked opponents.  The Wildcats host No. 20 Seattle Pacific Thursday before traveling to Billings for Saturday's match.

The Wildcats are led this season by Kady Try who leads the team with 100 kills in 22 sets for a 4.55 average.  She also leads the team with a .233 attack percentage.  Carlee Marble leads the team with 188 assists at a 8.55 clip.  Brandie Vea leads the team with 79 digs and a 3.59 average, while Erin Smith leads in total blocks with 15.

For the season, the Wildcats are hitting .161 with 227 kills, 213 assists and 103 errors.  CWU has 334 digs on the year with 30 total blocks.

Central Washington leads the all-time series 7-2, including 3-1 in Billings.  The teams split two matches last season with the road team winning both.  The Jackets posted a 3-0 win Nov. 12 in Ellensburg, snapping a four-match skid and seven of eight.  The prior victory for MSUB came Sept. 29, 2007, in Billings with a 3-1 win.