BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings volleyball team returns home after a two-match road-swing up through Alaska that saw the Yellowjackets drop both of their Great Northwest Athletic Conference matches to the Universities of Alaska Fairbanks (2-3) and Anchorage (0-3) to enter the upcoming week 8-7 overall and 2-4 in league play.
 
After the trek through Alaska, the Yellowjackets will remain at home for their next four contests starting with a Thursday, Oct. 6 night GNAC match against the Vikings of Western Washington University (7 p.m.) before the Clan of Simon Fraser come calling on MSUB on Saturday, Oct. 8 (7 p.m.).
 
Monica Grimsrud had a season-high-tying 26 kills against the Nanooks of Fairbanks to eclipse 200 kills this season while Taylor Adams stepped up with five block assists and a solo block in the five-set loss. Adams added a solo block and a block assist in Saturday's loss in Anchorage.
 
Brooke Tolman tallied 71 total assists between the two matches in Alaska, but her impressive streak of nine-straight contests where she recorded a double-double came to an end in Anchorage when she was only able to corral in four digs. She had 46 assists and 21 digs in Thursday's efforts in Fairbanks.
 
Five Yellowjackets have registered 30 or more total blocks so far this season with Melissa Porter and Adams leading the way with 46 and 38 total blocks respectively. MSUB continues to control the net as they are out-blocking their opponents 117-92.
 
The Yellowjackets face an uphill battle filled with some stiff competition in their search to finish their season-high four home matches with a positive record.
 
MSUB will first welcome the Vikings who are tied for the top spot in the league standings with an overall record of 8-3 and are currently 6-1 in GNAC play. WWU has vaulted into a tie atop the league standings with their only conference loss coming at the hands of fellow one-conference-loss team Anchorage.
 
After Thursday's tough contest, the Clan will enter Alterowitz Gymnasium not having won a game so far this season (0-11, 0-7 GNAC).