Box Score

LISA AXEL POSTGAME           ERIN COMPTON POSTGAME             TAYLOR ADAMS POSTGAME

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings' volleyball team swept Alaska-Fairbanks behind 31 assists from Kyndal Williams and 19 digs by Erin Compton Thursday.

The Yellowjackets (8-8, 5-3 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) remain in the top half of the conference standings with the victory. MSUB has now won five of the last six matches over the Nanooks.

“Tonight was a great match,” Axel said. “Fairbanks is a great team. They're young and athletic. I think this was our most consistent match all year. We can come out flat sometimes, but tonight we came out strong and put together a full match.”

Monica Grimsrud led MSU Billings with a match-high 12 kills. The sophomore had 24 kills and hit .262 in the last matchup against UAF last season. Williams tied for a match-high 31 assists. The freshman added seven digs. Compton had 11 of her 19 digs in the first set, while Morgan Moss added 15 digs.

As a team, Montana State Billings finished with a .151 hitting percentage, while Alaska-Fairbanks was held to .064. MSUB had a 38-34 kill advantage. The Nanooks committed 26 attack errors to Montana State Billings' 20.

A back-and-forth first set that featured six ties and two lead changes was led early by UAF, 12-11. The Yellowjackets then went on a 4-0 run to take a 15-12 lead. After a 3-0 response by the Nanooks, the set was tied at 17. With MSU Billings leading 21-20, the Yellowjackets put the first frame away with three straight kills and won the set, 25-21.

The second set was the closest of the evening with 15 ties and seven lead changes. After several ties early in the set, the Nanooks used a 4-0 run to take a 14-11 lead. Montana State Billings answered with a 6-1 run of its own. A Grimsrud kill gave the Yellowjackets a 23-18 advantage. With MSUB leading 24-20, the Nanooks crept back into the set with a 3-0 late run capped by an attack error by MSU Billings. After a timeout, the Yellowjackets sealed the 25-23 set victory with another Grimsrud kill.

In the third set, MSU Billings jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but UAF responded with five unanswered points. With the score at 11-10, the Yellowjackets used a key 6-2 run to spread the margin to 17-12. MSUB continued to build on the momentum and took a 21-14 advantage after an attack error by the Nanooks. Montana State Billings took the set, 25-19.

Alaska-Fairbanks (3-11, 1-7 GNAC) was led by Sam Harthun's 11 kills and three assisted blocks. Britt Glaeser had a match-high five blocks. Katlyn Mataya finished with 31 assists, and Allison Oddy had a match-high 21 digs.

The Yellowjackets welcome Alaska-Anchorage (11-5, 6-2) to Alterowitz Gymnasium Saturday at 7 p.m. on Dig Pink Night. The Seawolves held on for a five-set win at Seattle Pacific Thursday. Montana State Billings is 10-33 all-time versus UAA. The Seawolves have won the past four meetings, all in straight sets. The last time MSUB beat Alaska-Anchorage was in four sets in Billings on Sept. 28, 2009. MSU Billings is UAA's second-most common opponent behind Alaska-Fairbanks. Live video and stats will be available on MSUBSports.com.