Box Score

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Montana State University Billings' volleyball team grabbed a huge five-set road win in stunning fashion at No. 22 Central Washington Thursday.

The Yellowjackets (9-10, 6-5 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) snapped a five-match losing streak to Central Washington, and defeated a ranked opponent for the first time this season. It was only the second time MSU Billings has ever won at CWU, the last coming Nov. 12, 2009, in three sets. It was also only the third time in 15 all-time meetings that MSUB picked up a win over the Wildcats. Thursday's loss was a first at home this season for Central Washington.

After playing a lengthy three-set match in Billings on Sept. 29, where all three sets went beyond 25 points, 26-24, 31-29, and 30-28, Thursday's match was much of the same. Two more sets went beyond 25 points, and each set was a battle, 25-27, 25-17, 24-26, 25-23, and 15-10.

Montana State Billings' Erin Compton had a career-high 36 digs. The total was the seventh highest in program history. Freshman Kyndal Williams finished with a 58 assists. Taylor Adams totaled 23 kills. All three of those totals were season-highs for MSU Billings. Monica Grimsrud finished with a double-double of 17 kills and 20 digs, while adding five blocks. Jody Lutz and Williams both were in on seven blocks. In addition to her 23 kills, Adams had a .655 hitting percentage and six block assists. The junior's hitting percentage was the seventh best in program history.

“Taylor had a great night tonight,” MSUB head coach Lisa Axel said. “She was able to find the open court and also did a great job blocking. Monica had one of her best defensive efforts with 20 digs. Kyndal ran a great offense tonight putting her hitters in great situations. I am extremely pleased with a great win against a tough team on the road.”

As a team, the Yellowjackets finished with a .248 hitting percentage, while CWU was held to .142. MSUB had a 65-55 kill advantage, and an 81-61 dig advantage. MSU Billings had 16 blocks to the Wildcats' eight.

The Yellowjackets win at Central Washington was just a part of a crazy night around the conference. No. 12 Western Washington was swept at Western Oregon, and Northwest Nazarene beat Seattle Pacific in five sets. With only five matches left in the regular season, the standings shifted a bit Thursday.

Montana State Billings and CWU both had four service aces and combined for 23 service errors (MSUB 12 and Central 11). The back-and-forth match featured 46 ties and 19 lead changes. The first meeting between the teams earlier this season had 44 ties and 24 lead changes. Thursday's first set scattered 17 ties before the Wildcats won, 27-25. MSU Billings dominated the second set led by a defense that held CWU to -.0.29 hitting. Compton had 10 digs in the set, while Adams and Lutz both had three blocks. MSUB won the set, 25-17.

Central held off the Yellowjackets in Set 3. The set had 12 ties and four lead changes and remained close until the Wildcats won, 26-24. The fourth set saw a total of 18 ties, but Central was either tied or playing from behind after their final lead of 16-15 in the frame. MSUB led the entire fifth set after getting out to an early lead the spread to 11-5.

Three Wildcats finished with double-digit kills led by Marcy Hjellum's match-high 24 kills. Erin Smith and Rachel Hanses combined for 22 kills. Devin Larson collected 45 of Central's 49 assists. Zoe Iida and Kaely Kight had 13 and 11 digs respectively. Smith added four blocks. After winning nine straight matches, Central Washington (15-6, 9-3 GNAC) has now fell in two of its last three contests.

The Yellowjackets remain on the road and travel to Nampa, Idaho, for a matchup at Northwest Nazarene University (11-12, 4-8) Saturday. MSUB edged the Crusaders earlier this season in five sets in Billings. The match will have live video and stats on MSUBSports.com.

MSU BILLINGS – CENTRAL WASHINGTON POST MATCH NOTES
- The Yellowjackets defeated a ranked opponent for the first time this season.
- The win snaps a five-match losing streak to Central Washington.
- It was also only the third time in 15 all-time meetings that MSUB picked up a win over the Wildcats.
- Thursday's loss was a first at home this season for Central Washington.
- Erin Compton had a career-high 36 digs. The total was the seventh highest in program history.
- Taylor Adams' .655 hitting percentage was the seventh best in program history.
- Compton's 36 digs, Adams' 23 kills, and Kyndal Williams' 58 assists were all team season-highs.
- Five of the eight sets between the teams have gone beyond 25 points for the winner.
- Six of the eight sets have been decided by two points.
- In the two matchups this season there has been a combined 90 ties and 43 lead changes.
- The two matches have combined for nearly four hours of playing time.