LACEY, Wash. – The Montana State University Billings' volleyball team looks to return to the win column with road matches at Saint Martin's University and Western Oregon University Thursday and Saturday

The Yellowjackets (6-7, 3-2 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) have won six of their last eight matches, but had their three-match win streak snapped in a three-set loss to Central Washington in their latest match last Saturday. It was a matchup of two of the hottest teams in the conference, but in the almost two-hour three-set match, it was the Wildcats that left Billings with the victory.

“Our main goal this year is to get better each and every time we step on the court,” MSUB volleyball head coach Lisa Axel said. “We are learning from our losses and the team came back this week in practice looking to improve in a couple areas and we are looking forward to our next match.”

Saint Martin's (4-5, 2-2 GNAC) is coming off of a five-set win at Simon Fraser. The Saints will be playing only their third match at home after playing seven contests away from Marcus Pavilion this season. MSU Billings has found success in against Saint Martin's, winning nine of the 12 all-time meetings between the schools. The Yellowjackets have won all six matchups with SMU in Billings, and two of the five in Lacey.

Kristyn Ross has been a bright spot for the Saints this season. The sophomore ranks fourth in the GNAC in service aces, ninth in digs and 14th in kills. She had her fourth double-double of the season in last Saturday's win at Simon Fraser. Saint Martin's has three players ranked in the top 15 in the conference in blocks as Katy Ferguson is ninth, Teilissa Tua is 11th, and Kyra Davidson is 15th.

As a team the Saints rank fourth in the GNAC in blocks (1.91 per set). In three of the squad's four wins this season the team has out-blocked its opponent. SMU ranks second in the conference in service aces (1.62 per set). The Saints have had seven or more service aces in a match four times this season.

“Saint Martin's is a young team with some very athletic players on their roster,” Axel said.

Montana State Billings travels south on Interstate 5 to face Western Oregon in Monmouth, Ore., Saturday. The Yellowjackets have won only once in six tries at WOU, and is 4-10 against the Wolves all-time. Western Oregon swept MSUB in the latest meeting last season in Monmouth. But, it was the Yellowjackets that grabbed a five-set win in Billings earlier in the season in 2011.

The Wolves (10-3, 3-1 GNAC) enter the weekend tied at the top of the conference after a split last week. WOU defeated Simon Fraser before falling to Western Washington. Western Oregon has been difficult to beat at home this season, posting a 7-1 record inside its Physical Education building this season.

Western Oregon is led by Danielle Reese, who leads the team and ranks third in the league with 3.62 kills per set. Krissi Kemper has also proven to be an effective attacker as she leads the league with a .422 hitting percentage and has posted 97 kills. On the defensive side of the ball, Becky Blees is first in the conference at 1.30 blocks per set. WOU currently ranks No. 20 in the nation with 2.39 blocks per set.

For Montana State Billings, Jody Lutz ranks fifth in the GNAC in hitting percentage (.321). Monica Grimsrud is averaging 3.35 kills per set which is seventh most in the GNAC. Erin Compton ranks second in the conference in digs (5.71 per set). After hosting three straight matches at home, their first three home matches of the season, MSUB returns to the road.

“We have really enjoyed being at home the last two weekends, but we have a lot of experience this season on the road,” Axel said. “We learned to battle in front of some pretty loud crowds in Hawaii so we are just looking forward to getting back out on the court and competing.”

Both Yellowjackets' matches will be available with live video streams and live stats on MSUBSports.com. Both matches begin at 7 p.m. Pacific Time.