Box Score

LISA AXEL POST MATCH INTERVIEW            PHOTO GALLERY

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Western Oregon University volleyball team continued its hot streak by winning its sixth straight match at Montana State University Billings Thursday in three sets, 25-20, 25-23, and 30-28.

The Wolves (17-5, 10-3 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) remain in the hunt for a spot in the NCAA Div. II Western Region tournament with the victory. WOU, which is ranked eighth in the region, was led by Samantha Ward's 18 kills and 11 digs. LesLyne Satele and Jordin Ramos had 17 assists and 14 assists. Megan Triggs finished with a team-high 17 digs, while Danielle Reese added 11 digs.

Western Oregon had a .192 hitting percentage, and MSU Billings finished at .143. The Yellowjackets had a slim 41-40 kill advantage, but MSUB committed 23 attack errors, to the Wolves' 16. Montana State Billings also held a 63-54 dig advantage. WOU had 11 service errors, while MSU Billings committed 10.

“I thought we actually battled hard and played really well,” MSUB head coach Lisa Axel said. “Western Oregon is a really good team. They came in here battling for an NCAA tournament berth. I thought we played pretty well with them, making some runs in there. We had our opportunities, we just need to learn how to win games like these.”

The first set began with the teams exchanging leads until an 8-8 score. WOU then went on a 6-1 run and would not lose the lead again. The Wolves led by as many as six, and MSU Billings would come as close as two, but an attack error by the Yellowjackets ended the first frame at 25-20.

The second set had nine ties and three lead changes. Montana State Billings got out to the early lead, including its largest lead of the set at 13-8. WOU responded with six unanswered points behind solid serving from Kelsie Christensen. MSUB took the lead back and had a 22-19 advantage after a kill from Monica Grimsrud. Western Oregon managed to go on a 4-1 run to knot the score at 23-23. Ward followed with a kill and the WOU defense forced an attack error on set point to grab the win.

In a set that featured seven ties and five lead changes, it was the Yellowjackets that jumped out to a 5-0 lead in set three. MSU Billings' largest lead was five points, including 15-10 after kill from Grimsrud. MSUB had a 19-15 advantage, but a WOU 6-2 run tied the score at 21. Western's Hannah Deede fought off one set point with a kill to tie the score at 25-25, and a service error by MSUB at 27-26 knotted the set as the Wolves would manage to win three of the next four points to finish off the match.

Grimsrud led the Yellowjackets (9-12, 6-7 GNAC) with a match-high 20 kills and a .229 hitting percentage. Taylor Adams added 10 kills. Kyndal Williams finished with a match-high 35 assists. Erin Compton also had a match-high 21 digs, while Morgan Moss had 13 digs. Jody Lutz was in on five blocks.

Montana State Billings hosts Saint Martin's (6-13, 3-10) Saturday. The Saints fell in straight sets at Seattle Pacific Thursday. SMU is 0-6 all-time against the Yellowjackets in Alterowitz Gymnasium. MSUB is 10-3 all-time versus Saint Martin's, including a four-set win earlier this season in Lacey, Wash. Saturday's match is scheduled for 7 p.m.