Box Score

JODY LUTZ AND JULIANNA EVOLA POST MATCH INTERVIEW

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings' volleyball team picked up a three-set win over Simon Fraser University Thursday, 25-16, 25-12, 25-20.

The Yellowjackets (11-14, 8-9 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) were led by Jody Lutz and Monica Grimsrud, both finished with 11 kills. Lutz hit .647 in the match. Grimsrud completed a double-double with 11 digs. Kyndal Williams had a match-high 34 assists, while Erin Compton had a match-high 20 digs. Morgan Moss added 11 digs.

Montana State Billings hit .278 in the match, and held SFU to .091. MSUB finished with a 41-31 kill advantage. MSU Billings had seven service aces in the match as Compton and Andrea Molen both had two.

“We did a great job capitalizing on opportunities to score tonight and minimized our errors,” MSUB head coach Lisa Axel said. “I thought our two seniors, Jody and Morgan, had a solid night contributing in the win. Kyndal put our hitters in good situations and ran a balanced offense.”

The teams went back-and-forth at the beginning of the opening set. With the score tied at eight, the Clan made a 4-0 run capped by a Amanda van Duvnhoven kill. The Yellowjackets answered with a decisive 11-1 run to take a 19-13 lead. Moss led the run with solid serving. Montana State Billings closed the set by scoring six of the final nine points and win the frame, 25-16. MSUB hit .382 in the first set, while SFU had a .194 hitting percentage, the highest of the evening for both teams.

The Yellowjackets jumped out to a 12-5 lead to start the second set and would not surrender the lead. MSU Billings led by as many as 14 point twice, 23-9 and 24-10, before taking the set, 25-12. MSUB held the Clan to .000 hitting in the frame.

The third set was tied eight times and featured four lead changes. Simon Fraser led early and stretched its lead to 16-11 after a Victoria Senges kill. Trailing 17-12, MSUB went on a 6-0 run to take the lead and force a SFU timeout. A service ace by Senges tied the set at 20, but the Yellowjackets scored the final five points, including an ace by Moss to end the match.

Jessica Young led the Clan (4-20, 1-16 GNAC) with eight kills. Tamara Nipp had a team-high 24 assists and Alanna Chan finished with 18 digs.

Montana State Billings completes the season sweep over Simon Fraser, with both wins coming in straight sets. MSUB leads the all-time series, 5-3, winning the two meetings in Billings. The first matchup came in 1988, and after the Yellowjackets lost the first three meetings, they have won the last five.

Saturday, the Yellowjackets honor their seniors, Lutz and Moss on Senior Night against No. 15 Western Washington. The Vikings (21-3, 14-3) can win the conference title and claim a berth into the NCAA Div. II West Region Tournament with a win Thursday at Seattle Pacific. At the time of this release, WWU led 2-1 at Seattle Pacific.

Western Washington has won all 14 meetings against the Yellowjackets all-time, and has only lost two of the 44 sets played against MSUB. The last five matchups have been decided in three sets, including earlier this season in Bellingham, Wash. In the opening match of GNAC play for both teams, WWU picked up the 25-16, 25-20, 25-10 win. Grimsud had 12 kills and Compton finished with a match-high 20 digs. Marlayna Geary led the Vikings with 10 kills, Samantha Hutchinson had 17 digs, and Laurie Yearout led all players with 34 assists.

Saturday's match begins at 7 p.m. in Alterowitz Gymnasium. Live video and stats will be available on MSUBSports.com.