Box Score

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings' volleyball team dropped a three-set decision at University of Alaska Anchorage Thursday, 19-25, 21-25, 18-25.

The Seawolves (16-7, 11-4 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) defeated MSU Billings for the sixth straight time, winning 18 of the last 19 sets. UAA also improved its home court record to 10-2 this season. Alaska Anchorage has won six of its last eight contests.

Julia Mackey had a big night for the Seawolves. The freshman recorded a match-high 18 kills with a .441 hitting percentage. Siobhan Johansen dished out 31 assists and added 13 digs. Jordan Bush and Sarah Johnson combined for 24 digs. Jody Huddleston finished with five blocks.

Alaska Anchorage finished the match with a .223 hitting percentage, and held MSUB to .098. The Seawolves had a slim 41-35 kill advantage. UAA took advantage of the Yellowjackets' 24 attack errors, while only committing 16. Alaska Anchorage finished with six service aces, but also seven service errors.

The match featured 23 ties and 15 lead changes. The first set was close early, with all 10 ties before a 12-12 score was altered. A 4-0 run helped UAA slowly pull away with solid serving from Nikkie Viotto. MSUB closed within 18-16, but another 4-0 run put the set away, and the Seawolves won the first frame, 25-19.

The second set was the closest of the evening with 11 ties and seven lead changes. The largest lead of the set was four, twice by UAA, including the final tally at 25-21. Another key 4-0 run midway through the frame helped the Seawolves create some space. Tied at 15, Alaska Anchorage scored four unanswered points. UAA hit .244 in the second set.

The Seawolves had their most comfortable margin in the third set, leading by as many as seven late in the frame. UAA built a 16-10 lead, but MSU Billings made one final push cutting the margin to 18-16. However, Alaska Anchorage scored seven of the final nine points to win the set, 25-18, and clinch the match.

The Yellowjackets (10-13, 7-8 GNAC) were led by Monica Grimsrud's 10 kills. Kyndal Williams had a team-high 21 assists and assisted in four blocks. Erin Compton and Morgan Moss had 17 and 11 digs respectively.

Saturday, the Yellowjackets are at Alaska Fairbanks (5-16, 3-12), which is closing out its home regular season schedule. Thursday, UAF was swept at home by Seattle Pacific. Reilly Stevens had 13 kills for the Nanooks in the loss.

The Yellowjackets have won 21 of the 45 all-time meetings against UAF, including five of the last six. MSU Billings grabbed a three-set win in the last meeting between the schools on Oct. 11, in Billings.

Saturday's afternoon matinee starts at 5 p.m. Mountain Time, with live stats and live video on MSUBSports.com.

MSUB AT ALASKA ANCHORAGE POST MATCH NOTES
- Montana State Billings is now 4-17 all-time at Alaska Anchorage.
- The Yellowjackets are 10-35 all-time versus UAA.
- The Seawolves have won the past six meetings, winning 18 of the 19 sets.
- The last time MSUB beat Alaska-Anchorage was in four sets in Billings on Sept. 28, 2009. That same season, the Yellowjackets won in Anchorage.
- MSU Billings is UAA's second-most common opponent behind Alaska Fairbanks. The series began in 1980.

Alaska Anchorage def. MSU Billings 25-19,25-21,25-18

MSU Billings (10-13, 7-8 GNAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
Grimsrud,Monica 10-0-1; Lutz,Jody 7-0-1; Walter,Chelsey 6-0-1;
Adams,Taylor 5-0-2; Norris,Krista 3-0-0; Williams,Kyndal 2-0-4;
Compton,Erin 1-0-0; Molen,Andrea 1-0-0; Totals 35-0-5.0. (Assists) -
Williams,Kyndal 21. (Dig leaders) - Compton,Erin 17; Moss,Morgan 11

Alaska Anchorage (16-7, 11-4 GNAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
Mackey,Julia 18-0-0; Zanders,Katelynn 8-0-0; Huddleston,Jodi 6-0-5;
Viotto,Nikkie 3-3-0; Sytnyk,Breanne 3-0-2; Sabado,Maureen 1-0-2;
Johnson,Sarah 1-0-1; Johansen,Siobhan 1-2-3; Bush,Jordan 0-1-0; Totals
41-6-7.0. (Assists) - Johansen,Siobhan 31. (Dig leaders) -
Johansen,Siobhan 13; Bush,Jordan 12; Johnson,Sarah 12

Site: Anchorage, Alaska (Wells Fargo Spts Com)
Date: Nov 08, 2012   Attend: 469   Time: 1:17
Referees: Willy Reeder, Ric Lomibao
Great Northwest Athletic Conference match