Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Billings, Mont. – The Montana State Billings volleyball team played their final two games of the Honolulu Invitational against two very talented programs. Facing Hawaii Pacific University and Sonoma State University the Yellowjackets were unable to come away with any victories. MSUB fell to the Sea Warriors 3-0 and lost to the Seawolves 3-1.
 
Match 1: Hawaii Pacific
Box Score
 
The Yellowjackets started well against the Sea Warriors and had a 5-6 lead in the first set. Chelsey Walter found her rhythm early putting down two kills on the opposition. Hawaii Pacific counter back with a 6-1 run to gain the 11-7 advantage. Once the Sea Warriors captured the lead they did not look back. MSUB fought hard, but was not able to overcome the lead and lost the first set 25-22.
 
Hawaii Pacific jumped out to a 5-0 advantage to start the second set. Several errors and a kill by Monica Grimsrud brought the Yellowjackets within three of their opponent. The Sea Warriors struck back with three kills and forced MSUB into several errors to build a five point lead. Kills by Grimsrud and Krista Norris and a service ace by Jody Lutz helped bring the Jackets back within three to put the score at 13-10 midway through the set. MSUB came within two of Hawaii Pacific (17-15) but an 8-3 run effectively closed out the set and the Sea Warriors won the second 25-18.
 
The third set would have a similar theme to the second. Hawaii Pacific took an early lead and controlled the flow of the set. With the score at 12-10, the Sea Warriors caught fire and scored nine straight points putting the score to 21-10 in the set. The Jackets started to fight back with two kills by Walter and one kill each by Grimsrud and Taylor Adams but would not be able to overcome the large deficit. Hawaii Pacific won the third set 25-16, and swept the Jackets in three straight sets.
 
MSUB finished the match with 27 kills, 21 errors, 24 assists and 38 digs.
 
 
Match 2: Sonoma State
Box Score
 
Sonoma State came into the Honolulu Invitational ranked No. 5 in the west region and No. 24 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) national poll. Given their current ranking the Yellowjackets knew they would be in for a tough match.
 
In the first set MSUB fell behind 7-1 to the Seawolves. Several errors combined with a Kyndal Williams service ace and kills from Grimsrud, Lutz, Norris and Walter brought the Yellowjackets within one of their counterpart (11-10). MSUB could not build on this momentum and let the Seawolves regain a commanding 19-11 lead off of service and attack errors. While the Jackets cut down the lead to come within four of Sonoma State, the Seawolves closed the door on MSUB and captured the first set 25-21.
 
MSUB had a better start in the second and led Sonoma State 10-4 at one point in the set. Showing why they were deserving of their current ranking, the Seawolves fought back and took the lead 20-19 late in the set. Both teams dueled back and forth from this point, but Sonoma State edged out the Yellowjackets 26-24, taking a 2-0 advantage in the match.
 
With both teams in rhythm, the third set was an efficiently even played bout. MSUB and Sonoma State would come to an 11-11 tie midway through the set, then the Seawolves took a one point lead on a service error by the Jackets. MSUB would not be denied and surged ahead with a 6-1 run. With a commanding lead in hand, the Jackets would not allow the Seawolves to come back like in the previous set and snatched the third set 25-23, bringing the match to 2-1.
 
The fourth set's start was very similar to the third with each team scoring points and countering the opposition. After a 7-7 tie early in the set, the turning point came when Sonoma State went on an 8-3 run bringing the set score to 15-10. MSUB countered with a run of their own and came within two of the Seawolves (22-20). The 8-3 run by Sonoma State would prove to be too much for the Jackets to overcome and the Seawolves took the fourth set 25-21, winning the match 3-1.
 
Erin Compton had a team high 24 digs in the match and Grimsrud lead the team in kills with 13.
 
 
“We came out in our second match of the day with great energy,” stated head coach Lisa Axel. “We had opportunities to win the match against a nationally ranked team but could not finish when we needed to the most. Grimsrud had a great match and was taking some big swings. Walter also had a great weekend and was very consistent on the right side. Our defense was solid all weekend and kept us in every match.”
 
The Yellowjackets next set of matches will start on Friday, Sept. 7 when they travel to Pueblo, Colo. to compete in the Colorado State University-Pueblo Thunderwolves Volleyball Classic. MSUB will play a double header, facing CSU-Pueblo and Adams State College on Sept. 7.