BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings volleyball team has momentum on its side as it hosts Northwest Nazarene University (Idaho) and Central Washington University Thursday and Saturday.

The Yellowjackets (5-6, 2-1 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) have won five of their last six matches after falling in the opening five contests. MSUB rides its momentum and confidence into a pair of important GNAC matches.

“We are starting to feel a lot more comfortable with each other on the court,” MSU Billings' volleyball head coach Lisa Axel said. “We changed a lot of things on them this preseason and it has taken us a while to get used to the new systems and style of play.”

Montana State Billings began the season playing its first 10 matches on the road, and hosts its second and third matches at home Thursday and Saturday. The Yellowjackets are third in the conference in digs per set (15.7). Erin Compton leads the defense with 5.8 digs per set, which is second in the GNAC. MSU Billings' Kyndal Williams is fourth in the conference averaging 9.75 assists per set. MSUB opened its 2012 home schedule with a four-set win over Seattle Pacific last Saturday. The win ended a four-match skid to the Falcons.

“It was so great to finally be at home in front of our fans,” Axel said. “Our team has been looking forward to showing our fans what we have been working on this preseason.”

Northwest Nazarene owns an 11-4 advantage over Montana State Billings in a series that began in 1986. After winning three of the first five matches in the all-time series, the Yellowjackets have won only one of the last 10 meetings with NNU. The last time MSUB picked up a victory over the Crusaders was a sweep in Nampa, Idaho on Oct. 16, 2010.

Both meetings last season were four-set victories for Northwest Nazarene. In the most recent matchup on Oct. 15, 2011, the Crusaders bounced back after losing the first set to pick up a 3-1 win on Dig Pink Night in Alterowitz Gymnasium. The Yellowjackets' Monica Grimsrud finished with a match-high 17 kills and 11 digs to complete the double-double. Chelsey Walter was in on five blocks. Sophomores Michelle Terpstra and Kaitlyn Tuholski both had big nights for NNU. Terpstra had a triple-double with 10 kills, 22 assists and 17 digs, while Tuholski finished with a double-double of 14 kills and 19 assists.

The Crusaders (7-5, 1-2) have dropped four of their last six matches, after starting 5-1. One of the better offensive teams in the GNAC, Northwest Nazarene is second in the conference in hitting percentage (.235) and third in kills per set (13.0). Linnea Phillips is fourth in the GNAC averaging 4.94 digs per set, and Heather Allen's .350 hitting percentage is also fourth in the conference. NNU is 4-1 in true road matches this season.

“I think we are two very similar teams,” Axel said. “Northwest Nazarene has been playing very well lately. It should be a great match Thursday.”

Saturday's matchup with Central Washington features two of the conference's hottest teams, as CWU enters the week on a three-game win streak. The Wildcats upset No. 13 Western Washington in four sets in their latest contest. Central held WWU to its lowest hitting percentage of the season, outhitting its in-state rival, .318-.135.

Central Washington (8-4, 3-1) has a trio of players in the conference's top three statistically in three categories. Kaitlin Quirk is third in blocks per set at 1.04, Kaely Knight's 5.19 digs per set is third, and Erin Smith's .379 hitting percentage is also third. Emmy Dolan was named the GNAC's Offensive Player of the Week after recording 23 kills and finishing with a .450 hitting percentage in a pair of wins last week. As a team, the Wildcats are second in blocks per set (2.33) in the GNAC, and third in assists per set (11.85).

“Central Washington is a very good team this year,” Axel said. “They have gone out and beat some highly ranked teams and seem to be playing very well. It will be a fun match and hopefully we can get a big crowd to support us.”

The Wildcats have won 11 of the 13 all-time meetings against MSUB, including the last meeting on Oct. 13, 2011. The five-set back-and-forth thrilling match went to CWU. Jordan Offutt and Erin Smith finished with 14 and 12 kills for Central. Monica Grimsrud and Krista Norris had 14 and kills for Montana State Billings.

Thursday and Saturday's matches will feature a live free video stream and live stats from Stretch Internet, the webcast home for the GNAC. Links for the video stream and stats can be found at www.MSUBSports.com. Both start times are scheduled for 7 p.m. MDT.

“This team has been working very hard during the offseason and this preseason to bring a new style of volleyball to Billings,” Axel said. “We will be playing two very tough opponents so it should be some very exciting volleyball to watch. We would love to have a big crowd cheering us on.”