BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings Volleyball team is on their way west for their last road trip of the 2013 season.
 
MSU Billings will face Western Oregon on Thursday November 14 and Saint Martin's Saturday November 16.
 
Both matches are conference (Great Northwest Athletic Conference) rematches from earlier in the season.
 
The Yellowjackets are coming off a win /loss last week where they upset #4 in the conference and #6 in the Region Central Washington in five, but took a loss in four to Northwest Nazarene.
 
Last time out MSUB lost in five at home to Western Oregon.  It was an up and down match as the Yellowjackets took the first set 25-16, lost the second in extra-points 24-26, lost the third 23-25, came back in the fourth 25-19, but couldn't keep up and lost their concentration and were taken out in the fifth 3-15.
 
In the match MSU Billings outhit the Wolves 49-38, but committed 11 service errors, and couldn't keep up at the net as they were out-blocked 22-11 in block assists and the team had a .058 attack percent in the match.
 
With a loss to nationally ranked Western Washington, but a five-set win against Simon Fraser, Western Oregon (9-15, 6-8 GNAC) is also coming off a 1-1 week.  Last week at Simon Fraser senior Becky Blees broke the all-time GNAC record for block-assists with 370.  She is also fifth all-time in the GNAC in blocks.  Offensively, the Wolves are being led by Blees (189 kills) and Hannah Deede (195 kills.) 
 
Saint Martin's (7-19, 3-11) is on a six-game conference losing streak, having been swept at both #10 Western Washington and Simon Fraser last week in three.  The Yellowjackets lost their previous match to the Saints at home in three back on October 17.  SMU is being led by Kristyn Ross who has 305 kills on the season and is 10^th in the GNAC with a 3.09 kills per set average.
 
Montana State Billings is heading into their matches with mixed results, but showing some definite signs of improvement.  Sophomore setter Kyndal Williams is currently sitting at 834 assists on the season including a season-high last week of 65 in the Yellowjackets five-set win over Central Washington.  Junior Monica Grimsrud was named the Red Lion / GNAC offensive player of the week for her performances in last week's games.  Against CWU she had 30 kills, which is a GNAC season-high, and in the match against Northwest Nazarene, she had 20.  Monica is currently 8^th in the conference with a 3.35 kills per set average.
 
MSU Billings will face Western Oregon on Thursday November 14 at 7 PM Pacific Time and Saint Martin's on Saturday November 16 also at 7 PM Pacific Time.  Live video and live stats will be available at MSUBSports.com.