BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings' Volleyball team will play their last two games of the season this week, hosting the two conference schools from Alaska, the University of Alaska Anchorage and the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
 
The Yellowjackets are coming off their second straight week with a win and a loss to add to their record.  MSUB lost in four to conference opponent Western Oregon University, but then traveled to Nampa, Idaho and got the win in four against fellow conference opponent Saint Martin's University, who they had lost to in straight sets in their earlier season contest.
 
First up this week for the 'Jackets is the University of Alaska Anchorage.  Last time the two teams met was the second conference match of the season for MSUB and the Yellowjackets (3-13 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) were swept in three sets.  None of the MSUB players had kills or digs that made it into the double digits and setter Kyndal Williams had a season low 20 assists for the match.  MSU Billings had a .144 attack percentage while Alaska Anchorage had a .437.  MSUB only had the lead once in the three sets and UAA had a total of 57 points to the Yellowjackets 36.
 
Last week Alaska Anchorage lost to #10 ranked Western Washington University in four sets, but then traveled to Simon Fraser University where they got the sweep beating the Clan in three sets.  UAA is currently second in the GNAC with a 13-3 conference record.  Julia Mackey for the Seawolves is hitting .358 which is second in the conference.  Erin Braun is not far behind with a .318 which is good enough for sixth best in the GNAC.  Katelynn Zanders leads UAA with 31 kills on the season; that is an average of 3.89 per set, second best in the conference.  Alaska Anchorage also ranks second in service aces per set (.35), third in blocks per set (1.57), and Quinn Barkley is fifth in the conference in digs with 4.72 per set.
 
On Saturday the Yellowjackets will face the University of Alaska Fairbanks, who they played in their first conference match of the season, losing in three straight sets.  The Nanooks (3-13 GNAC) dropped two matches last week, losing to Simon Fraser in four, and then #10 Western Washington in three.  UAF is being paced by Sam Harthun who has 410 kills on the season for a 4.46 kill per set average which ranks No. 1 in the conference.  Freshman Katelyn Camp is leading the Nanooks in the assist category; she has 9.73 assist per set average which place her at fifth in the GNAC.
 
The game in Fairbanks was a tight battle as the scores of the sets were all close until MSU Billings lost the third set 26-28.  The Yellowjackets were limited in their hitting with a .094 attack percent, and as with the Anchorage match, no player had a kill total above 10.  Harthun had 18 kills for the Nanooks, while Camp had 30 assists.  Monica Grimsrud had a team-high nine kills while Chelsey Walter had eight for the Yellowjackets.
 
This Thursday's match is Parent and Alumni Night.  Parents of the student-athletes will be walking out onto the court with their players to be introduced before starting line-ups.  Then between sets two and three all MSUB volleyball alumni in attendance will be introduced and invited out onto the court to be recognized and have a group photo taken.  The Alumni Association is also hosting an event for all visiting alums, if you are interested in the event please contact Sarah Brockel of the MSUB Alumni Association at sarah.brockel@msubillings.edu.
 
Saturday's match is Yellowjacket Volleyball Camper Night and Senior Night. All campers who come wearing their yellow camp shirt from last summer will be admitted to the match for $1.  Also, on Saturday the Yellowjackets will pay tribute to two student-athletes who will be participating in their last volleyball match for MSU Billings.  Julianna Evola and Taylor Adams will be honored before the start of the contest.
 
The Thursday Nov. 21 match against the University of Alaska Anchorage is scheduled to begin at 7 PM.  Saturday's match against the University of Alaska Fairbanks will begin at approximately 7 PM.  Live video and live stats for the last two games of the season for 2013 can be found at MSUBSports.com.