BILLINGS, Mont. -- The Montana State University Billings' volleyball team remains in California for the Seawolf Spike hosted by No. 24 Sonoma State. The Yellowjackets face four schools from the Golden State in the tournament Friday and Saturday.
PRESEASON NOTES
* This will be the 34th season of Yellowjacket volleyball.
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Lisa Axel returns for her second season at the helm of MSUB volleyball.
* The Yellowjackets finished 11-15 overall last season.
* MSU Billings finished tied for sixth in the GNAC with an 8-10 record.
* Montana State Billings lost six letterwinners, but return seven.
* MSUB welcomes back four starters, while losing two and a libero.
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Monica Grimsrud ranked fourth in kills and fifth in points in the GNAC last season, and is the highest player returning in those statistical categories.
* Grimsrud was named honorable mention All-GNAC last season.
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Kyndal Williams ranked fourth in the GNAC in assists averaging 10.01, the top returning player in that statistical category.
* Williams' 961 assists in her freshman season puts her 10th on the MSUB assists in a career list.
* Montana State Billings was selected sixth in the GNAC preseason poll.
* The Yellowjackets' 40 points in the preseason poll was the second most since MSUB joined the GNAC in 2007.
THE FIRST SERVE
* The Yellowjackets are now 17-13 in season-opening matches since 1984.
* The Yellowjackets are also 26-20 on opening day since 1984.
* MSUB is 7-22 in the Golden State since 1984.
* The Yellowjackets have lost 14 of the last 16 matches in California.
* Montana State Billings is 0-4 all-time at the Seawolf Spike, losing all four matches in the 2008 tournament.
* MSUB played all four of its tournament opponents in the 2008 tourney.
* The Yellowjackets are 3-7 versus the teams combined all-time.
* Last season, the Yellowjackets were 3-0 in five-set matches.
* MSUB is 7-3 in its last 10 five-set matches.
WALTER NAMED ALL-TOURNAMENT
At the Seaside Invitational in San Diego,
Chelsey Walter was named to the All-Tournament team. Through the four matches at the tournament she had a team-high 45 kills and .432 hitting percentage. The junior also has a team-high nine total blocks. Walter is currently fifth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in hitting percentage. Williams is third in assists per set (9.69).
