FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Montana State University Billings' volleyball team fell in its 2013 Great Northwest Athletic Conference season-opening match at Alaska in three sets Thursday, 20-25, 20-25, and 26-28.

It was the Nanooks (2-10, 1-0 GNAC) fourth victory at home over MSUB in the five tries. It also kept the Yellowjackets winless all-time in GNAC season openers. Both teams struggled hitting Thursday, as Alaska finished with a .170 hitting percentage, compared to MSU Billings' .094. The Nanooks had a 35-29 advantage in terminations. Alaska also totaled 20 attack errors, while MSUB had 21.

The Nanooks' Sam Harthun had a season-best .469 hitting percentage, and had a match-high 18 kills. Tessa Butterfield had 13 of Alaska's 30 digs, and Katleyn Camp finished with a match-high 30 assists.

The match featured 27 ties and 16 lead changes. In the first set, the teams combined for 18 kills and 17 attack errors. The Nanooks hit .083, while MSUB hit -.043.

After entering the match as the conference leader in kills, Monica Grimsrud led the Yellowjackets (2-7, 0-1) with nine kills. Sydney Oberstein had 10 digs. Kyndal Williams climbed from eighth to seventh on the MSUB all-time career assists list after recording 28 Thursday. The sophomore is now is at 1,248, which is 238 from sixth.

Montana State Billings travels to Alaska-Anchorage Saturday. The Seawolves (7-6, 1-0) held off Seattle Pacific in a back-and-forth four-set match Thursday. The MSUB and UAA match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. Alaskan Time start. Live video and stats will be available on MSUBSports.com.

Alaska def. MSU Billings 25-20,25-20,28-26

MSU Billings (2-7, 0-1 GNAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
Grimsrud,Monica 9-0-0; Walter,Chelsey 8-1-3; Norris,Krista 5-0-0;
Siemion,Stormy 3-0-1; Ostermiller,Mikara 3-0-0; Oberstein,Sydney
1-1-0; Williams,Kyndal 0-1-1; Totals 29-3-3.0. (Assists) -
Williams,Kyndal 26. (Dig leaders) - Oberstein,Sydney 10;
Williams,Kyndal 7

Alaska (2-10, 1-0 GNAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Harthun,Sam
18-2-1; Knight,Keri 7-3-1; Glaeser,Britt 6-0-3; McGrath,Morgan 1-1-0;
Camp,Katelyn 1-0-0; Brewer,Cassidy 1-0-1; Hesterman,Samantha 1-0-0;
Dickerson,Kylie 0-1-0; Butterfield,Tessa 0-1-0; Totals 35-8-3.0.
(Assists) - Camp,Katelyn 30. (Dig leaders) - Butterfield,Tessa 13;
Knight,Keri 4

Site: Fairbanks, Alaska (Patty Center)
Date: Sep 19, 2013   Attend: 319   Time: 1:30
Referees: Christopher Carter, Mark Sykes