Box Score BILLINGS, Mont. – Battling tough from start-to-finish, the Montana State University Billings volleyball team dropped three-straight sets after winning the first in a tough 3-1 defeat against Alaska Anchorage in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match Saturday evening in Alterowitz Gym.
 
The rallies ending the third and fourth sets in particular generated a buzz throughout the crowd in attendance, as both teams displayed limitless effort and ability in the closing points. "We battled hard tonight at times, and some of the rallies in the third and fourth games were the best we have played all year," said MSUB head coach Lisa Axel. "We can't put ourselves in situations where it comes down to the wire, but we definitely saw some positives."
 
The Yellowjackets rallied for a 25-23 win in Set 1, before the Seawolves turned the tables with a strong 25-14 result in the second frame. The final two sets were each decided by just two points, with UAA emerging on top by the score of 25-23 both times to collect the win.
 
"They have their tendencies, but we were able to get some hands on quite a few blocks," Axel said. "We were able to change their shots and make them adjust. They are a great team, and to be able to be within two points of the team leading the conference in three sets is a testament that we played hard tonight."
 
Julia Mackey had a match-best 16 terminations, and Katelynn Zanders was also in double figures with 13 for the Seawolves. Four UAA players reached double-digits in digs, with libero Quinn Barker leading the way at 16. The Seawolves remained in first place in the GNAC with the victory, improving to 16-3 on the season and 10-1 in conference play.
 
The loss dropped MSUB to 10-9 on the season, and the 'Jackets fell one game below .500 in GNAC action at 5-6.
 
Senior Chelsey Walter led all Yellowjackets with a dozen kills, and Kyndal Williams had a team-best 39 assists. Libero Haley wells upped a team-high 20 balls while Kimmy Kirk was close behind with 19 digs on the match. MSUB totaled nine team blocks, and hit .133 on the evening.
 
MSUB got off to a hot start in the first set, and carried momentum into the middle with a 12-10 lead. A UAA service error and a kill by Krista Norris extended the lead to 14-11, but the Seawolves battled back to take the next four points to take a 15-14 edge.
 
Ashlynn Ward took advantage of an over by UAA, slamming down a kill to give the 'Jackets a 19-17 advantage.
 
MSUB kept its foot on the gas, winning four of the next six points and provoking UAA head coach Chris Green to burn a timeout with the score at 23-19. The Seawolves took the next three points, as Axel interrupted play by using her first timeout with the score at 23-22.
 
The 'Jackets rallied for a pair of points to close out the first set with a 25-23 victory.
 
UAA picked up the pace to open the second set, moving the spread to five points early on at 12-7.
 
Ward stood tall for a solo block, and an ensuing attack error by the Seawolves narrowed the difference to three points at 12-9. UAA pushed ahead however, taking advantage of multiple attack opportunities en route to a 25-14 Set 2 win.
 
Morgan Hooe helped UAA open up the third set with a big block, but Walter and Williams responded with a block for the 'Jackets to push the score to 5-3 in favor of MSUB.
 
The teams matched one another evenly into the middle of the third set, when a service error by UAA cut MSUB's deficit to 18-15. Alaina Gentili and Ward teamed up for a big block, but a kill by Mackey kept UAA up by three at 20-17.
 
The Seawolves jumped ahead 23-19, but a kill by Norris sandwiched by a solo block and a kill by Ward put the 'Jackets within striking distance at 23-22. Battling for a lengthy rally, the Seawolves took two of the next three points and a 2-1 advantage in sets with a narrow 25-23 win.
 
Fighting tough, MSUB stormed to an 8-5 lead in the fourth set, as a big solo block by Williams was part of the Yellowjackets' early rally.
 
Facing a 12-8 hole, UAA rallied to win the next three points to cut the spread to 12-11 thanks in large part to a loud dual block by Hooe and Kayla McGlathery.
 
Trading points to the tune of 16-16, a big kill by Walter helped the 'Jackets keep their noses in front. The Seawolves embarked on a rally however, moving dangerously ahead 19-17 near the end of the fourth set.
 
Kills by Monica Grimsrud and Gentili kept MSUB in the match at 20-19, but the Seawolves won the next three points to move within two of the win at 23-19. With their backs against the wall, Walter took the final swing of the night for the 'Jackets, and her attack barely missed going over the net as UAA took the last point of the match.
 
"We are back on the road a lot for the rest of the season," Axel said. "We just have to focus on our side of the net and make sure we are playing consistently at the high level we know we can."
 
NEXT WEEK: The Yellowjackets take to the road for more GNAC play, facing Western Washington on Oct. 23 in Bellingham, Wash., and Simon Fraser on Oct. 25 in Burnaby, B.C.