ANCHORAGE, Alaska – After opening the conference season with two wins, MSUB dropped its first conference match in Anchorage by scores of 17-25, 17-25, 25-16 and 15-25 inside the Alaska Airlines Center Saturday night.
With the loss MSU Billings moves to 7-4 and 2-1 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Alaska Anchorage is now 9-2, 3-0 GNAC.
The Yellowjackets started off slow in set one, but fought their way back in. After being down 10-1 in the opening set, MSUB made two solid runs against the Seawolves.
Monica Grimsrud had six of the Yellowjackets' 14 kills in set one.
The third set featured a great MSUB comeback. After being down early, the Yellowjackets made a dramatic run to take set three.
Mataia Roderick served seven consecutive points for MSUB. A kill by
Krista Norris crosscourt pulled the Yellowjackets to within one, 14-13, before UAA called the first timeout of the set. With two more points, MSUB took the lead 15-14. Some back-and-forth points and MSUB widened the lead 19-15 on an attack error by the Seawolves causing UAA to call its second timeout of the set. The Yellowjackets outscored UAA 6-1 on the last points to send the match to a fourth set.
After winning set three, the Yellowjackets stalled in set four and couldn't pull any rallies together. The Seawolves ran away with the fourth and final set winning it 25-15.
Alaska Anchorage hit .309 and out-blocked MSUB at the net 7.0 blocks to the Yellowjackets 1.0. Julie Mackey with 13 kills and Erin Braun with 11 led UAA on the attack. Braun also led in blocks, she finished with four of the team's seven.
The Yellowjackets finished the match hitting .156. Grimsrud had 13 kills while
Chelsey Walter had 10 at the net.
Kyndal Williams had 41 assists.
Haley Wells with 15 digs and Roderick with 12 led MSUB defensively.
Montana State University Billings plays Alaska Fairbanks on Monday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. AK. Live video and live stats will be available at msubsports.com.
