FAIRBANKS, Alaska – After dropping their last match to Alaska Anchorage on Saturday, the MSUB volleyball team bounced back on Monday night, sweeping Alaska Fairbanks in straight sets 25-17, 25-19, and 25-19 inside the Patty Center.
 
Senior Chelsey Walter had 11 kills and no errors on 14 attempts for a .786 attack percentage in the win over the Nanooks. 
 
Fellow senior Monica Grimsrud also had 11 kills. Sophomore Ashlynn Ward finished the match with seven kills and seven blocks at the net.
 
The Yellowjackets finished the match with 12 total blocks at the net – the highest total for MSUB this season. The team also hit .438 – another season-high for the 'Jackets.
 
Set one was close until with three quick points by the University of Alaska Fairbanks (0-12, 0-4 GNAC) the Yellowjackets found themselves down 15-14, forcing an MSUB timeout.
 
After the break, MSU Billings rallied, firing off 11 points to UAF's two to win set one 25-17.
 
Set two and set three were largely controlled by the Yellowjackets.
 
In the final set, ahead 14-7 MSU Billings went on a run of four quick points, including three consecutive kills from Walter.
 
Alaska Fairbanks answered with three of its own points, but MSUB stepped back into the match with a couple of points from Krista Norris, who finished the match with eight kills, and Ward to take the score to 23-15 in favor of MSUB. The Nanooks answered back with a kill and two errors by the Yellowjackets, stalling the set at 23-17. A service error by UAF gave the ball back to MSU Billings and gave the team match point. After an error, MSUB's Grimsrud pounded the ball down the line for the final point of the match.
 
Montana State University Billings (8-4, 3-1 GNAC) held Alaska Fairbanks to a .127 attack percentage, while outhitting the Nanooks 42-35. The Yellowjackets also dominated the blocks 12-1.
 
MSUB setter Kyndal Williams had 40 assists in the match. The Yellowjackets had 50 digs in the match with 10 players contributing at least one. Libero Haley Wells led the team with 18. Ward had seven blocks while Julia Anderson put up six, and Walter added five.
 
The Nanooks' Brooke Mattice had 12 kills, freshman setter Miranda Grieser finished the match with 23 assists, while Sam Harthun led the team in digs with 12, while also contributing nine kills.
 
Next up for MSU Billings is another conference match. The Yellowjackets will play Simon Fraser University at home on Thursday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. That match will have live video and live stats at msubsports.com.

Note: Walter's .786 is a new single match record (10-plus attempts) at MSU Billings. The previous record was Gina Langer who hit .727 against Sheridan College August 30, 1996.