BILLINGS, Mont. – MSUB is hosting a non-conference match against Billings opponent Rocky Mountain College during the designated Think Pink night on Tuesday, Oct. 25.
The match at Alterowitz will be a break from the Yellowjackets Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule, and a chance for the two collegiate teams in Billings to showcase their local talent.
The St. Vincent Healthcare's EVA Project will have a presence in the lobby of Alterowitz and throughout the match. Fans are encouraged to show their support for breast cancer awareness by dressing in pink attire. The MSUB volleyball team will be selling pink bracelets, with all proceeds being donated back to the EVA Project. The community outreach program provides free mammograms to local women and education in the Yellowstone Breast Center or on the mobile mammography Coach.
This will be the second time the Yellowjackets and Battlin' Bears will meet this season. MSUB travelled to the Fortin Center on Sept. 12, when the 'Jackets lost in four sets 27-25, 14-25, 25-16, and 25-15.
For MSUB,
Stormy Siemion posted a double-double in the match of 13 kills and 18 digs.
Ashlynn Ward also posted 13 kills.
Casey Rich recorded nine kills and two blocks.
Kylee Cornelio had 28 digs with
Faith Taylor at 12.
Angala Jensen led the match with 41 assists.
This season, Montana State University Billings (3-18, 2-10 GNAC) is being led offensively by seniors Ward and Siemion. Ward is hitting .249 and averaging 3.63 kills per set with Siemion contributing 3.48 kills per set and a team second-best 3.04 digs per set.
With 77.0 total blocks this season, Rich leads the team and is producing 1.00 blocks per set. Cornelio is posting 3.91 digs per set while
Mataia Robinson leads the team in service aces with .31 per set.
Jensen has 724 assists this season with an average 8.83 per set.
The contest on Tuesday will conclude a five match home stand for MSU Billings. The Yellowjackets began the back half of their conference season last week hosting Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene. MSUB earned a set against CWU, but fell in three to NNU.
This season Rocky Mountain College is carrying an 11-14 overall record and is 5-4 in the Frontier Conference. Last week the Battlin' Bears split at home, winning a five set battle (15-11 in fifth) against Montana State Northern, then falling to the University of Great Falls in straight sets.
Savannah Smith (2.9 kills per set) and Kylie Hadley (2.6 kills per set) are leading the RMC offense. Andraya Hawks has 1.0 blocks per set, with Tess Hellerud just behind at .9. Holland Ferguson is leading the team with 5.2 digs per set. Hailey Copinga has 5.4 assists per set.
The Yellowjackets hold an overall record of 36-19 against Rocky. MSU Billings is on a three match losing streak to RMC dating back to Oct. 29, 2013, when MSUB defeated the Battlin' Bears in four set. The 'Jackets hold a 25-7 advantage at Alterowitz.
The match on Tuesday, Oct. 25, begins with first serve scheduled for 7 p.m.
