SEATTLE. – The MSU Billings volleyball team fell in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference road match to Seattle Pacific 25-16, 25-21, 23-25, and 25-19 Thursday in Brougham Pavilion.
 
The Yellowjackets fell in the first set, but rallied in the second to hold a 4-point, 17-13 lead before the Falcons closed out the frame on an 8-2 run to pull ahead 2-0. MSUB earned a set back by claiming the third frame on a kill by Lexa de Jesus. With the momentum from the third set win, MSU Billings started the fourth frame strong, jumping out to a 5-0 lead. The Falcons fought back, and both teams traded points until a tie at 19 was broken by SPU with six straight points to claim the four set victory.
 
The win improves Seattle Pacific to 7-9 overall and 3-5 in the GNAC. MSU Billings falls to 2-14 on the season and 1-6 in conference action.
 
MSUB's Ashlynn Ward finished with a double-double of a match-high 18 kills adding in 10 digs. Ward was the only Yellowjacket to finish with double-digit kills as the 'Jackets struggled at the net, finishing with a .091 match attack percentage.
 
Led by Kylee Cornelio's 23, four Yellowjackets claimed double-digit digs. Angala Jensen matched Ward's 10 and Stormy Siemion recorded 13. Jensen led the team in assists, also finishing with a double-double as the freshman posted a team-high 36 assists. Siemion added to the kill total with eight, Miranda McConnell punched through seven, and de Jesus finished at six. McConnell and Casey Rich both completed three block assists.
 
Seattle Pacific hit .205 in the match as Gabby Oddo (16), Lexi Biondi (13), and Hannah Lautenbach (10) all factored into the double-figures in kills. Shaun Crespi led the match with six block assists, Symone Tran had 48 assists, and Amanda Ganete 29 digs.
 
SPU led in kills (56-42), digs (79-68), assists (54-41), and blocks (9.0-8.0). MSUB struggled from the service line committing eight service errors in the four sets, but were bested by SPU finishing with 10.
 
"Seattle Pacific was a consistent team and produced on our errors," MSUB head coach Casey Williams said. "I thought that our aggressiveness and energy was lacking tonight and we will need to pick it up for Saturday's match at Saint Martin's."
 
In the first set, McConnell picked up a ball on a short back set from Robinson to pull MSUB to within two points, 9-7. On the right side, de Jesus added a point with a shot down the line. A handful of errors from the Yellowjackets had Coach Williams calling a timeout. Out of the break, a double block on the outside from de Jesus and Rich pushed the 'Jackets closer. The Falcons responded with three straight points finished on the outside by Biondi.
 
Oddo pulled SPU ahead on a ball that bounced off the block and out of play. McConnell pounded down a ball of a swing set to the back side to make it 20-15. Closing strong, the Falcons rolled off five straight points that included kills from Biondi and Lautenbach to finish out the set and take the lead 1-0.
 
Out of the middle, Jensen fed Rich a short set that the junior pounded to the floor unopposed. After a nice dig from Cornelio, Ward finished the point for MSUB on a ball she hit crosscourt to an open spot. Behind 9-8, McConnell and Jensen tied the score with a double block on the outside. A second straight service error from SPU put the ball in the hands of Jensen who served it short for an ace. The 'Jackets kept up the pressure, taking four straight points to build up a 13-10 advantage.
 
A great dig from Cornelio kept a rally alive for MSUB, sparking a 4-0 run from the 'Jackets to pull ahead 17-13. Out of a Falcons timeout, SPU pushed back to pull within one, 18-17. A service ace and kill from Oddo sent the score in front for Seattle Pacific. Ward finished a point after Mataia Robinson dug a ball out of the net for MSUB. Siemion recorded a kill for the 'Jackets, but closing strong again, SPU finished the second frame with a 5-1 run for a 2-0 set advantage.
 
Ward cleared a point on the outside for an early 5-2 lead in the third frame. Both teams engaged on short ensuing runs to tie the score three more times. Ward broke two of the ties and aided by a double block from Jensen and Rich, the Yellowjackets took a 17-13 lead. The Falcons rattled off four straight points to tie the set at 17. Siemion earned a point with a kill off the block. Back-and-forth the teams continued to trade points. McConnell used her fist to punch the ball over and de Jesus down the line gave the 'Jackets consecutive points.
 
The Falcons recovered with two points, including a double block from Crespie and Biondi, but de Jesus was there to earn the final point of the set for MSUB.
 
The Yellowjackets opened the fourth set with a strong statement on five straight points. The Falcons got back into the frame, but on an attack from SPU, Rich put-up a solo block for a 9-5 MSUB advantage. Seattle Pacific crept back in, taking the lead 15-14 on a double block from Crespi and Lautenbach. McConnell won the ball for the 'Jackets to tie the frame at 16. Faith Taylor served a ball that just touched the back line for an ace. Shutting down the set again, the Falcons finished the set, scoring six unanswered points for the fourth frame win.
 
THE BUZZ: Ward named the St. Vincent Healthcare Athlete of the Match with 18 kills, 10 digs, two block assists, and a service ace…this was Cornelio's third match of the season with 20 or more digs…Ward and Jensen both earned their third double-doubles of the season.
 
UP NEXT: MSU Billings continues its conference road trip with a match at Saint Martin's on Saturday, Oct. 8, at 7:00 p.m. PST.