BILLINGS, Mont. – The Yellowjackets are coming off a 2-win week, with victories over rival Rocky Mountain College and a four set win in Fairbanks over Alaska. This week, MSUB hosts its last two matches in Alterowitz for the 2016 season, welcoming Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponents Saint Martin's on Thursday, followed by Seattle Pacific on Senior Night Saturday.
 
MSUB claimed both of last week's wins in four sets, evening the season series against crosstown rival Rocky Mountain College at home and then making the trek to Alaska for a pair of GNAC contests. The Yellowjackets fell against No. 11 Alaska Anchorage, but rebounded with the win over the Nanooks to take the series sweep of Alaska.
 
At home for the last time this season, the Yellowjackets are set to compete for two wins. Seniors Stormy Siemion, Ashlynn Ward, and Kylee Cornelio will be honored before the start of Saturday's match during a senior night ceremony.
 
SEVENTH ALL-TIME: Ward posted 14 kills against Rocky and completed a double-double with 11 digs. The senior outside hitter had nine kills at Alaska Anchorage and 15 at Alaska, taking her total to 38 for the week. The native of Rexburg, Idaho, has 1,094 career kills which makes her only the eighth Yellowjacket in the program's history to top 1,000. Ward is seventh all-time at MSUB in career kills, needing 83 to move to No. 6. Ward is second in the GNAC in kills per set at 3.61 and 14^th in attack percentage at .255 (336-112-879). At the net, Ward also has 54.0 total blocks this season, moving her career total to 199.
 
STORMING THE COURT: Siemion recorded her 11^th double-double this season with an 18 kill, 11 dig performance against Alaska. She also had a double-double of 14 kills and 22 digs against Rocky. For the week, the native of Huntley, Mont., produced 37 kills and 43 digs.  Siemion is on a seven match streak in double-digit digs. This week on the career charts, Siemion has 732 kills and 871 digs for MSUB. Siemion needs another The outside hitter is third in the GNAC in kills per set at 3.46 and 19^th in digs with 3.14.

 

FIERCE DEFENSE: The MSUB defense continued its high numbers. Against Rocky, MSUB posted a season-high 92 team digs. They also put-up 10.0 blocks at the net. Against Alaska the team had 70 digs. Freshman Faith Taylor recorded 27 digs against Rocky and 17 at Alaska and has moved past the 200 career mark at 216.
 
Casey Rich had five blocks against Rocky and two at Alaska Anchorage. The junior leads the team at the net with 84.0 total blocks this season. Against the Nanooks, Rich recorded seven kills and had five digs.
 
Cornelio recorded 28 digs last week. The senior added four assists and two service aces. Cornelio has 349 digs this year, 52 assists, and 19 service aces.
 
ROBINSON'S RESULTS: Mataia Robinson cleared a double-double of 20 assists and 11 digs against Rocky. For the week, Robinson totaled 31 assists, 23 digs, and four service aces. In the GNAC, Robinson is ninth in service aces at .32 per set.

FRESHMAN ASSET: Angala Jensen finished the week with a double-double of 38 assists and 10 digs in the win at Alaska. Jensen is eighth in the GNAC in assists per set at 8.59. She has 799 assists this year and 152 digs.
 
MCCONNELL IN THE MIDDLE: Miranda McConnell produced two matches with double-digit kills last week. She had 14 against RMC and 10 at Alaska. In both matches the middle blocker hit over .300. She also had eight blocks for the week, moving her season total to 43.0.
 
Thursday – Nov. 3– Saint Martin's University Saints – 7:00 PM
Alterowitz Gym – Billings, MT – Live Video – Live Stats
2016 Record – 6-12, 2-12 GNAC
Head Coach: Jon Killingbeck, 1^st season
 
Saint Martin's is on a six match losing streak and hasn't won a conference match since defeating MSUB at home on Oct. 8. The Saints haven't won a set in their last two matches and will be looking to reverse the trend on Thursday against the Yellowjackets.
 
As a team, Saint Martin's is seventh in the GNAC in hitting percentage at .185. Rebecca Mitchell is 11^th in the conference in kills per set at 3.02. Nicolette Nesbitt is 10^th in the GNAC in assists at 6.34.
 
The Series: (16-5, 9-1 Home) The Yellowjacket hold an 11-mtach overall lead against Saint Martin's and are 9-1 at home. The 'Jackets had their five match win streak against SMU broken on the road and will look to get back in the win column on Thursday against the Saints.
 
Last Time Out: MSU Billings lost the match in four sets on the road. Ward had 15 kills and Siemion 14 kills and nine digs. Cornelio finished with a match-high 30 digs. The MSUB defense struggled at the net, allowing SMU to hit .357. Rachel Gondrezick had 20 kills and Rebecca Mitchell 20.
 
Saturday – Nov. 5 – vs Seattle Pacific University Falcons– 7:00 PM
Alterowitz  Gymnasium – Billings, MT – Live Video – Live Stats
2016 Record – 9-13, 5-9 GNAC
Head Coach: Chris Johnson, 11th season
 
Seattle Pacific has produced up-and-down conference results this season. Last week, the Falcons split their GNAC matches, winning against Central Washington in five, and falling against Northwest Nazarene in four sets. SPU is 11^th in the GNAC in hitting percentage at .148, but is fourth in opponent hitting percentage (.164) and second in blocks (2.46 per set).
 
Gabby Oddo is fourth in GNAC kills per set at 3.41. Shaun Crespi is second in the conference in blocks at 1.53 per set. Amanda Ganete has 4.80 digs per set. Symone Tran is sixth in the GNAC in assists at 10.11 per set.
 
The Series: (10-28, 7-8 Home) MSUB split its series with SPU last season, taking a lost in four sets on the road, but winning in three sets at home. The Yellowjackets will look to do the same this season, having lost a four set match to the Falcons earlier in the conference season.
 
Last Time Out: MSUB lost a four set match on the road. The Yellowjackets hit just .091 against SPU. Ward was the lone MSUB player with double-digit kills at 18. Cornelio had 25 digs and Rich four blocks.