BILLINGS, Mont. – The MSU Billings volleyball team earned a Great Northwest Athletic Conference straight sets win over Seattle Pacific during Senior Night at Alterowitz Saturday 26-24, 25-16, and 25-23.
 
With the win, MSUB has won the last four of five matches and improves to 7-19 on the season and 5-11 in the GNAC. Seattle Pacific falls to 11-13 on the year and 6-10 in the GNAC. The Yellowjackets had to withstand a surge from the Falcons in the second set and make a comeback down five points in the third set for the win.
 
"I couldn't imagine a better match for our senior's to go out on," MSUB head coach Casey Williams said. "We had a great overall effort from the team tonight, I thought that we played collectively as a group and we are playing some of our best volleyball right now. The seniors, as always, played their hearts out tonight and their presence will be missed in the MSUB volleyball program. We are excited to take this win and continue on with this momentum to finish out the 2016 season on a positive note."
 

Senior Stormy Siemion earned a double-double of 21 digs and 11 kills. Ashlynn Ward had a team second-best eight kills and recorded three blocks. Kylee Cornelio finished with five digs and an assist.
 
The Yellowjackets finished with more kills (35-33) and blocks (8.5-8.0) and had a higher attack percentage to earn the win.
 
Angala Jensen had 26 assists, Faith Taylor 13 digs, and Bre Rodrigues five blocks. Miranda McConnell posted seven kills and a match-high six blocks.
 
For Seattle Pacific, Lexi Biondi and Shaun Crespi had eight kills. Amanda Ganete had 17 digs. Symone Tran finished with 31 assists.
 
The Yellowjackets came out firing, blasting out to an 8-1 start. Seattle Pacific took an early time out and battled back within two points. The Yellowjackets kept up their play at the net. McConnell forced a ball off the top of the block and Siemion sent one to the back line. A kill by Casey Rich opened-up a 12-4 lead as the Yellowjackets pulled ahead by eight.
 
After their slow start, the Falcons caught back up as a kill by Colleen Hannigan tied the first frame at 16. Both teams battled to stay ahead down the stretch. Ward finished a long rally with a point on a kill down the net off the block for a 22-20 lead. A touch kill from SPU's Hannah Lautenbach tied the set at 22. Out of a timeout, a double block from McConnell and Rodrigues pulled the 'Jackets up by one. A service error from SPU provided a MSUB set point. A block on the outside tied the set at 24. McConnell placed the ball just over the block to earn a second set point. A back and forth defensive set with a multiple attack attempts and digs was won by MSUB on a set dump from Jensen to give the Yellowjackets a 1-0 match lead.
 
Again beginning strong, MSUB opened on a 5-1 start in the middle set. McConnell pounded the ball straight down to the floor off a short set from Jensen for 9-6. Siemion came up high on the outside for a kill. A good serve from Cornelio resulted in an overpass that McConnell pushed down to the floor for a 3-point, 14-11, advantage. Continuing her tough service rally, Cornelio served a float to the back line and Ward finished a rally with a kill.  
 
Mataia Robinson continued the strong MSUB serving game, striking back-to-back aces to draw out the Yellowjacket lead to 20-12. Rich forced a ball through the block and Rodrigues finished the frame on a touch kill into the block for the 2-0 lead.
 
Not giving up on a block to the floor, Ward made a defensive move with her fist that McConnell was able to tip over the net for a point. A block from Crespi and a MSUB error gave SPU a 7-3 lead. McConnell came up in the middle to use a short ball off the block to earn a side out. The Falcons moved ahead by five before a back row attack from Siemion gave the 'Jackets a point. A double block from McConnell and Rodrigues and a long push from Jensen closed the gap to one, 13-12. Siemion produced three straight points to complete the comeback and give the Yellowjackets the lead 16-15.
 
Both teams fought hard for an edge with tie scores at 16, 18, 19, 22, and 23. A sneaky kill from Ward had the crowd on their feet. After a big defensive get from Rich with a pancake, Ward pounded the ball down for a set point and the 'Jackets earned the win as a SPU ball went into the net.
 
UP NEXT: MSUB returns to the road for the last four matches of the season. Next week, the Yellowjackets will travel to Western Oregon on Thursday, Nov. 10, followed by a match at Concordia (Ore.) on Saturday, Nov. 12.
 
THE BUZZ: Siemion named the St. Vincent Healthcare Athlete of the Match.