BILLINGS, MT – With a national contender visiting Alterowitz gym on Saturday night the Yellowjacket volleyball team (6-13, 2-8 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) were swept by the No. 10 North West Nazarene Crusaders (17-1, 9-1 GNAC) by a score 25-11, 25-15, 25-18. In the second game this week the MSUB attack faced a sturdy defense that held the 'Jackets to a hitting percentage below .100.
Alexa Smythe had 20 assists in the match and recorded three kills on six attempts. Smythe also had 5 digs as the Crusader's attack tested all of the 'Jackets on the back line.
Izela Alvarez record a team-leading eight digs
in the match followed by
Maddi Vigil who had seven. Vigil tallied the most kills for MSUB with nine followed by
Katie Campbell's six and middle blocker
Miranda McConnell's four. McConnell led the team with two block assists while
Bayli Monck,
Hali Ehresmann, Vigil and Smythe each had a block-assist in the match.
Kristen Whitney recorded her first kill during GNAC competition as she and Kiera Larson made their conference debut against NNU.
The Crusader's attack delivered from the start as they out hit the 'Jackets in each of the three sets and finished the match with a .452 hitting percentage. Kendra Bodine and Madi Farrell each recorded double-digit kills and hitting percentages over .500 in the win for NNU. Hailey Cook totaled 31 assists in the match while Shayli Siegfreid recorded 14 digs to lead the team. The Crusaders also had success blocking the MSUB attack as they accumulated 10.5 blocks highlighted by Farrell's eight block-assists.
In the first set the Crusaders never trailed and finished the opening frame with their largest lead of the night 25-11. The 'Jackets stayed close in the second set and took a 13-12 lead before NNU closed out the set on a 13-2 run and a match-high .565 hitting percentage. After being tied at 2-2 in the final set, MSUB would never gain another lead or tie as NNU totaled an impressive five blocks in the deciding game.
UP NEXT: the Yellowjackets remain at home this week as they welcome Simon Fraser (7-10, 4-5 GNAC) to Billings on Friday at 7 p.m. followed by No. 11 Western Washington on Saturday at 7 p.m. The 'Jackets lost 3-1 to SFU earlier this season in Burnaby, B.C. and were swept by WWU in Bellingham, Wash.
