BILLINGS, Mont. – It was a gritty five-set match as the Montana State University Billings volleyball team (8-18, 4-12 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) battled the Concordia University Cavaliers (11-12, 6-10 GNAC) in a 3-2 (20-25, 25-22, 24-26, 25-17, 15-12) loss on Saturday. It was the Yellowackets final home match of the season as MSUB finishes their schedule with four road contests.
"There are some positive things we are going to take away from today's match," head coach
Casey Williams said. "We saw a well balance offense and individuals continue to rise and put up good numbers for us. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to overcome a seasoned and well coached team like Concordia."
Jordan Mix led the offensive charge for the 'Jackets with 14 kills against the Cavalier's defense.
Bayli Monck recorded a team-best .296 hitting percentage on her 11 kills while
Maddi Vigil hit .286 on 13 kills. Vigil also recorded her second double-double of the week and tenth of the season with 18 digs in the match. Hali
Ehresmann was the fourth 'Jacket to break into double figures with 14 kills while adding a season-high seven block-assists.
Izela Alvarez inched closer the MSUB single season dig record as she compiled 31 in the match to become the second 'Jacket to ever record more than 500 digs in a season. Alvarez now has 528 digs this year, only 49 behind Erin Compton's record of 577 with four matches remaining.
Kylee Clarke recorded 109 assists in two matches this week as she notched a 50 assist performance against Concordia. She fell one dig short of tallying her sixth double–double of the season on Saturday night.
Miranda McConnell added eight kills for the 'Jackets and three block-assists in the match.
Taylor Sherman and
Katie Campbell record 12 and 8 digs respectively.
The teams began the night by exchanging points in the first set and reaching a 5-5 tie before the 'Jackets controlled the rest of the set. MSUB built a six point lead at the 15-9 point in the first set and never let the Cavaliers get closer than two. Mix, Vigil and Monck all recorded three kills in the set and Alvarez led the team with 10 digs. Monck came through in the clutch as she delivered the final two kills of the opening set.
The second set was defined by eight lead changes and 11 ties between the teams. The 'Jackets never held a lead greater than two points in the set, which came after a Ehresmann kill netter MSUB a 10-8 advantage. The Cavaliers actually finished the set with the largest lead of the game 25-22.
In the third set, the teams continued to play a close match as both offense looked dominant. The Cavaliers recorded an impressive .405 hitting percentage but were still outmatched by the Yellojackets .419. Vigil didn't miss in the third game as she posted a perfect four kills on four attempts. McConnell led the 'Jackets with five kills in the frame as she along with Monck, Ehresmann and Mix all hit .400 or above. Concordia's Colby Barnette laded six kills but it wasn't enough for CU.
After delivering high efficiency offense in the third set, the MSUB attack was halted in the fourth. The Cavaliers posted three blocks in the set and effective team defense slowed the 'Jacket attackers leaving MSUB with a .024 hitting percentage. The Concordia defense maintained their edge in the fifth set as they recorded three more blocks and leaned on Lindsay Dorsey's five kills to earn the win. Concordia earned the season sweep of the 'Jackets and are now 6-0 all-time against MSUB.
The 'Jackets will hit the road to face two of the top teams in the conference next week as they visit the No. 13 Northwest Nazarene Nighthawk on Thursday at 7 p.m. before heading to Central Washington on Saturday for another 7 p.m. tilt. The 'Jackets were swept by both opponents earlier this season in Billings.
