BILLINGS, Mont. – The Yellowjackets (5-5, 1-1 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) took their first conference loss of the season on Saturday as MSUB couldn't overcome a talented No. 18 University of Alaska Anchorage (7-4, 2-0 GNAC) team in a four-set 3-1 (25-11, 25-22, 25-23, 25-9) match in Alterowitz Gym.
"Anchorage was the better team tonight, they came out ready to go and we were not able to respond," head coach
Casey Williams said. "We will regroup in practice and get ready for a busy week."
MSUB used 11 players in the contest against the Seawolves the most of any match this season. The Anchorage defense gave the 'Jackets trouble throughout the match as
Bayli Monck was the only player to record double digit kills with 13.
Katie Campbell and
Jordan Mix contributed six and five kills respectively as the pair of junior transfers saw their most action of the early season.
Kylee Clarke recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 24 assists and 10 digs.
The 'Jackets earned the first point of the night on a Monck kill that gave MSUB a 1-0 lead, however the Seawolves followed that with a 10-0 run that put the 'Jackets on their heels.
Izela Alvarez managed six digs in the first frame on her way to a team-best 19 for the match. Anchorage rallied behind four kills from junior Leah Swiss and a team hitting percentage of .233 in the first set.
The second set was tight throughout as the 'Jackets rebounded well and made their way out to an early 5-2 lead after
Hali Ehresmann and Mix paired up for a block on UAA attacker Taylor Noga. Ehresmann, who leads the 'Jackets in blocks this season, recoded three block-assists against the Seawolves. The teams exchanged leads four times and were tied for the sixth and final time of the set at 16-16. Anchorage out-paced MUSB down the stretch to earn the 25-22 win.
MSUB had a gritty performance in the third set to avoid a sweep from the No. 18 Seawolves. Campbell, Mix and Mock wouldn't let the match go in straight-sets as the three teamed up for seven kills and six digs in the set. Mix also added one of her two block-assists in the MSUB 25-23 set victory.
Miranda McConnell ended the set with a kill off of a Clarke assists to force another game.
Anchorage showed their class in the final set of the match as the Seawolves started on an 8-1 run and never looked back. With the pressure mounting, MSUB found themselves facing too large a deficit to make a comeback in the 25-9 match-clincher.
UP NEXT: The 'Jackets will get to play one more match in Billings before hitting the road for conference play as they take the drive down Rimrock Road to play the Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears on Tuesday at 7 p.m. MSUB is 37-19 against RMC all-time and won the last meeting in Oct. of 2016 by a final of 3-1.
