BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings volleyball team ended the 2018 season on a high note Saturday afternoon, defeating the Western Oregon University Wolves 3-1 (26-24, 22-25, 25-12, 25-19) at Alterowitz Gymnasium in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match.
 
Bayli Monck led the Yellowjackets with 14 kills and Izela Alvarez finished with 22 digs in a match featuring 25 tie scores and eight lead changes. Graduating seniors' Katie Campbell, Taylor Sherman, and Miranda McConnell were all honored before the match and all three made an impact against the Wolves. McConnell had 10 kills and hit .500 with three block assists and Campbell made 11 digs and seven kills for MSUB. Sherman posted a pair of service aces and had six digs in the winning effort.
 
"What a great way to end the season for our seniors," exclaimed head coach Casey Williams. "All three of them played so hard tonight and helped lead the team to victory. I'm really looking forward to building on the success we saw this season in the next couple of years."
 
Montana State Billings (13-17, 7-13 GNAC) finished the year two conference victories better than in 2017 and they were also four wins better overall. Western Oregon (3-17, 6-20) lost its' seventh straight match as the two teams split the season series.
 
The first two sets were extremely close on the scoreboard and the first went to the Yellowjackets after a kill by Skylar Reed gave MSUB its' second set point. Sherman fired an ace to win it 26-24 even as the Wolves outhit the 'Jackets .297 to .200. The teams were never separated by more than four points in the set.
 
The Wolves evened the score with a late rally in the second set. The score was even 19-19 when the Wolves made their move by winning five of the next six points to gain set point 24-20. Two points later, Sierra Stutz closed it out for WOU on a kill set up by Aubrey Stanton 25-22.
 
MSU Billings played inspired volleyball in the final two sets and won both by more than six points. The Yellowjackets hit .500 in the third set and made just eight errors combined to decisively take the 3-1 victory.
 
MSU Billings hit .277 for the match compared to .196 for Western Oregon. The 'Jackets also had 60 kills versus 50 for WOU. In attack errors, the teams were even at 22 apiece and the Yellowjackets posted eight service aces compared to four for Western Oregon. Eavan Taylor contributed five block assists to MSUB's total of nine and the Wolves made 5.0 total blocks.
 
Alvarez led all players with 22 digs. Kylee Clarke posted a double-double with 29 assists and 11 digs and Campbell also added 11 digs. Four MSUB players made double digit kills including Monck (14), Skylar Reed (12), McConnell (10), and Moore (10).
 
Mariella Vandenkooy paced the Wolves with 11 kills. Leila Holt made 18 digs and Aubrey Stanton posted 25 assists.
 
THE BUZZ: Miranda McConnell was named St. Vincent Healthcare player of the match for the Yellowjackets. The senior limited her errors to one and had 10 kills along with three block assists and a pair of digs…The Saturday win allowed the Yellowjackets to improve to 9-19 all-time against Western Oregon in matches dating back to 1986.