BILLINGS, Mont. – Montana State University Billings volleyball heads to San Francisco this weekend to compete in the GNAC/PacWest Crossover Tournament hosted byAcademy of Art. MSUB (4-0) will play Academy of Art and San Francisco State on Friday, then California State, Dominguez Hills and University of Hawaii at Hilo Saturday. The tournament will be the last tune up event for MSUB before the Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule begins on Sept. 6.
 
"We are looking to improve on our consistency as a team," said head coach Casey Williams. "We had some great moments last weekend, but overall we were inconsistent. That is going to be our main focus going into the showcase."
 
LAST TIME OUT: Last weekend, MSUB went 4-0 in the Minnesota State Moorhead Classic and posted wins over South Dakota Mines, University of Mary, Minot State, and Western State Colorado. Maddi Vigil and Izela Alvarez were recognized as members of the all-tournament team.
 
Perhaps the most impressive performances of the weekend came from freshmen Eavan Taylor and Riley Moore. Taylor recorded 36 kills and limited errors to 11 for a hitting percentage of .391 over 17 sets. Moore added 40 kills and nine errors over 16 sets for a .326 hitting percentage.
 
On Friday, the 'Jackets came back from two sets down against both South Dakota Mines and University of Mary despite struggling in the first two sets of both matches. The team improved their performance the next day, defeating Minot State in four sets on Saturday morning, then Western State Colorado in three sets Saturday afternoon.
 
"I think that confidence plays a big part in getting off to a quicker start," said Williams. "Hopefully we will carry some of the momentum and confidence that we gained during opening weekend and get off to a fast start against Academy of Art."
 
Scouting the Urban Knights
Friday, August 31 - 8:30 a.m. PT
2018 Record: 0-4, 0-0 Conf.
Head Coach: Allen McCreary
 
Academy of Art competed in the Norcal Volleyball tournament to begin their season but found limited success. The Knights lost in straight sets to Sonoma State, Chico State, Humboldt State, and Stanislaus State in Turlock, California over the two day event. Ashley Pawlak and Sadie Emery excelled for the team in the tournament and they recorded 22 kills apiece.
 
The Urban Knights feature a balanced lineup including three seniors, three juniors, three sophomores, and five freshmen. The Knights lost two accomplished seniors to graduation from last year's roster. Libero Lyndsay Mlynar, setter Alana Lucas, and middle blocker Safua Elisaia all appear in the top ten in Academy of Art's program history heading as they enter their senior season (Mlynar seventh in digs, Lucas fourth in assists, Elisaia third in total blocks).
 
In 2017, the Urban Knights finished 6-12 (3-17 PacWest). Their longest losing streak was five and their longest winning streak was one. The Knights' biggest win came against San Francisco State on September 9. Academy of Art won the tightly contested match in five sets 25-20, 22-25, 25-23, 11-25, 15-13.
 
Through four matches, the Knights hold a .095 hitting percentage and average 7.8 kills per set (The No. 1 team in NCAA division II, Northern State has a team .377 hitting percentage). The Knights made 3.4 errors per set and have nine service aces. Defensively, Academy of Art averages 11.0 digs per set as well as 1.1 blocks per set.
 
The Yellowjackets are 0-3 all-time against the Knights with the last meeting occurring in 2015. Allen McCreary is in his first season as head coach after spending three seasons as assistant coach of the Winthrop Eagles.
 
Scouting the Gators
Friday, August 31 - 5:30 p.m. PT
2018 Record: 3-0, 0-0 Conf.
Head Coach: Matt Hoffman (3^rd season)
 
San Francisco State plays host to the GNAC/PacWest Crossover Tournament and they have yet to drop a set through three matches in 2018. Last weekend, the Gators participated in the Norcal Volleyball Classic and defeated Pacific Union 25-15, 25-14, 25-18; Notre Dame De Namur 25-21, 25-15, 25-17; and Holy Names 25-22, 25-15, 25-13. Over that stretch, SFSU is averaging 14 kills per set and 19.9 digs per set. They compete in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) in NCAA Division II.
 
Sophomore Drew Morris leads the gators with 36 kills and three errors but Bailey Johnson's statistics might be considered even more impressive. Johnson posted 26 kills and zero errors through nine sets. She holds a .481 hitting percentage which ranks 12^th in NCAA Division II.
 
San Francisco State finished last season 8-18, (4-14 CCAA) and welcomed back five of their top six point scorers from a year ago. They also feature three transfers that will factor in to the lineup including Maura Donovan, Jade Gillespie, and Jessica Haynie. SFSU's four freshmen include Sophie Anderson, Marlena Billings, Ashley Cosey, and Payton Jensen.
 
MSU Billings is 0-3 all-time against San Francisco State. The two teams last met in 2016. SFSU was victorious in the match 3-2 in Honolulu, Hawaii. SFSU head coach Matt Hoffman has been at the helm since 2016 after a stint as assistant coach at Wichita State.
 
Scouting the Toros
Saturday, September 1 - 8:30 a.m. PT
2018 Record: 1-2, 0-0 Conf.
Head Coach: Jennifer Adeva (8^th season)
 
California State Dominguez Hills suffered a pair of losses to ranked opponents in the Cal State San Marcos Cougar Classic last weekend before rallying to defeat Indiana University of Pennsylvania 25-23, 25-18, 25-16. On Friday, the Toros fell in straight sets to No. 6 Lewis College but they nearly pulled off a marathon first set which ended 40-38. The Toros will face Hawaii at Hilo and Academy of Art on Friday before facing the Yellowjackets early Saturday morning.
 
Top returners for Cal State Dominguez Hills include senior libero Cathryn Lopez, senior outside hitter Cecelia Lucas, and junior outside hitter Leafatiaituiliagi 'Tati' Yandall. Lopez is a school record holder for digs in a single season and averaged 4.46 digs per set in 2017. Lucas tallied 131 kills in 101 sets played last season and led the team with 85 total blocks. Yandall was named second team all-conference and led the team in kills (321) while averaging 3.03 kills per set. She also finished second best on the team in digs (308).
 
In 2017, the Toros finished in a tie for third in the California Collegiate Athletic Association south division and finished the regular season with a 14-12 record (10-7 CCAA). MSUB is 1-5 against California State Dominguez Hills all-time and have not beaten the Toros since 1998. The Toros won their last meeting 3-1 last September in Lacey, Washington.

Scouting the Vulcans
Saturday, September 1 - 3:15 pm. PT
2018 Record: 1-1, 0-0 Conf.
Head Coach: Gene Krieger (1^st season)
 
The Vulcans hosted the Hawaiian bank volleyball challenge over the weekend and completed two matches before Hurricane Lane caused the cancellation of two contests. On Friday, Hawaii at Hilo swept Saint Martin's 25-19, 25-16, 25-18 but fell later in the day to University of California San Diego in five sets 15-25, 19-25, 25-20, 25-23, 15-7. UH Hilo led by two sets but lost the first ten points of the fifth and could not make up the difference in the end.
 
The Vulcans' roster includes seven newcomers and nine returners. They are led by seniors Mina Grant, Evelin Solyomvari, Kiley Davis, and Basi Sauni. Grant, the team's libero was named Pacific West Conference preseason libero of the year by the league's coaches. Last year, Grant averaged 4.89 digs per set and led the team in service aces with 23. MSUB's Izela Alvarez had a tremendous season for the Yellowjackets last season at libero, setting up what could be a very good battle between the two defensive specialists.
 
Sophomore middle-blocker Ashton Jessee played all 27 matches for the Vulcans last fall and is back. Kaila Lizama (defensive specialist), Armani Moultrie (middle blocker), Amber Tai (outside hitter), and Tori Daligcon (outside hitter) are other returners to watch for HU Hilo.
 
In two matches, Hawaii at Hilo holds a .190 team hitting percentage and is holding opponents to a .126 hitting percentage. They average 15.4 digs per set as well as 2.0 blocks per set.
 
In 2017, the Vulcans finished 9-18 (6-14 Conf.) Their season included a 10 match losing streak in the second half of the fall. The Yellowjackets are 11-19 all-time against UH Hilo but have not defeated the Vulcans since 2004. The two teams last squared off in 2016, which resulted in a 3-1 victory for the Vulcans.
 
Gene Krieger is in his first year as head coach and has previously won coach of the year distinctions at Cal Poly Pomona, California Baptist, Westmont, and Western Oregon.
 
STAYING 'VIGIL-ENT: Maddi Vigil earned tournament most valuable player for her performance in the Minnesota State Moorhead Classic last weekend. In four matches, Vigil led the Yellowjackets with 43 kills and 56.0 points. Vigil had a .124 hitting percentage and played all 17 sets for MSUB.
 
TAYLOR MADE: Eavan Taylor was named GNAC offensive player of the week at middle blocker for MSUB over the weekend. The Richardson, Texas native recorded 36 kills while limiting errors to 11 for a .391 hitting percentage. She is the first MSUB volleyball player to earn player of the week honors since Ashlynn Ward did so in August, 2016.
 
ACES HIGH: Serving has been a strength of the Yellowjackets so far this season. The team has 47 aces in 17 sets, an average of 2.76 aces per set. This ranks MSUB fifth among all NCAA Division II schools. Bayli Monck has been a major contributor to the category with 13 aces. She ranks 24^th among all players in NCAA division II.
 
FRESHMAN CONTRIBUTION: Riley Moore had an exceptional weekend offensively for the 'Jackets. Moore posted a .326 hitting percentage and had 40 kills and one assist. The Loomis, California native was particularly impressive on Saturday, putting up 14 kills against Minot State and 13 kills against Western State Colorado. Moore infused some help defensively as well and had seven digs and four blocks.
 
HISTORY SHOWS: The last time the Yellowjackets began a season 4-0 was 2014. Two of the wins in 2014 came against University of Mary and Minot State, the same teams that factored into their current undefeated start. Four years ago, the Yellowjackets finished the year 13-14 (8-10 GNAC).
 
ROAD WARRIORS: MSUB volleyball begins the season with 10 straight road contests in 2018 (excluding scrimmages). After returning home for a pair of matches against Alaska Anchorage and Alaska, they head back out for five more away matches which will include Rocky Mountain College, Seattle Pacific, Saint Martin's, Simon Fraser, and Western Washington. As a result of the first half travel, the second half schedule will be much friendlier. The 'Jackets finish the year with nine of 12 matches in the confines of Alterowitz Gymnasium.
 
TEAM SNAPSHOT: MSUB has nine returning letter winners from last season and three roster newcomers. The team finished 9-21 (5-15 GNAC, 9^th) in 2017.
 
WHAT'S AHEAD: After playing in the GNAC/PacWest crossover tournament, the Yellowjackets begin GNAC competition on Sept. 6, when they play Western Oregon in Monmouth at 7:00 p.m. A match against Concordia University will take place on Sept. 8 before the MSUB home opener on Sept. 14 versus Alaska Anchorage at Alterowitz Gymnasium.
 
Live video and statistics will be available for all MSUB home matches and all GNAC road contests throughout the 2017 season, through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal.