LACEY, Wash. – Clutch performances by several Montana State University Billings players helped secure a 3-2 win in the closing moments of the fifth set against Saint Martin's University Saturday night at Marcus Pavilion. The decision came down to the final seconds of the match. Miranda McConnell made a kill to give the Yellowjackets an ounce of separation 13-12.
 
Then Taylor Sherman fired a service ace to set up match point and Riley Moore extinguished the Saints last chance by slamming home a mid-court kill for an emphatic 15-13 triumph. The team will now be able to breathe a sigh of relief having put to rest an eight match losing streak that began on September 1 against California State University, Dominguez Hills.
 
"We played with a lot of grit tonight," said MSUB head coach Casey Williams. "We had a number of players step up at clutch moments. I am proud of the way we played tonight on the road."
 
Bayli Monck had an impressive performance for the Yellowjackets and she recorded 14 kills and 16 digs for her third career double-double. Skylar Reed also had a great night on the front line and finished with 15 kills and two attack errors for a .333 hitting percentage, just short of her career high (.340).
 
On the back row, the Saints were up against a steady diet of digs from Taylor Sherman (18), Izela Alvarez (14), Monck (16), and Maddi Vigil (16). Eavan Taylor posted two solo blocks and four block assists for the 'Jackets in her best blocking execution of the season so far.
 
To get their first Great Northwest Athletic Conference win required a full team effort and a great deal of patience. Saint Martin's took the first set 26-24 after the 'Jackets let a set point slip away. MSUB rebounded to take the second 25-20 but were stifled offensively in the third as Saint Martin's went ahead 25-21. Again, the Yellowjackets flipped the script in the fourth set 25-21 and led 8-7 at the fifth set change of ends before ultimately prevailing in the decider 15-13.
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: The first set featured a scratchy start for both sides but Saint Martins gathered a narrow lead and held it most of the way through the set. Skylar Reed made a kill to get MSUB within one point. Then Taylor and Vigil assisted on a block to tie the score at 22-22. The 'Jackets earned set point at 24-23 but could not convert and fell 26-24 after a Rachel Gondrezick kill. Despite losing the first set, the Yellowjackets outhit the Saints .235 to .179 and also had fewer attack errors (seven to five), statistics they would build off for the rest of the match.
 
Saint Martin's took an early advantage in the second set but the Yellowjackets stormed back and went on a 9-0 run to lead 18-11. Monck was the difference maker on offense for MSUB in the second set and made four kills. The Yellowjackets also outhit the Saints .212 to .114. McConnell, Taylor, and Vigil were strong on the block for the Montana State Billings front line.
 
Saint Martins led 10-6 in the third set until Alexa Smythe made three straight service aces to help the Yellowjackets eventually tie it at 11-11. SMU regrouped after a timeout and went on a 6-0 run to retake command 17-11. MSUB struggled to figure out Ililani Kamaka's serve as she collected three service aces over the six point stretch. Molly Cichosz made it up to 12 kills and a .474 hitting percentage in her return to the lineup for SMU. As a team, SMU hit .400 in the third set, doubling MSUB's mark in the same category.
 
Both teams traded blows in the fourth set, resulting a tied score nine times. A late Monck kill gave the Yellowjackets a 4-0 run to lead 23-20. The Saints made an attack error on set point which helped the 'Jackets send the match to a fifth 25-21.
 
The fifth set turned into a true battle between the two teams, each of them desperate for their first conference win. MSUB put the pressure on early and led 8-7 at the change of ends. Megan Vernoy made a kill to give SMU their first lead of the final set 9-8, forcing Casey Williams to call a timeout.
 
After the brief regroup, Taylor Sherman recorded her fifth service ace to put MSUB back in front 10-9. Molly Cichosz made a solo block to tie it again at 11-11 but a service error followed by an SMU block tied it again at 12-12. Miranda McConnell made her second big kill of the set and an attack error set up match point for MSUB. Riley Moore cashed in on her second attack attempt of the final point as the ball dropped in the middle of the court past several outstretched hands to seal the win for MSUB.
 
Four SMU players made double-digit kills on the night and Alyssa Bartlett led all players with 2 assists. Courtney Misner also led the both teams with 22 digs. Rachel Gondrezick and Cichosz recorded five blocks each for the Saints.
 
MSU won the battle of kills 63 to 59 but the Yellowjackets hit .205, narrowly beating out the Saints at .202. The Yellowjackets also made 11 service aces and out-blocked the Saints eight to seven.
 
ALL TIME: The Yellowjackets improved to 20-5 all-time against the Saints and are 9-1 in their previous 10 matchups.
 
UP NEXT: Montana State University Billings plays at Simon Fraser University (6-6, 3-3 GNAC) next on September 28 at 7 p.m. in Burnaby, British Columbia. The next Yellowjacket home match is October 4 versus Northwest Nazarene at 7 p.m.
 
THE BUZZ: Bayli Monck was named St. Vincent Healthcare player of the game for Montana State University Billings. Monck recorded here second double-double of 2018 and posted 14 kills and 16 digs in the effort. She also added an assist and a block assist.