BURNABY, B.C. – A spread out Clan attack and ability to win extended points ultimately doomed the Montana State University Billings volleyball team as they fell to Simon Fraser University 3-0 on Friday night at Marcus Pavilion. Betsie de Beer, Tessa May, and Kirsten Pinkney all recorded double-digit kills for the Clan and Simon Fraser outhit MSU Billings .247 to .094 leading to a final score line that read 25-23, 25-18, 25-20.
 
The Yellowjackets moved to 7-9 overall (1-6 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference) with the loss and remain one game ahead of Saint Martin's for last place among 12 teams. Simon Fraser improves to 7-7 (4-4 GNAC) with the victory.
 
Despite the straight set loss, Riley Moore had a strong performance for the Yellowjackets and recorded seven kills and three errors. She also added defensively with one block assist and three digs on the night. Maddi Vigil also finished with seven kills and three errors for MSUB and added 17 digs and one solo block.
 
"We struggled to find consistency on our side of the net," said head coach Casey Williams after the match. "SFU served tough and got us out of system. We will be focusing on our serving, receiving, and passing along with mentality tomorrow against Western Washington."
 
Both teams played well in the early and middle portions of the opening set, despite a few miscommunications for both sides. Simon Fraser was the winner of more extended points and rallied to take a 16-11 lead. Betsie de Beer continually found space on the left side near the pin and finished the set with five kills, helping the Clan take the first set 25-23. MSUB and SFU were even with a pair of 3-0 runs each in the set. The 'Jackets tied the score for the first time 23-23, but never found themselves in the lead as the Clan clamped down whenever the score got close.
 
Simon Fraser University put more pressure on the Yellowjackets in the second set and continued to keep a stranglehold on the lead. The turning point in the second frame may have been a long-rally to draw the score to 9-5 SFU. On the extended point, both teams kept the ball alive against good opposing kill attempts and eventually Alexa Smythe was called for a double-hit, giving SFU the point. The Clan slowly built on the momentum closed out a second set point 25-18 after a solo block by Tamara Clark.
 
A mixture of hard kills and tips kept the Yellowjackets off balance in the third set and Simon Fraser continued to limit its' mistakes. The Yellowjackets fought to their first tie of the third set 20-20 but Tessa May made a step around kill to stifle the 'Jackets chance of gaining a late advantage. The Clan took down the Yellowjackets in one hour, 26 minutes in front of a crowd of 100 spectators.
 
ALL TIME: Montana State University Billings is now 6-13 all-time against the Clan. The Yellowjackets have been defeated by Simon Fraser in each of their last ten meetings dating back to October, 2013. The last time MSUB won against the Clan was September, 2018 at home, which resulted in a 3-0 shutout.
 
UP NEXT: Montana State Billings faces No. 7 Western Washington in Bellingham, Washington on Saturday September 29 at 7 p.m. PT. The match will be streamed live on Stretch Internet Portal and Live Stats will also be available. The Yellowjackets return home on October 4 at 7 p.m. MT versus Northwest Nazarene. Simon Fraser University is on the road next to play Western Oregon University. SFU will be in Billings to play MSUB later this season on October 27.
 
THE BUZZ: Katie Campbell was named St. Vincent Healthcare player of the game for the Yellowjackets. Campbell had 16 digs for MSUB, edging near her career high (22) along with one service ace, one kill, and one assist.