BILLINGS, Mont. – Having completed a trip to Alaska for a pair of matches, the Montana State University Billings volleyball team returns home this week for MSUB's Homecoming to host two Great Northwest Athletic Conference matches against nationally ranked No. 2 Western Washington University and Simon Fraser University.  
 
First, Western Washington (13-0, 5-0 GNAC) rolls into town on Friday, October 4 at 7 p.m. Then the Yellowjackets host Simon Fraser (6-7, 2-3 GNAC) on Saturday, October 6 at 1 p.m. Live video and live statistics will be available online through the MSUB Stretch Internet portal here. The Yellowjackets (4-9, 2-2 GNAC) will look to rebound in the early half of conference play after splitting the first two weekends of GNAC matches.  MSUB is currently in sixth place while WWU is first and SFU is right on the Jackets heels in seventh place. 

"WWU is a good team but they are beatable," said head coach Casey Williams, "SFU is a team that we have always battled with.  Both are big, experienced, and well coached.  We have to work hard on resetting fast in transition and pressing on the block.  I think that consistency is something that we have struggled with the past couple weeks and I think that we have two great opportunities to work on being disciplined and working on that consistency. We have had a good week of practices and I am optimistic about the weekend."
 
LAST TIME OUT: Making the annual trip to Alaska can prove difficult for any team and the Yellowjackets' most recent road trip was no different. MSUB suffered a 3-2 (25-12, 18-25, 22-25, 25-16, 15-6) defeat at the hands of Alaska, then fell 3-1 (25-23, 19-25, 25-22, 25-10) against Alaska Anchorage.
 
The Yellowjackets fought hard in a five set thriller against Alaska, hitting a combined .171 and a match high .478 in the second set. The Nanooks capitalized on an inconsistent fifth set from the Yellowjackets and pulled out the win 3-2. Maddi Vigil and Skylar Reed both recorded 11 kills.  Bayli Monck notched her fifth double-double of the year with 10 kills and 16 digs. 
 
After splitting the first two sets against Anchorage, the Seawolves cranked up their offense to win the final two sets and defeat the 'Jackets 3-1. Reed provided a team leading 13 kills and Marissa Logozzo made 13 digs.  MSUB improved it's hitting percentage from the previous match hitting .231, but Anchorage proved more consistent finishing with a .320 hitting percentage including a massive .609 in the fourth and final set. 
 
Despite the two losses in Alaska, the 'Jackets received a strong performance from Reed in both matches.  She recorded 24 kills on the weekend while hitting .285.  Monck provided a consistent balance, with 19 kills and a team leading 26 digs in the combined matches.  Sophomore Eavan Taylor had five kills and three blocks at Alaska along with five kills and two blocks at Alaska Anchorage.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Vigil continues to lead the team in kills with 132 and is hitting an average of 2.64 kills per set. Hannah Hashbarger is providing consistent minutes from the setter position and leads the team with 289 assists. Logozzo has taken over the team lead in digs with 148, followed closely by Vigil with 142.  As a team, the Yellowjackets enter the week averaging 10.90 kills and 15.20 digs per set. 
 
Joelle Mahowald is currently 11^th in the conference with a .282 hitting percentage and recorded her 100^th kill in Alaska. Hashbarger is 7^th in the GNAC in assists and Logozzo is 11^th in digs. Monk leads the team in total points with 3.04 per set while carrying a total of 152.0 which is 19^th in the GNAC. 
 
Scouting #2 Western Washington University
Game Day Friday, October 4 – 7 p.m.
2019 Record: 13-0, 5-0 GNAC, 3-0 home, 3-0 away, 7-0 neutral
2018 Record: 30-4, 20-0 GNAC, 13-0 home, 12-0 away, 5-4 neutral
Head Coach: Diane Flick-Williams (20^th Season)
 
The Vikings are off to one of the best starts in program history, having won 13 straight matches and have only dropped nine sets. WWU defeated SFU on Tuesday 3-1 (25-17, 25-13, 23-25, 25-16). Calley Heilbron lead the Vikings with a double-double of 14 kills (.353) and 12 digs. Gabby Gunterman recorded a career-high 29 digs while providing 11 kills for her eighth double-double of the year. All-American middle Kayleigh Harper had 10 kills with a .400 hitting percentage, and added 6 blocks.  
 
Last season, WWU swept MSUB 3-0 in both the home and away matches. Skylar Reed hit .429 with seven kills in the first matchup last season on September 29^th, 2018. MSUB struggled against the Vikings last season hitting a combined .97 in the two matches while WWU hit .334. 
 
Western Washington proved to be one of the best teams in the nation last year and made it all the way to the National Championship, but fell to the University of Tampa 2-3 (25-21, 18-25, 25-21, 23-25, 11-15).  The Vikings finished with four All-Americans, won their second GNAC championship in a row, became the first team in GNAC history to record a perfect 20-0 season and head coach Diane Flick-Williams was named the West-Region's Coach of the Year.
 
MSUB is 1-24 all-time against WWU.  The only victory came in September, 2014 when the Yellowjackets upset the then national ranked No. 10 Vikings. 
 
Scouting Simon Fraser University
Game Day: Saturday, October 5 – 1 p.m.
2019 Record: 6-7, 2-3 GNAC, 1-1 home, 2-3 away, 3-3 neutral
2018 Record: 15-11, 12-8 GNAC, 7-3 home, 6-5 away, 2-3 neutral
Head Coach: Gina Schmidt (7^th season)
 
The Clan is off to a 6-7 start (2-3 GNAC) and dropped a match to WWU Tuesday 3-1 (25-17, 25-13, 23-25, 25-16).  Kirsten Pinkey led the team with 14 kills and Bianca Te paced the defense with 22 digs. The clan was out-hit by the Vikings .121 to .279. 
 
Betsie de Beer holds a team best .244 hitting percentage and is second with 142 kills (2.90 k/set).  Pinkey leads the team with 147 kills (2.94 k/set). Te is one of the best defenders in the GNAC and has 240 digs on the year (4.80 digs per set) which is the fourth best mark in the conference. Julia Tays is also fourth in the conference with 477 assists on the year (9.54 assists per set). 
 
Last season the Yellowjackets lost both matches to the Clan. SFU swept MSUB in Burnaby, British Columbia 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-20). Maddi Vigil finished with seven kills and 17 digs. In the second match-up in Billings, MT, the clan defeated the Yellowjackets 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 26-24). Vigil again led the way with a double-double of 10 kills and 13 digs.
 
Montana State University Billings is 6-14 all-time versus Simon Fraser University.  The last victory for MSUB dates back to October, 2013.  
 
If you are planning to attend the Homecoming matches and need tickets, please visit our ticket website at msubsports.com or call Hollie West at 406-896-5934.