BILLINGS, Mont. –The Montana State University Billings volleyball team heads into 2019 with an opportunity to mark improvement for the fourth consecutive campaign under head coach Casey Williams. This year's group is a blend of five returners and nine newcomers, eight of whom are true freshmen.
 
"We've been working on incorporating our incoming players and getting them familiar with our defensive and blocking schemes in practice," Williams said. "I think having eight games before the conference schedule will really help prepare us. Both the Chadron State Tournament and the West Region crossover are on the road but in familiar places and I know the level of competition at both will be strong. We set a pretty high standard last year in pre-season for what we could achieve and I think we want to try and replicate that this season as well."
 
In 2018, the Yellowjackets won their first six non-conference games but failed to muster early wins in the always challenging Great Northwest Athletic Conference. They eventually rebounded from an 0-5 GNAC start and finished 13-17, (7-13 GNAC) and took eighth place. With no conference tournament in volleyball, MSU Billings must reach the NCAA Division II West Regional Tournament to continue post-season play. Making the regional tournament for the first time since 2006 will be no easy task with defending conference champion and National runner-up Western Washington lurking on the schedule along with a host of other top conference contenders.
 
The 'Jackets did benefit from an early start this summer when the team visited Italy for a week in August and played two Italian teams along the way (The NCAA allows a team to make an international trip once every three years and gain an extra week of practice prior to the start of regular training). The experience also gave them a leg up with team bonding and cultural experience. For more on the Buzz in Rome, click HERE.
 
MEET THE NEW YELLOWJACKETS: While Williams continues to iron out the final details of the starting lineup, the 'Jackets have had a few notable early standouts. Junior middle blocker Joelle Mahowald (Nine Mile Falls, Washington) transferred to MSUB after two seasons at Spokane Falls Community College.

There, she was named Northwest Athletic Conference player of the year and most valuable player as a sophomore as well as most valuable player in the conference title game, helping Spokane Falls cap a perfect 40-0 season record.  
 
"Joelle has done a really good job so far and been a force in the middle for us," said Williams. "I think she'll do a good job of pulling blocks and leaving our pins one-on-one just because of how dominant she's been in the middle."
 
Freshman setter Hannah Hashbarger is another young player in contention for a starting role after recording 107 digs, 33 kills, and a school record 642 assists as a senior at West Linn High School in Oregon. Hashbarger is known for her exceptional vision on the court and ability to read defenses.
 
"Hannah Hashbarger is in a close battle for the starting setter position and has a good work ethic," Williams said. "She's kind of a wild card that we didn't know what to expect but she has been doing well in practice so far."
 
Freshman middle blocker Hannah Hayden has is another player earning reps in the gym and was a two time all-conference selection at Lakewood High School in Colorado. She is expected to add more depth middle blocker at MSUB right away.
 
"Hannah Hayden has been stepping up and slowly working her way towards our M2 position. I think we'll have a nice balance of fresh faces and returners who are already familiar with the fast pace of play at the GNAC level.
 
After the loss of Izela Alvarez, the Yellowjackets have had a host of new players try out for libero/defensive specialist. The finalist is still being determined with Amya Rodriguez (Red Lodge, Montana), Marissa Logozzo (Pasco, Washington), Molly Packer (Vancouver, Washington), and Makayla Baca (Santa Fe, New Mexico) all listed at the position as freshmen.
 
"We know just about every position except libero right now," Williams said. "With our four incoming freshman libero/defensive specialists, I've seen good things from all of them. Who we want to put the libero jersey on changes from practice to practice because we are still looking to find longer term consistency. In the other positions we've seen people really start to step up and emerge in their roles so I'm excited about that."
 
FAMILIAR FACES: The team will need to fill the void left by seniors Taylor Sherman, Miranda McConnell, and Katie Campbell, but have several key returners who posted significant minutes and sets last year.

Sophomore Skylar Reed (Buckeye, Arizona) returns at outside hitter after she recorded 191 kills in 90 sets during as a freshman. Her breakout game came on September 18 where she had 20 kills in a five-set loss to

rival Rocky Mountain College. Reed has proven capable of producing powerful offensive punch and may become crucial to the offensive production this fall.
 
"Skylar has worked her way back this summer from an injury but has done well in practice since her return," said Williams. "She continued to get better every game last season and I think she'll keep improving this year. She's really dynamic with her ball contact and wants to keep growing her game. We are considering having her go six rotations this year, which would make her an offensive threat from the back row as well."
 
Maddi Vigil led the team in kills for a second straight year with 278 in 2018. She returns on the outside as a junior, hoping to add to her career 24 double-doubles and 608 kills. Vigil hit .179 as a freshman and .139 as a sophomore.
 
"Maddi has been our leader for the past couple of years on the court," commented Williams. "I think with all the reps she's been getting in the off-season and her experience in the GNAC will help her grow and become even more consistent this season."
 
Other returners include junior Bayli Monck (Colorado Springs, Colorado), junior setter Alexa Smythe (Phoenix, Arizona), and sophomore middle blocker Eavan Taylor (Richardson, Texas). Monck played all 30 matches last season and finished second on the team with 228 kills and a .138 hitting percentage at right side. Smythe split time at setter and Taylor led the team with 122 total blocks in 2019.
 
The 11-team GNAC conference looks to again be strong with Western Washington fresh off a trip to the Division II National Championship game and Central Washington edging inside the pre-season top-25. The Vikings went 20-0 in conference a year ago and though they will be hurt by the loss of three All-Americans, they return a solid lineup again with All-American Kayleigh Harper coming back as a senior. Central Washington posted a 16-4 GNAC mark and has four returning starters including three honorable mention All-Americans.
 
The Yellowjackets return five and were picked to finish ninth in the GNAC volleyball pre-season coaches poll ahead of Western Oregon University and Saint Martin's.
 
"I think every conference match stands out on our schedule this year," said Williams. "We have a lot to prove this year with quite a few returners and a solid squad. I am hoping we can start to make a little bit bigger wave in the GNAC and begin to accomplish our goals one at a time. I like playing in such a competitive conference. It's been good battling against those teams and we've continued to get better the past couple years as a result."
 
The Yellowjackets kick off the regular season in the Chadron State Tournament with South Dakota School of Mines and University of Sioux Falls on September 6, followed by Fort Hays State University and Chadron State College September 7. Four matches in the GNAC/PacWest Crossover Tournament follow the weekend of September 12 ahead of the conference home opener against Concordia University September 19 at Alterowitz Gymnasium at 7 p.m.
 
Other schedule highlights include a home game against crosstown rival Rocky Mountain College October 22 and hosting Western Washington October 4. The annual Pink Night promotion will take place October 17 against Saint Martin's University.
 
Montana State University Billings volleyball finished its 2015 season 6-23 overall. Small improvements on the scoreboard have followed ever since and it will be up to this year's team to keep the trend moving in a positive direction.
 
Live video and statistics will be available for all MSUB home matches and all GNAC road contests throughout the 2019 season, through MSUB's Stretch Internet portal. Fans can also follow the Yellowjackets on twitter @MSUBVB and via the team website, msubsports.com.