BILLINGS, Mont. – Everything was clicking for the Montana State University Billings volleyball team, as the Yellowjackets dominated in every facet of the game to sweep Saint Martin's in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match Saturday.
 
The Yellowjackets (6-8, 3-3 GNAC) excelled in virtually every statistical category. Defensively, sophomore Hannah Hayden and senior Joelle Mahowald led the defense at the net by out-blocking the Saints (7-6, 1-3 GNAC) by an 11-to-2 margin. Offensively, the Yellowjackets were relentless, hitting a season-best .351 and having four players finish with more than five kills.
 
"That was our gameplan all week," MSUB head coach Casey Williams said. "We knew we were going to be able to exploit a couple of things on their block and we talked about having fast arm swings all week. I think Hannah Hashbarger did a good job putting our hitters in good situations, and our hitters definitely took advantage."
 
Bayli Monck and Skylar Reed led the way on offense with 13 kills apiece. Yet Hayden had an all-around performance with a season-best six kills – on a career-best .385 hitting percentage – and four blocks to earn St. Vincent Player of the Game honors.
 
QUICK HITS

• Bayli Monck led all players with 11 digs to earn her seventh double-double on the season.
• Hannah Hashbarger finished with 39 assists, one service age, nine digs and a kill.
• As a team, the Yellowjackets hit a season-best .351 against the Saints.

 
MATCH STATS

• MSUB hitting: .351 overall (.400 set one, .324 set two, .342 set three)
• Saint Martin's hitting: .124 overall (-.143 set one, .140 set two, .279 set three)
• Service aces: MSUB 5, SMU 2
• Digs: MSUB 47, SMU 44
• Blocks: MSUB 11, SMU 2
• Saint Martin's was led by Kylie Coon's 10 kills and two digs.

 
MSUB's first set was, in a word, dominant.
 
For a while, it seemed as if only a review from the referees on the opening play could stop MSUB for any considerable amount of time. But after the opening call was overturned in favor of the 'Jackets, MSUB ripped off a 13-2 run. Five different players chipped in with kills and – in a sign of defensive dominance to come – Hannah Hayden, Joelle Mahowald and Bayli Monck stuffed Saint Martin's swings.
 
"I have to give Joelle a lot of credit," Hayden said. "Her and I really help each other, push each other and the pins are wonderful at talking to us. We just want to be big up there and do what we can."
 
During this run, Reed nearly had more kills (four) than Saint Martin's did as a team (three). Her fourth kill – a casual tip over the net and out of reach from SMU's front line to make the score 14-4 – gave the team a double-digit cushion that the Saints would not be able to overcome.
 
MSUB's serving was on point as well. Between Hannah Hashbarger and Makayla Baca's first service ace of the year, the Yellowjackets had as many service aces in the first set alone as the Saints did the entire game.
 
Although the Saints would string together consecutive points to pull within seven, the visitors never got any closer in the first set, as MSUB made an all-around dominant first set look effortless in a 25-12 win.
 
With nine ties and five lead changes, the second set was the closest of the afternoon. The Saints took their first lead of the day by rattling off five-straight points, but the Yellowjackets got on the board with Monck skying in from the left side for the kill.
 
"I am proud of their fight, and I've said that from the beginning," Williams said. "Even in that second set, we were able fight, come back and win it with authority. I do think this team has fight. I do think we have the capability of putting us into better situations, and I'm proud of our effort."
 
Trailing 7-4, a bad serve from Saint Martin's sparked a Yellowjackets run to tie the game at seven. After the teams seesawed again, a block from Mahowald and Hashbarger tied the game at 10, setting off yet another MSUB mini-run before the Saints reeled the home team back in.
 
From there, neither team led by more than two points. The Saints took momentary control with a 20-18 lead, yet Hannah Hayden came through by sending the ball to the back left corner, then tying the game on a strong swing set up by Hashbarger.
 
"Bayli and Skylar are the perfect mentors to have right now," Hayden said of her performance on offense. "No matter what, they're always positive, and it's wonderful to watch them have such a great game. To have two of the best hitters in the GNAC, in my opinion, to be able to coach me and help me through things, I feel very blessed."
 
Tied at 23-all, MSUB won a critical point off another kill from Monck, then MSUB put away the Saints with a block on the right side from Mahowald and Fa'ali'i.
 
Completely in control of the game, MSUB never trailed in the third set. Although both teams were tied early at 5-all, back-to-back kills from Reed kicked off a 6-0 run, giving MSUB a lead it wouldn't relinquish. If MSUB's block didn't put an end to SMU's comeback attempts, then Reed answered the call on offense. Seven of the junior's 13 kills came in the third set – including a stretch of three-consecutive points as the Saints tried chipping away at MSUB's lead midway through the set.
 
SMU pulled within one at 15-14, yet a 6-1 run ultimately was the difference. Everyone showed out: Monck and Mahowald recorded kills, Mahowald, Hashbarger and Reed teamed up for blocks up front and Fa'ali'i dropped in a service ace for good measure to make the score 21-15, 'Jackets. Both teams traded serves late, but two more kills from Reed and Hayden's sixth of the day forced match point. Saint Martin's had one last gasp with a 4-0 run, but Monck's 13^th kill gave MSUB the sweep.
 
"Winning this game in three sets is going to keep building us up," Hayden said. "And we're going to keep working our butts off in the gym and in practice, and we're going to keep using this momentum we have."
 
THE BUZZ: Hannah Hayden was the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for her six kills and four blocks…she also hit a career-best .385 on 13 attempts…MSUB now has a 22-7 record all-time against Saint Martin's – including a 14-1 record at home.
 
UP NEXT: MSUB plays its first game against crosstown rival Rocky Mountain College at home on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Links to live stats and video can be found on msubsports.com.