BILLINGS, Mont. – After playing Simon Fraser and Western Washington last week, the Montana State University Billings volleyball team opens the second half of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play at home against Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Alaska Anchorage this Thursday and Saturday, respectively.
 
Thursday's game against the Alaska Nanooks, which is also MSUB's annual Pink Night game – the team's annual game showing support for the fight against cancer – starts at 7 p.m. Saturday's game against UAA starts at 1 p.m.
 
Although the Yellowjackets (7-11, 3-6 GNAC) already played both teams on its annual Alaska trip one month ago, MSUB head coach Casey Williams said the team has not only changed a lot since then, but also will have a distinct home-court advantage this time around. So far, MSUB has a 7-3 record at home and has a winning record in GNAC play in Alterowitz Gym.
 
"We play really well at home – we're creatures of habit, a little bit," Williams said. "I don't think either of the Alaska schools saw us at our best. Making the trip up to Alaska is a challenge in and of itself – obviously there are no excuses when it comes to the season, but the trip really takes a toll. Being able to be in our own routine in our gym will be pretty huge for us."
 
Since the teams first met, the Seawolves (15-5, 8-0 GNAC) have not only broken into the AVCA Division II Coaches' Poll, but also kept a stellar 8-0 record in GNAC play. UAA ranks 24^th in the nation thanks to the stellar play of Eve Stephens, plus the GNAC's top two leaders in service aces, Talia Leauanae and Ellen Floyd, both of whom average 0.50 service aces per set.
 
The Nanooks (13-8, 6-3 GNAC), meanwhile, are in a three-way tie for fifth in the GNAC and are coming to Billings on the heels of a 3-0 road loss to the Seawolves. Alaska has been bolstered by its stingy defense, which ranks fourth nationally with 195.5 total blocks, as well as eighth in blocks per set (2.51).
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
Playing in front of Alaska Anchorage's tough home crowd, MSUB showed some gusto in the first two sets during the team's first meeting on Sept. 23. The Yellowjackets took a lead midway through the first set, tied the game at 18-all off an ace from Hailey Carroll, but ran out of steam to drop the first two sets by a score of 25-20. The 'Jackets hit their best in the second set, yet the Seawolves pulled through off their work behind the service line and finished off the sweep.
 
Bayli Monck led the way with 13 kills and Jahsita Fa'ali'i – fresh off her breakout performance against Northwest Nazarene the Saturday prior – added six kills in the first game.
 
In MSUB's second game up north, everything was working for the Alaska Nanooks, who swept the 'Jackets in a 25-8, 25-18, 25-19 sweep. Whenever MSUB clawed back into that game, it usually started from Hannah Hayden (who led the team with six total blocks), Joelle Mahowald and Mikayla Yore's defense. All three middle blockers will be critical to MSUB's performance this week.
 
"One thing we didn't do the first time we played the Alaska schools is run our middle," Williams said. "Looking at of our scouting report, if we are able to run passes off our middle, we're going to be really successful. We've got to be able to pass so we can make ourselves more dynamic on offense, as opposed to having just one or two options. All our middles have been playing consistently throughout this season. They've been true leaders. The one thing we need to continue to be able to do is make them options on offense."
 
All told, Williams expects MSUB to perform better as a whole because of the work the team has put in and the improvements it has made since last month.
 
"From how we've been working in the gym and our mindset going into these matches, I think we're going to catch them off guard a little bit," Williams said.
 
"If we can combine having a couple of people having a great game, then that will be really advantageous to us," Williams added. "Cohesiveness will be the name of the game this week. I'm not expecting one player to stand over the rest; I'm expecting a good effort to come from all 17 of us. Our bench presence is huge – especially at our home court – and its play will definitely be a factor for us coming into this weekend."
 
ABOUT LAST WEEK
 
MSUB closed out the first half of GNAC play on the road against Simon Fraser and the then-20^th-ranked Western Washington Vikings last week. Although MSUB came up short both times, sophomore defensive specialist/libero Makayla Baca said playing some of the GNAC's two toughest teams on the road helped them figure out what they wanted to do for the second half of conference play.
 
"We were trying to come together as a team and figure out how to win," Baca said. "Seeing those two teams showed what we have to play against over the next half of conference play. We're excited to start getting after it and start giving these teams a fight."
 
Baca has worked her way into the rotation over the past six games, providing not only consistent energy in the back row – whether it's running down balls out of bounds or diving for digs – but also an emotional spark amongst the 'Jackets. Whenever the team needs encouragement or vocal leadership, Baca has delivered – whether it's been through her words or how she plays whenever she's on the court.
 
"Makayla brings such good energy," Williams said. "She is the loudest person in the gym every single day. Her physical play has been great so far. She's been playing really well and she's led us emotionally on the court as well."
 
Last week, Baca tied her season-high in service aces and assists against Western Washington, playing in arguably her longest game all season. Given the road she has traveled ever since tearing her ACL and meniscus last summer, each time Baca steps on the court and each milestone she achieves is a victory in and of itself. Baca didn't play during MSUB's shortened spring season in 2021, opting to stay home in New Mexico as she underwent strenuous physical therapy after her surgery; this season is the first full season she's had since her freshman year in 2019.
 
"It was tough, I'm telling you," Baca said, before reflecting on the positives of her recovery. "Physically, it was tough, but I genuinely believe this is one of the best things that has happened to me mentally as well. My mental game is stronger; I just realized the physical part of my game was going to come eventually. But it was a long process in rehab – learning how to walk, run and jump again was tough."
 
Yet throughout Baca's play so far, the only noticeable part about her surgery last year is the knee brace she wears on occasion. Other than that, she hasn't missed a beat. With every mad dash to track down a long serve, every dig – and subsequent somersault – and every time she fires up her teammates, she adds to MSUB's depth in the back row. Throughout it all, Baca has gradually improved her communication with freshman libero Christine Funk in the back row, building a unit that projects to become stronger throughout their careers.
 
"It took a little bit of time to learn how we played together because we're two very different people," Baca said. "Learning how to communicate effectively while being able to help our team succeed was the biggest thing, but now we've gotten a better handle of how to communicate and work together in the back row."
 
It's anyone's guess as to how the rest of the season will unfold for MSUB, yet some factors will be constant in its back row. First, Baca will still play with that passion and heart that comes from her gratitude to be out on the court. Her teammates will still enjoy playing with her because of her exuberance and encouragement. And, from now until November, there will be more chances for Baca to make the most of the opportunities she has been given after nearly losing volleyball entirely last summer.
 
"I'm just grateful for the opportunity to be here," Baca said. "I didn't know if I was going to play volleyball in college, so every second I get, every opportunity I can get, I'm going to take it and make the best of it. Making my family proud, having them watch me and knowing that I'm only going to be able to do this for four years has helped me not take advantage of any moment I have out there. You never know when that opportunity could be taken away from you."
 
STAT CORNER

• Hannah Hashbarger has 1,725 career assists going into this weekend. She is 48 away from surpassing Brooke Tolman, who ranks sixth all-time at MSUB with 1,772. Hashbarger averaged 7.85 assists per set and has recorded at least 24 assists in each of her last six games.
• Christine Funk remains the GNAC's top true freshman at 4.10 digs per set, which ranks fourth amongst all players.
• Joelle Mahowald is sixth in the GNAC at 1.05 blocks per set, plus she has the ninth-best hitting percentage (.278).

 
UP NEXT: MSUB plays Alaska on Thursday, Oct. 21, then Alaska Anchorage on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 1 p.m. Livestream and live stat links can be found at the women's volleyball schedule page on msubsports.com.