SEATTLE, Wash. – The Montana State University Billings volleyball team tied the match in the second set, then mounted a big lead in set four, yet the Yellowjackets fell 3-1 (16-25, 26-24, 18-25, 23-25) to Seattle Pacific in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match on Saturday afternoon.
 
"SPU was tough tonight," MSUB head coach Casey Williams said. "They're a good blocking, hardworking team, and they got the best of us."
 
The Yellowjackets (10-14, 5-9 GNAC) held the Falcons (13-8, 9-5 GNAC) to .048 hitting in the second and .136 in the fourth. Skylar Reed and Bayli Monck led the way on offense with 10 kills apiece. Kennedy Juranek donned the libero jersey for a portion of the match and finished with a season-high 13 digs, two assists and an ace.
 
"We had some bright moments and I thought Kennedy especially did a great job bringing energy," Williams said. "She was stellar in serve-receive."
 
QUICK HITS

• MSUB's defense held Seattle Pacific to a .199 hitting percentage, which was below SPU's season-average of .205.
• Skylar Reed had her third game of the season with at least three service aces.
• Bayli Monck recorded her fourth-straight double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs.

 
MATCH STATS

• MSUB hitting: .122 overall (.000 first set, .143 second set, .131 third set, .156 fourth set)
• Seattle Pacific hitting: .199 overall (.345 first set, .048 second set, .357 third set, .136 fourth set)
• Service aces: MSUB 7, SPU 12
• Digs: MSUB 48, SPU 56
• Blocks: MSUB 11, SPU 13
• Seattle Pacific was led by Hannah Hair's 14 kills and 5 total blocks.

 
After trailing early, Joelle Mahowald got MSUB going with two kills and a solo block to pull the team within two points at 7-6. From there, SPU went on a 6-1 run that prompted a timeout from the Yellowjacket bench.
 
Out of the timeout, Hannah Hashbarger went toe-to-toe with SPU's Allison Wilks at the net and earned a kill that sparked an MSUB run. The 'Jackets defense came through on the next two points: first with blocks from Hannahs Hayden and Hashbarger, then a solo block from Skylar Reed made the score 13-10. But SPU pulled away until MSUB got slight reprieve from a long serve from the Falcons, then a service ace from Hashbarger on the next point, yet two more points from the Falcons made MSUB call timeout trailing 18-12.
 
Monck's first kill of the day, an ace from Reed and Zoe Bibb's first kill gave MSUB some offense late in the first, but the Falcons would win the first set 25-16.
 
In the second, Olivia Schwartz came off the bench and gave MSUB a spark with a pair of kills, plus Mahowald added one more as the Yellowjackets tied the game at eight. Reed tied the game at nine, then Hayden registered her first kill and Hashbarger dialed up yet another ace that gave MSUB a 13-10 lead.
 
Although MSUB took a 16-13 lead midway through the set, the Falcons went on a 6-0 run to pull ahead. Kills from Monck and Reed, then an SPU error kept the score close at 20-19, Falcons, which only set up MSUB's dramatic comeback in the second set. Trailing 23-21, Monck lit up SPU's defense and notched four kills in the final seven points of the second set. SPU tied the game at 24, but MSUB won the next point and won the set with an emphatic block from Olivia Schwartz and Mahowald.
 
Reed had the hot hand in set three, as her kill and an ace helped MSUB kick off the set on a 4-1 run. Mahowald's kill and an ace from Monck helped MSUB take a 6-2 lead, then a long SPU serve made the score 7-3, 'Jackets. But SPU climbed back into the game with an 8-1 run, which was halted by Hannah Hayden's kill to pull MSUB within three at 12-9.
 
Schwartz then stepped up for MSUB, recording two kills and helping out Mahowald on the block to make the score 15-14, SPU. The 'Jackets would tie the set at 17-all off an SPU error then get one more point on the board thanks to Reed before falling in the third set 25-18.
 
MSUB once again started out strong in the fourth set – all thanks to kills from Reed, Mahowald and Hayden, plus an ace from Kennedy Juranek for good measure – and quickly doubled up SPU 10-5. The 'Jackets kept their foot on the accelerator and took an 18-10 lead off Hashbarger's second kill, but then SPU started chipping away. Monck's 10^th kill, a block from Mahowald and Monck, then Schwartz's s sixth kill put MSUB ahead 21-18, yet the Falcons tied the game at 21. Reed willed MSUB closer to the finish line with two more kills, however, SPU went on a 3-0 run to win the fourth set 25-23.
 
THE BUZZ: Kennedy Juranek was the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for her season-high 13 digs, two assists and a service ace.
 
UP NEXT: MSUB's final homestand against Western Washington and Simon Fraser is next week. The Vikings come to town on Thursday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m., then Simon Fraser visits for MSUB's Senior Day on Saturday, Nov. 13 at noon. Links to live stats and video can be found on msubsports.com.