BILLINGS, Mont. – Kicking off its busiest week of the 2021 spring season, the Montana State University Billings volleyball team hosts Rocky Mountain College Wednesday night to start a stretch of five matches over the span of eight days.
 
The rematch between the Yellowjackets and Battlin' Bears is set for 5 p.m. on Wednesday evening, with live video available online here and live statistics available online here. Per Great Northwest Athletic Conference mandate, no fans are allowed at MSUB home volleyball games this spring.
 
"We haven't played this many games in a very long time, and just getting the competition outside of our own gym is really important for us," said Williams. "They got the best of us at their place, and we are really excited to play Rocky on our own court. Against them last time we looked really great in some areas, but we were a little bit sloppy and it looked like our first match. I'm looking forward to playing them after a couple weeks of practice and cleaning up our game a little bit."
 
"Celebrating Maddi is going to be a huge point for that night," Williams commented on the team's home finale on March 18. "Maddi has put so much into the program, and the last four years she has been here have been great. I'm sad to see her go, but I'm proud of the legacy she has left on MSUB volleyball."
 
"We are excited for the rematch, and we know them better now than we did in the beginning," Vigil commented on Wednesday's game against the Bears. "
 
"It's going to be very emotional," Vigil commented on her final two home matches as a Yellowjacket. "I'm excited, but I'm sad that I have to leave everybody. It has been the best experience of my life, and I wouldn't change it for anything. COVID kind of threw a wrench into my plans, but I'm excited to finish out this year with my best friends.
 
"We haven't had this many matches in a long time, so to compile it all in one week is pretty exciting," said Vigil. "Being able to play this many different teams and getting these reps in competition is huge. It helps set a standard for our freshman of the different types of teams that we will see."
 
Yellowjacket Volleyball Schedule at a Glance
Wednesday, March 10 – 5 PM – Rocky Mountain College
Sunday, March 14 – 2 PM – vs. University of Mary (at Spearfish, SD)
Sunday, March 14 – 5 PM – at Black Hills State
Monday, March 15 – 7 PM – at South Dakota Mines
Thursday, March 18 – 5 PM – Miles Community College
 
The Yellowjackets (0-1) last competed on Feb. 23 with a four-set defeat in a road match against Rocky Mountain College. After the upcoming stretch of matches, MSUB is scheduled to close its campaign on March 30 with a road contest at Carroll College in Helena.
 
FINAL TWO HOME MATCHES FOR VIGIL: Fourth-year senior Maddi Vigil will play her final two home matches for the Yellowjackets, as she enters the week with 89 matches played since the fall of 2017. Vigil ranks 10th in MSUB history with 925 career kills, and in the match against Rocky became the eighth player in school history to reach 1,000 career digs. Vigil had 13 kills and 16 digs in the match against Rocky, as she is coming off the 35th double-double of her Yellowjacket career.
 
MAHOWALD LEADS ATTACK VS. BEARS: Senior middle blocker Joelle Mahowald led MSUB with 15 kills in the match against Rocky, posting an attack percentage of .357 last time out. Mahowald also had a team-high three block assists against the Bears.
 
MONCK REACHES DOUBLE FIGURES: MSUB's other player in double digits in the attack was Bayli Monck, who wound up with a dozen kills against Rocky. Monck had the 19th double-double of her career as she added in 12 digs, and also had a solo block and a block assist at the net.
 
JURANEK SOLID IN DEBUT: True freshman Kennedy Juranek led the Yellowjackets with 23 digs in the match against Rocky, playing 3 of 4 sets in the libero jersey. Juranek also had a pair of service aces and three assists in her official collegiate debut.
 
HAYDEN LOUD ON BLOCK: Sophomore Hannah Hayden led MSUB with a pair of solo blocks in the most recent match, as she was one shy of her career high of three. She added six kills in the well-rounded performance.
 
HASHBARGER HANDS OUT ASSISTS: Sophomore setter Hannah Hashbarger led all players with 50 assists against Rocky, and completed the ninth double-double of her career by adding 10 digs on the evening.
 
This Week's Opponents
 
Rocky Mountain College
Date: Wednesday, March 10 – 5 PM – Alterowitz Gym (Billings, MT)
2021 Record: 12-1
Last Week: Won at Montana Tech 3-1 (March 5) | Won at Montana Tech 3-1 (March 6)
Current Streak: Won 10
Last Meeting: RMC 3, MSUB 1 (February 23, 2021 at RMC)
All-Time Series: MSUB 37, Rocky 21 (MSUB 26-8 in home contests)
 

---

University of Mary
Date: Sunday, March 14 – 2 PM – at Donald E. Young Center (Spearfish, SD)
2021 Record: 0-0
Last Week: Matches on March 6 canceled
Current Streak: Won 0
Last Meeting: MSUB 3, Mary 0 (September 5, 2014 at Billings, MT)
All-Time Series: MSUB 4, Mary 2 (MSUB 2-0 in neutral site contests)
 

---

Black Hills State University
Date: Sunday, March 14 – 5 PM – at Donald E. Young Center (Spearfish, SD)
2021 Record: 3-4
Last Week: Lost at Colorado Christian 3-1 (March 6)
Current Streak: Lost 2
Last Meeting: MSUB 3, Black Hills State 0 (September 6, 2014 at Billings, MT)
All-Time Series: MSUB 6, Black Hills State 0 (MSUB 1-0 in road contests)
 

---

South Dakota School of Mines
Date: Monday, March 15 – 7 PM – at King Center (Rapid City, SD)
2021 Record: 3-6
Last Week: Won at Colorado Christian 3-0 (March 1) | Won vs. Adams State 3-1 (March 1) | Lost at Westminster 3-2 (March 6) | Lost vs. CSU-Pueblo 3-0 (March 6)
Current Streak: Lost 2
Last Meeting: MSUB 3, SD Mines 0 (September 2, 2017 at Minot, ND)
All-Time Series: MSUB 1, SD Mines 0 (MSUB 0-0 in road contests)
 

---

Miles Community College (Exhibition)
Date: Thursday, March 18 – 5 PM – at Alterowitz Gym (Billings, MT)
2020-21 Record: 9-9
Last Week: Lost at ND State College 3-0 (March 1) | Lost at ND State College 3-0 (March 2) | Won vs. Lake Region State College 3-1 (March 8)
Current Streak: Won 1
Last Meeting: None.
All-Time Series: MSUB 0, Miles CC 0.