BILLINGS, Mont. – Concluding their three game homestand, the Montana State University Billings volleyball team was defeated in three sets (17-25, 14-25, 24-26) against the Western Oregon University Wolves in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match Saturday at Alterowitz Gym.
The Wolves (6-9, 2-5 GNAC) controlled the first two sets of the game but were put on the ropes late by the Yellowjackets (7-9, 0-8). Ultimately those efforts would fall just short for the home team as Western Oregon would hold on to take the game in straight sets.
Sarah Crowell finished the game with a game high 17 kills for the Wolves. Madison Hornback had eight kills, along with a team leading nine digs. Sophia Casarez contributed 18 assists and also collected an ace, while four different Wolves had at least two blocks.
For the Yellowjackets, Olivia Schwartz had 12 kills to lead the team. Christine Funk had four aces to go with 12 digs and five assists. Lily Gentz totaled three blocks, while Hannah Hashbarger had 22 assists.
In the opening set, it would be the Wolves who jumped out to a quick advantage, taking the first five points of the game. That start would set the tone for Western Oregon, which would keep its foot on the gas for the rest of the set. Their 14 kills, along with seven MSUB attacking errors, would prove to be more than enough in a set where the 'Jackets couldn't overcome their slow start.
MSUB would gain an early lead in set two, but Western Oregon wouldn't stay down for long. After being tied at 6-6, the Wolves would take back control of the game, outscoring the Yellowjackets 19-8 the rest of the way.
Set three was a back and forth, tightly contested affair. It would be the Wolves though who would find a way to close it out late, seeing off an MSUB team motivated to keep the game going. Down 24-23 with the 'Jackets one point away from taking the set, Western Oregon found a way to steal the set away and end the game, rattling of three straight points to go home victorious.
Caty Havekost contributed nine kills for MSUB, while Avary Spoja chipped in a pair of kills and a block assist in a solid performance off the bench. WOU hit a strong .348 in the match compared to a mark of .121 by the Yellowjackets, and the Wolves held a narrow 5-4 advantage in blocking.
THE BUZZ: Funk was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…the Yellowjackets now hold an all-time record of 12-21 against the Wolves.
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets face off against Seattle Pacific University on the road next Saturday, with live coverage available online here.
