BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings volleyball team was swept in straight sets (19-25, 18-25, 11-25) by the No. 9 Western Washington University Vikings in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on Thursday night at Alterowitz Gym.
 
The Yellowjackets (7-19, 0-17 GNAC) were unable to come away with a victory to start their final homestand of the season, while a win for the Vikings (20-5, 15-2 GNAC) was their 15th in a row against MSUB.
 
Caty Havekost led MSUB with eight kills in the game, while Hannah Hayden was second with six. Paiten Langston had four blocks for the 'Jackets. Jahsita Fa'ali'i had 10 digs, with Kennedy Juranek adding nine. Hannah Hashbarger and Alexis King were nearly identical in assists, with 12 and 11 respectively.
 
The first set opened with both teams trading leads, until a late run put Western Washington ahead with a big enough gap to stave off a Yellowjacket comeback. The second set followed the same script, with one big Viking run putting the set just out of reach for MSUB. It would be execution that separated the two teams, with MSUB's .096 hitting percentage coming far short of WWU's .360 number.
 
Set three would be a dominant showing by the Vikings, who almost immediately took control of the set and didn't look back. Calley Heilborn had 12 kills and 13 digs, leading the Vikings in both categories. Gabby Gunterman had 11 kills to her name. Anna Maracich and Gabby Kepley each tied for a team high three blocks. Malia Aleaga had 34 assists and 10 digs in the game, and Abby May collected four aces.
 
THE BUZZ: Hayden was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game.
 
UP NEXT: MSUB has one game remaining on its schedule this season, taking place at home on Saturday, November 12 at 1 p.m. against Simon Fraser University, where they will honor their senior players and hope to send them off with a victory.