BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings volleyball team concluded their season with a loss against the Simon Fraser University Red Leafs (21-25, 15-25, 25-19, 15-25) on Saturday afternoon at Alterowitz Gym.
 
After honoring seniors Skylar Reed and Hannah Hashbarger before the game started, the Yellowjackets (7-20, 0-18 GNAC) played hard, taking a set off the Red Leafs (13-14, 10-8 GNAC). But ultimately the home team would come up short, losing in four sets to end their season.
 
Playing in her final game as a Yellowjacket, Hashbarger had 24 assists and eight digs, even picking up a block from the setter position. Caty Havekost had 11 kills to lead the 'Jackets. Jahsita Fa'ali'i finished with 10 kills, and a team high 11 digs. Freshman Emma Burlingame had five kills and four blocks for MSUB. She was one of three players who tied for MSUB block leaders, joined by Hannah Hayden and Paiten Langston.
 
MSUB kept the first set close throughout, until a mid-set run from Simon Fraser gave it the push it needed to jump out to a 1-0 lead. The 'Jackets made it difficult, doubling Simon Fraser in blocks during the set (6-3), but Simon Fraser succeeded by limiting errors, which ultimately hurt the 'Jackets. Set two was where the Red Leafs would truly take control early, with a hitting percentage 400 points better than MSUB.
 
The hosts breathed new life into the match in set three though. MSUB played one of their best stretches of volleyball this season, putting Simon Fraser behind quickly. The Red Leafs would try to rally, but after a late timeout by MSUB, Langston put the team on her back, collecting a kill and ace in succession to keep the 'Jackets alive. They carried that momentum into set four, jumping out to an early lead. But after hanging tough, Simon Fraser would swing momentum in their favor, closing out the set victorious and ending MSUB's season.
 
Brooke Dexter's 15 kills would pace all players in the game, as did her 12 digs. Jocelyn Sherman was right behind her, with 11 kills and digs. Sherman, along with Abby Willett and Miriam Jauhiainen, collected four blocks for Simon Fraser. Eva Person had 32 assists.
 
THE BUZZ: Langston was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…MSUB's all time record against SFU now sits at 7-19…Hashbarger finishes her Yellowjacket career fourth all time in assists.