NAMPA, Ida.- The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket volleyball team (3-17) faced off against the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks (9-9). After a nail-biting opening set the Nighthawks took the match 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-13).
 
The Yellowjackets came out hot in the first set getting ahead 12-8 early behind Olivia Schwartz with a pair of kills, and Paiten Langston with a pair of service aces. The Nighthawks would battle back notching the match at 15 apiece, from there it was a true back-and-forth battle. Both teams were battling to take an edge but were tied up 15 times during the set. Ultimately, NNU had a late 3-0 run to take the set 25-22.
 
The 'Jackets continued to serve the ball well as Kennedy Juranek, Emma Fa'alogo, and Paiten Langston all contributed a service ace. However, their offense struggled as they had 10 attacking errors and a -.059 hitting percentage. The Yellowjackets fought to stay in it, but the Nighthawks attack was nearly flawless. NNU had 13 kills and an impressive .367 hitting percentage as a team and were able to take the second set 25-15.
 
The 'Jackets came out firing in the third set getting ahead 8-3 early thanks to a pair of kills by Langston and a kill by freshman Marissa Allen. The Nighthawks would come storming back on a 15-4 run to take the lead 18-12 behind Miya Koch and Londyn Giles who had 23 kills combined on the night. The Nighthawks were able to extend their lead, taking the set 25-15 and winning the match 3-0.
 
 
THE BUZZ: Paiten Langston was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game. Langston tallied a team leading 6 kills, 3 service aces, and 3 total blocks.
 
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket volleyball team is back on the road again for a GNAC matchup against the Central Washington University Wildcats in Ellensburg, WA.