ELLENSBURG, Wash.- The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket volleyball team (3-18) faced off against the #18 Central Washington University Wildcats (13-6). The nationally ranked Wildcats played flawlessly at home, taking down the 'Jackets 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25- 8).
 
In the opening set the Yellowjackets got out to a 2-0 lead out of the gate thanks to a pair of errors by Central Washington. The #18 team in the nation didn't worry as they went on a 12-2 run of their own take the lead with authority. CWU looked flawless across the board in in the first set, putting up 25 digs, 16 kills, a .357 hitting percentage as a team to help lead them to a 25-13 win over the 'Jackets. Hannah Hayden led the way offensively with 3 kills in the first set, and Emma Fa'alogo had a notable 9 assists.
 
It was the Wildcats getting ahead early and the Yellowjackets battling back to tie up the match in the second set. The 'Jackets were showing some life, as Julia Gordon had 4 kills and a .667 hitting percentage at this point in the game; Hayden with 4 kills and a .444 hitting percentage, and Fa'alogo with 11 assists with more to come. Even with some offensive improvements by the 'Jackets It still was not enough to compete with another impressive 15 kills, and a .387 hitting percentage by CWU to take the second set 25-16.
 
The Yellowjackets battled but hurt themselves in the third set having 11 attacking errors, and a -.265 hitting percentage. The Wildcats, already one of the top teams in the nation, proved difficult to beat at home as they were able to take the third set 25-8 and win the match 3-0.
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Hannah Hayden- 6 kills, .250 hitting percentage
Paiten Langston- 4 kills, .214 hitting percentage, 2.0 total blocks
Christine Funk- 13 digs, 2 assists
 
THE BUZZ: Emma Fa'alogo was awarded Intermountain Health Player of the game. Fa'alogo posted another double-double with 18 assists, and 10 digs.
 
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket volleyball team returns home for a GNAC matchup against the University of Alaska Fairbanks on October 26^th at 7 PM.