BILLINGS, Mont.- The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket volleyball team (3-20) faced off against the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves (13-15). The nail-biting match was decided in three sets with the Seawolves walking away with the win (25-23, 25-23, 25-14),
 
The Seawolves came out of the gate firing getting ahead early to a 7-1 lead. It didn't last long as the 'Jackets came storming back behind quality serving from Christine Funk and Avarey Stuff, a pair of kills from Olivia Schwartz and Bailey Nichols, and five team blocks from the Yellowjacket front row to get within one point 14-13 in favor of UAA. In her first career start, it was freshman middle blocker Marissa Allen who led the block party with three block assists. The Seawolves started to find their groove again behind junior right-side Isabel Evans who had an efficient three kills on four attempts. The 'Jackets' stayed in it the whole set but were not able to complete the comeback, dropping the set 25-23.
 
It was the 'Jackets who struck first in the second set of the match and getting ahead to an early 4-0 lead behind the serve of senior Kennedy Juranek. Another help was Allen who was building her resume with two kills, a .333 hitting percentage, and 3 block assists at this point in the match. Both squads were showing notable offensive stats at this point in the match, but the Yellowjackets defense was stellar, posting 12 block assists and 26 digs as a team. With the set notched up at 20, the Seawolves pulled away being the first to match point. The 'Jackets battled back again with four consecutive points but ultimately fell 25-23 in favor of UAA.
 
The Seawolves opened the third set playing the best volleyball they had shown all day getting ahead 11-6 behind a combination of efficient attacks, a pair of service aces, and capitalizing on MSUB errors. Anchorage kept their momentum outperforming the 'Jackets across the board and taking the third set 25-14, claiming a 3-0 win. Despite the three-set loss the Yellowjackets showed some of their best team volleyball with notable performances across the board.
 
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Bailey Nichols – 9 kills, 4 block assists
Emma Fa'alogo – 22 assists, 2 service aces
Christine Funk – 14 digs, 4 service aces
 
THE BUZZ: Marissa Allen was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game. In Allen's first career start the freshman tallied four kills, a .429 hitting percentage, eight block assists, and eight points.
 
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket volleyball team heads to Bellingham, WA for another GNAC matchup against Western Washington University on November 2^nd.