BILLINGS, Mont.- The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket volleyball team (6-8, 0-5 GNAC) fell to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks (12-4 4-2 GNAC) in three sets 25-14, 25-23 and 25-22.
Despite dropping three sets, the Yellowjackets were right there in sets two and three - dropping them by a total of five points. The 'Jackets found themselves down 23-17, but a quick kill by
Jordin Taulua sparked her team to a comeback.
Christine Funk led a service run to bring her team with one point at 24-23, but a Yellowjacket ball handling error gave the Nanooks the set, going up 2-0 in the match. The 'Jackets, having lost four straight to the Nanooks, had plenty of fight still left in them. The third set was back-and-forth the entire time with the Nanooks up by a few points, until a kill by
Aliah Williams tied it at 19-19. Freshman
Jordan Northcutt had two huge kills to get the 'Jackets to 22, but ultimately the Nanooks capitalized on their second match-point and left Alterowitz Gym with a victory.
The Yellowjacket offense had a balanced attack, led by sophomores
Julia Gordon and
Bailey Nichols with 8 kills each. Northcutt added 6 kills, Taulua and Jahsita Fa'ali'l had 3 kills each, and Williams had 2. Freshman setter
Addie Allen had 22 assists while sophomore setter
Emma Fa'alogo added 5.
Libero
Christine Funk had 12 digs on the night, so the senior captain now sits only 2 digs away from claiming the crown and moving into first place in all-time digs in program history. Gina Langer ('96-'99) currently holds the record with 1530 digs over her impressive career, but Funk, the Choteau, Montana native is all set to take over the record on Thursday.
Despite the 3-0 loss, the 'Jackets will look to build off of their late-game momentum on the road next week before returning to Billings for four straight home matches.
STATISTIC LEADERS
KILLS: Julia Gordon (8);
Bailey Nichols (8)
ASSISTS: Addie Allen (22)
DIGS: Christine Funk (12);
Jahsita Fa'ali'I (7),
Avarey Stuff (6)
BLOCKS: Julia Gordon (3)
THE BUZZ: Jordan Northcutt was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting 6 kills, a .222 hitting percentage, two blocks and two digs.
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings volleyball team heads to Canada to take on Simon Fraser on Thursday, October 10th at 8pm (MT)
