ANCHORAGE, Alas.- The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket volleyball team (7-15, 0-12 GNAC) fell on Halloween night to the University of Alaska Fairbanks (16-6, 8-4 GNAC) in three nail biting sets (25-22, 25-17, 25-21).
 
Despite the three-set loss, the Yellowjackets played some of their best volleyball compared to their most recent contests. Two of the three sets were decided by four points or less and it was due to offensive efficiency. The 'Jackets had three players with at least eight kills in the three-set match, including an eight kill and .500 hitting percentage performance from Julia Gordon.
 
Jahsita Fa'ali'i and Jordan Taulua also pitched in nine kills apiece. Dishing the rock was Emma Fa'alogo who had 17 assists and Addie Allen who had a double-double with 14 assists and 10 digs. On the defensive side, Christine Funk totaled 10 digs and Aliah Williams posted another six-block performance, followed by Jordan Northcutt and Bailey Nichols with two apiece.
 
The Yellowjackets got out to a hot start in the last frontier, taking an early 6-3 lead backed behind kills from Taulua, Nichols, and Gordon. The 'Jackets continued to hold their three-point lead until Taulua added third kill of the set with a trio of errors from the Nanooks, giving MSUB to their largest lead of the night 16-9. The Yellowjackets extended their lead to as much as seven, but Fairbanks caught fire, going on an 8-0 run all behind the serve of Rilee White to take their first lead since the third point of the game. The Nanooks went on another 3-1 run to complete the comeback, taking the first set 25-22.
 
The Nanooks carried their momentum into the second set, getting ahead to an early 12-5 lead. The Yellowjackets battled back with kills from Northcutt and Fa'ali'i but Fairbanks continued to extend their lead to as much as 11 after a 6-0 run backed again from the serve of Rilee White. Fa'ali'i added a pair of kills to bring them within seven, but the Nanooks went on to claim the second set 25-17. Fairbanks again got out to an early 6-1 lead in the third set of the night, but MSUB quickly brought it back within two behind a pair of kills from Gordon. The 'Jackets then brought it back within one point 16-17 following a kill from Fa'ali'i and a service ace from Gordon. The Nanooks continued to hold their lead despite the Yellowjackets scoring a pair of match points, but it was Anchorage taking it 25-21.
 
STATISTIC LEADERS
KILLS: Jordin Taulua (9); Jahsita Fa'ali'i (9)
ASSISTS: Emma Fa'alogo (17); Addie Allen (14)
DIGS: Christine Funk (10); Addie Allen (10)
BLOCKS: Aliah Williams (6); Two player tied (2)
 
THE BUZZ: Julia Gordon was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting eight kills with a .500 hitting percentage, one service ace, and one block.
 
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings volleyball team stays in the last frontier for another GNAC matchup against the University of Alaska Anchorage on November 2^nd at 9 PM (MT).