BILLINGS, Mont.- The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket volleyball team (7-18, 0-15 GNAC) fell in three (25-15, 25-17, 25-23) to the Simon Fraser Red Leaf's (16-5, 12-2 GNAC) after a heartbreaking third set loss. Prior to the first serve, MSUB honored their two seniors
Christine Funk and
Jahsita Fa'ali'i before playing in their final home volleyball match of their careers.
The two seniors showed out for all of their family and friends in attendance with Fa'ali'i leading the team in kills (8) with eight digs and one block, and Funk leading the team in digs with 19 (6.22 digs per set) and three assists. Following Fa'ali'i on the offensive end was
Jordan Northcutt with seven kills while hitting a team best .429 with two digs, and
Bailey Nichols who also posted seven kills.
At the net, the Yellowjackets dominated, out blocking the Red Leaf's 11-8 behind
Julia Gordon who had four alone. Also tallying to their total blocks was Nichols, Northcutt, and
Aliah Williams who had two apiece. Dishing the rock was
Addie Allen who posted a team high of 14 assists with seven digs, followed by
Emma Fa'alogo with 13 assists and four digs.
The opening set of the afternoon started as a back-and-forth battle with both squads tied up until eight apiece until the Red Leaf's went on a 13-4 run, leading them to a 25-15 victory. Simon Fraser carried their momentum into the second frame, downing the 'Jackets 25-17. The third set was a different story, as the Yellowjackets jumped ahead to an early 7-3 lead. The Red Leaf's would come back to tie it up at 16-all but the 'Jackets went on another 5-1 run backed behind Fa'ali'i who had two kills in the stretch. Following was heartbreak for MSUB as Simon Fraser went on a late 7-1 run to take the third set 25-23 and ultimately winning the match.
STATISTIC LEADERS
KILLS: Jahsita Fa'ali'i (8); Two players tied (7)
ASSISTS: Addie Allen (14);
Emma Fa'alogo (13)
DIGS: Christine Funk (19);
Jahsita Fa'ali'i (8)
BLOCKS: Julia Gordon (4); Three players tied (2)
THE BUZZ: Christine Funk was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting 19 digs with three assists.
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings volleyball team hits the road for a pair of GNAC matchups at Western Oregon on November 14
th and Saint Martin's on November 16
th.
