Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BILLINGS, Mont.- The Montana State University Yellowjacket volleyball team (4-3) fell short in both of their matches, falling short to South Dakota School of Mines (3-3) 3-1 (25-19, 20-25, 25-23, 25-8), and to the University of Sioux Falls (3-3) 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-18).
 
HEAR FROM COACH WILLIAMS: "The day didn't go as well as we wanted but I think we have a lot of positives to take away. In the first match, we were right there and just didn't have a few points go out way. We had a strong offense for the most part, and scrappy defense, especially in the second and third set but just fell short. In the second match, I felt we came out a bit flat but got it going and put together a good fight. We played two good teams today and overall, we got better as we get closer to GNAC play. We are excited to get back at it tomorrow and finish the road trip on a positive note."
 
On the opening match of the day, senior libero Christine Funk extended her career dig total and now sits second all-time in the MSUB record books with 1,416. Jahsita Fa'ali'i also did her fair share on the offensive end, totaling 25 kills on the day, paired with 15 digs, and two service aces. The Yellowjackets, for the first time of the season struggled to get offensive consistency, hitting just .045 in their first game, and .106 in the second game of the day.
 
GAME 1
The Yellowjackets first game of the day started as if South Dakota Mines was going to win it in three straight sets after taking the opening set 25-19. This was not the case, even after a 7-1 deficit to start the second set the 'Jackets went on a 13-3 run to take a 14-10 lead, back behind Julia Gordon who had a pair of kills and aces in the stretch. From there, the Yellowjackets extended their lead and ultimately won the set 25-20 after Jahsita Fa'ali'i drilled it home with another kill. It was MSUB jumping out to an early 4-1 lead in the third set of the match. The contest was everything you could ask for, both teams trading punches. The Hardrockers were first to match point but the 'Jackets scored back-to-back points to make it a 24-23 ballgame. This was not enough as South Dakota mines went on to take the set 25-23. The Hardrockers carried their momentum into the fourth set, taking it 25-8 and ultimately winning the match 3-1.
 
GAME 2
The opening set was a true back-and-forth to start the game, both teams knotted up the game eight different times until Sioux Falls took a 10-8 lead. The Yellowjackets kept the set within three points until a late 9-3 run from Sioux Falls to take the first set 25-17. The second frame opened the same except it was MSUB gaining an early 11-9 lead backed behind Gordon and Stella Scott, who recorded her fist career kill in a Yellowjacket uniform. The 'Jackets held their three-point lead until the 20-point mark, until Sioux Falls came storming back on a 4-0 run to retake the lead. After retaking their lead, the Cougars didn't look back, taking the second set 25-22. Sioux Falls carried their momentum into the third set, after taking a 3-2 lead the Cougars led for the entirety of the set and eventually claimed victory 25-18.
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
GAME 1:
Jahsita Fa'ali'i – 15 Kills, 9 Digs, 1 SA
Julia Gordon – 7 Kills, 4 SA, 6 digs, 3 total blocks
Addie Allen – 15 Assists, 12 Digs
Emma Fa'alogo – 17 Assists, 4 Digs
Jordin Taulua – 8 Kills, 9 Digs, 1 SA
Bailey Nichols – 9 Kills, 4 Digs, 1 total block
GAME 2:
Jahsita Fa'ali'i – 10 Kills, 6 Digs, 1 SA, 1 BA
Jordin Taulua – 7 Kills, 5 Digs
Julia Gordon – 6 Kills, 1 SA, 1 BS, 1 BA, 1 Dig
Christine Funk – 15 Digs, 4 Assists
Addie Allen – 10 Assists, 9 Digs, 1 SA
 
THE BUZZ
GAME 1: Christine Funk was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting 19 digs, four assists, and two service aces.
GAME 2: Emma Fa'alogo was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting 11 assists, one kill, and one block assist.
 
UP NEXT: The 'Jackets wrap up their Yellow Jacket Classic slate with their final match of the tournament against the University of Minnesota Crookston at 1:30 PM in Spearfish, SD.