SPEARFISH, S.D.- The Montana State University Yellowjacket volleyball team improved their overall record to 5-3 after taking a 3-1 victory (25-16, 25-19, 19-25, 25-21) over the University of Minnesota Crookston (3-5). Since entering the GNAC Conference in 2007, the 'Jackets sit just one victory away from tying their most preseason wins (6) in MSUB history.
 
HEAR FROM COACH WILLIAMS: "This was a great way to end the tournament. We did a great job of maintaining control throughout the match and playing good volleyball. I thought we did a good job of executing out gameplan and our setters did a great job of maintaining tempo throughout the match. It is always fun when things start to click. We are excited for the week ahead and excited to get back into conference play.
 
In their final match of the 2024 Yellow Jacket Classic, MSUB put on a clinic, outperforming the Eagles across the board. The 'Jackets bested Crookston in total points (68-52), total kills (55-46), service aces (7-3), blocks (6-3), total assists (46-43), and digs (90-83). Jordin Taulua was the highlight player of the day, leading the Yellowjackets with a career high 21 kills and paired it with 17 digs, also a career high for the sophomore.
 
 Jahsita Fa'ali'i and Julia Gordon also did a lot of the heavy lifting offensively, combining for 25 kills with Gordon also posting a .333 hitting percentage. Christine Funk again locked down on the defensive side, tallying a team high 25 digs and three service aces. In the setting position, Addie Allen posted a double-double with 26 assists and 11 digs with Emma Fa'alogo also dishing out 15 assists on the day.
 
FIRST SET:
The Yellowjackets opened the first set looking for blood, taking an early 5-1 lead and extending their lead to 14-6 and forcing Crookston to take their first timeout. Taulua led the charge, posting four kills and a service ace during the stretch. MSUB continued their dominance, compiling their advantage to as much as eight points and would coast their way to a 25-16 first set victory.
 
SECOND SET:
The second frame looked to start the same way, until Crookston went on a 5-2 run to take their first lead of the game. It was back-and-forth volleyball for the middle part of the set until the 'Jackets went on a 6-2 run of their own to reclaim a 16-11 lead, backed behind Fa'ali'i who accounted for one third of the six points. From there, the Yellowjackets continued to sustain their lead and capitalized on back-to-back-to-back late errors by the Eagles to take the second set 25-19.
 
SET THREE:
The Eagles didn't lay down in the third set of the match, coming back from an early 6-3 Yellowjacket advantage to take a 13-9 lead, their largest of the day. The 'Jackets brought it back within three points multiple times in the set behind Gordon who had a pair of kills in the stretch, but it was not enough to amount the comeback. Crookston went on to take the third set 25-19 to make it a 2-1 ballgame, still in favor of MSUB.
 
SET FOUR:
The final set of the match started as a true back-and-forth battle, MSUB was leading the match two sets to one, but the Eagles had the momentum from their third set victory. The set stayed within reach for both squads, until the Yellowjackets pulled away with a 9-3 run to take a 20-13 lead. Crookston then came storming back on a 7-2 run of their own, making it a two-point ballgame late in the set. Taulua put the game away, scoring two of the last three points to lead MSUB to a 25-21 win.
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Julia Gordon – 12 Kills, .333 Pct., 4 Blocks, 5 Digs
Jahsita Fa'ali'i – 13 Kills, 11 Digs, 2 SA
Christine Funk – 25 Digs, 3 SA, 3 Assists
Addie Allen – 26 Assists, 11 Digs, 1 SA
 
THE BUZZ: Jordin Taulua was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting a career high, 21 kills and a career high 17 digs. Taulua also posted two blocks, one service ace, and one assist.
 
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings volleyball team is back home on September 17^th at 7 PM for their first Rimrock Rivalry matchup of the year against Rocky Mountain College. In collaboration with Intermountain Health, MSUB is hosting a "Kids Night", encouraging fans to bring stuffed animals for the Teddy Bear Toss between sets two and three. All the stuffed animals will be collected and brought to the pediatric unit by the volleyball team.