BILLINGS, Mont.- The Montana State University Yellowjacket volleyball team (6-4; 0-1 GNAC) fell 3-1 to the Seattle Pacific Falcons (1-8; 1-0 GNAC) in their 2024 conference opener.
 
HEAR FROM COACH WILLIAMS: "We struggled to get started against a tough SPU team.  We never got going offensively and struggled to finish points.  I was proud of the way we fought back, and I thought we passed really well the entire day. We are excited to get back to it next week against two great GNAC opponents." 
 
Despite having an 0-8 start to their season, the projected 2024 GNAC volleyball champions, the Seattle Pacific Falcons showed their best stuff in their first conference game of the season. The Falcons proved why they were picked to top the GNAC this season, holding the 'Jackets to a -.050 hitting percentage as well as out blocking MSUB 13-7.
 
The Yellowjackets found their success serving the ball, besting the Falcons in total service aces 8-6. The 'Jackets also found success late in the match, holding SPU to under a .100 hitting percentage in the final two sets. Julia Gordon and Bailey Nichols led the way offensively, posting nine kills apiece. Gordon also hit a team best .389 with four blocks and a service ace. Christine Funk inched closer to the MSUB career digs record after posting a team leading 16 digs with two service aces.
 
SET ONE
The Falcons came out swinging in the opening set of the match, scoring eight unanswered points to start the game. The Yellowjackets battled back with a 6-3 run of their own behind a pair of service aces from Jordin Taulua but Seattle Pacific quickly answered with another five straight points. MSUB was able to put a few more points on the board but it was the Falcons taking the first set 25-12.
 
SET TWO
The 'Jackets flipped the script in the second set, jumping out to an early 9-2 lead behind a pair of kills from Bailey Nichols and a pair of service aces from Christine Funk. The Falcons battled back with a 7-2 run of their own but again, Nichols led the MSUB offense on another 9-3 run to take a 20-12 lead. Seattle Pacific threatened late in the set, but the Yellowjackets took it 25-20, evening up the match at 1-1.
 
SET THREE
The third frame of the match was back and forth volleyball to start the set, with no lead more than two points until SPU went up 9-7. SPU extended their lead in the middle part of the set after an impressive 9-2 run. The Yellowjackets tallied a few more points behind Stella Scott but it was not enough, dropping the third set 25-12.
 
SET FOUR
The Falcons carried their momentum into the fourth set, getting ahead to an early 7-1 lead but MSUB quickly responded with four straight points to bringing their deficit within just two points. Behind the serve of Jahsita Fa'ali'i, the 'Jackets scored seven straight unanswered points to tie the set back up at 15 apiece. From there it was back-and-forth until the final point, but it was SPU pulling ahead to win the set 25-22.
 
STATISTIC LEADERS
KILLS: Julia Gordon (9); Bailey Nichols (9)
ASSISTS: Addie Allen (19); Emma Fa'alogo (11)
DIGS: Christine Funk (16); Jahsita Fa'ali'i (13)
BLOCKS: Jordin Taulua (5); Julia Gordon (4); Stella Scott (4)
ACES: Jahsita Fa'ali'i (2); Christine Funk (2); Jordin Taulua (2)
 
THE BUZZ: Julia Gordon was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting nine kills with a .38p hitting percentage, four blocks, and one service ace.
 
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings volleyball team hits the road for a pair of GNAC matchups. The Yellowjackets play Central Washington in Ellensburg, WA on Thursday, September 26^th at 8 PM (MT), followed by Northwest Nazarene in Nampa, ID on Saturday, September 28^th at 1 PM.