BILLINGS, Mont.- The Montana State University Billings volleyball team (1-11, 0-7 GNAC) picked up their first conference set win of the season but ultimately fell 3-1 (25-18, 20-25, 25-15, 25-18) to the Seattle Pacific Falcons (7-8, 2-5 GNAC) earlier this afternoon in Alterowitz Gym.
Backed behind
Jordin Taulua who hit an impressive .342 with 16 kills, the Yellowjackets found success early hitting over .100 in the first two sets but struggled to find consistency in the third and fourth set. MSUB also dominated the net, edging the Falcons 9-7 in team total blocks behind middle blockers
Stella Scott and
Marissa Allen who had four apiece.
Several Yellowjackets also delivered standout efforts.
Izzy Ping had a breakout match, tallying 17 digs, six kills, and a service ace.
Addison Holcomb added 12 digs, four kills, and three blocks, while
Kenzie Allen recorded 21 assists, seven digs, two service aces, and three kills.
Stella Scott also contributed with four blocks, three kills, and one ace.
HEAR FROM COACH KEISTER: "Really proud of their effort, especially being down a few players due to injury. Izzy and Adrienne really stepped up when we needed them. It was great to see Jordin put a great game together and I'm proud of how she led the team out there."
After dropping the opening set 25-18 following a late 5-1 surge by Seattle Pacific, the Yellowjackets were eager to bounce back—and they did just that. MSUB secured their first set win in conference play, taking the second set 25-20 to even the match at 1-1.
The second set was marked by momentum swings. MSUB struck first with a 4-1 run, fueled by a pair of kills from Taulua. SPU quickly answered with a four-point swing to grab a 5-4 lead, but another 7-1 rally led by Taulua pushed the 'Jackets ahead 11-6. The teams traded points until the Falcons strung together a late 7-1 run to tie things up at 18. Regrouping, the 'Jackets capitalized on three SPU attacking errors and closed out the set on a 7-2 run.
The third set belonged to Seattle Pacific from the start. The Falcons opened with a lead and never looked back, stretching the gap to as much as 12 points before claiming the set 25-15.
MSUB responded with energy in the fourth, racing out to a 6-2 lead behind the strong serving of
Stella Scott. A kill from
Izzy Ping and an ace by Taulua extended the lead to five, but SPU countered with a 6-0 run to take a 9-8 advantage. The set stayed tight until the Falcons caught fire again, closing with a 9-2 run to seal the set and the match victory.
STATISTIC LEADERS
Kills: Jordin Taulua (16);
Izzy Ping (6)
Hitting Percentage: Jordin Taulua (.342)
Assists: Kenzie Allen (21)
Blocks: Stella Scott (4);
Marissa Allen (4)
Aces: Kenzie Allen (2); Three players tied (1)
Digs: Izzy Ping (17);
Addison Holcomb (12)
THE BUZZ: Jordin Taulua was named Intermountain Health Player of the Game after posting 16 kills on a .342 hitting percentage with seven digs, three blocks, one assist, and one service ace.
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket volleyball team hits the road for a Great Northwest Athletic Conference two game stretch, facing off against the Saint Martin's Saints on October 16
th in Lacey, WA and the Western Oregon Wolves on October 18
th in Monmouth, OR.
