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BILLINGS, Mont.- Under the leadership of first-year head coach Scott Keister, the Montana State University Billings volleyball team is gearing up for a strong 2025 season. With key returning players and a talented freshman class, the Yellowjackets aim to build on their 2024 performance. For a full preseason interview, visit our YouTube channel or click here.
 
First serve for the Yellowjackets is set for September 11^th against Minot State for the 1^st Interstate Bank Homecoming Classic in Minot, ND. Following, the 'Jackets head into conference play with their home opener on September 18^th against Alaska Anchorage. The annual Rimrock Rivalry against Rocky Mountain College is back in full force with games on September 30^th in Alterowitz Gym and November 4^th at the Fortin Center.
 
The September 30 match against Rocky Mountain will also mark the team's second annual Intermountain Health Kids Night, where fans are encouraged to bring new toys and stuffed animals to donate to the pediatric unit at Intermountain Health St. Vincent. Additional highlights include the #HiveGame presented by MSUB SAAC on November 13 and Senior Day on November 15, celebrating the contributions of the team's graduating players.
 
"This group has really ignited a new passion for coaching within me," said coach Keister. "It's so wonderful to have a group of young women that are eager to learn, work, and grow each day. They understand that the process is not easy but that they can do hard things, and through hard things come great rewards. It's such a breath of fresh air to work with this group. It's hard to single anyone out at this point because we have only been competing against ourselves and haven't had the stress of an actual match.  Time will tell on who will stand out as we get into our competition portion of our season, but I expect our returners to give us leadership and I our newcomers to contribute immediately. We are small in numbers with 12, but we have great competitions going in every position right now, which is great to see."
 
RETURNING TALENT
 
A Division I transfer from Georgia State, Jordin Taulua made an immediate impact in her first GNAC season, finishing sixth in the conference in kills per set. She returns in 2025 as a key leader on a young and promising squad, joined by middle blocker Stella Scott and defensive specialist Avarey Stuff—both of whom bring valuable experience from the 2024 campaign. Setter/right side attacker Reese Sherwood and middle blocker Marissa Allen also return to the lineup, eager to contribute after missing last season due to injury.
 

• Jordin Taulua - With one full GNAC season under her belt, Taulua aims to build on a standout 2024 performance. She led the team with 285 total kills and averaged 2.97 kills per set, ranking sixth in the conference. She also contributed across the board—fifth on the team in digs (151), third in total blocks (35.0), and fifth in service aces (16).
• Avarey Stuff – Stuff brought consistency on defense and behind the service line, averaging nearly an ace per set with 20 aces over 28 sets. She added 186 digs—fourth-most on the team—and 15 assists.
• Stella Scott – Scott entering into her senior season, is set to anchor the middle once again. In 2024, she recorded 19 blocks, 18 kills, 19 digs, four service aces, and one assist. Looking to make up for lost time, Sherwood and Allen return healthy and motivated, ready to make an impact in the upcoming 2025 season.
• Reese Sherwood – Out last season due to injury, Sherwood is healthy and ready two bring her three years of collegiate volleyball experience from Caldwell University to the table. Sherwood did it all for the Cougars, collecting 11 triple doubles in 2022 (2^nd most in NCAA DII) and led her team in kills, assists, aces, and digs.
• Marissa Allen – Also missing out on the 2024 campaign to injury, Allen enters into her third season with the program and looks to use her experience to help lead the Yellowjackets. In 2023, Allen played in seven matches, collecting 11 kills, 13 total blocks, and 18 total points.

 
COACH KEISTER ON RETURNERS: "I've been really impressed with the work ethic of the returners; I can tell they're hungry for improvement and ready for a new chapter. Anything I ask of them, they do it, without complaining. I can see the daily improvement in each of them and with that daily improvement, the confidence level improves right along with it."
 
 
MEET THE NEWCOMERS
 

• Tehani Moniz – An outside hitter from Las Vegas, NV, Moniz joins MSUB as a freshman transfer from Division I Norfolk State University. At Nevada State High School, she was a two-year varsity letter winner under head coach Ricky Williams. Moniz posted 74 kills with a .346 hitting percentage and racked up 104 aces during her senior season. She competed with the Las Vegas Aces club team in 2023–24 and earned a bronze medal at the 18s Nationals.
• Kenzie Allen – Hailing from Fort Shaw, MT, Allen comes to the Yellowjackets from Fairfield High School, where she was a standout multi-sport athlete. She lettered four times in volleyball and track & field, and five times in basketball. Her volleyball accolades include Second Team All-Conference honors as a freshman, First Team All-Conference and All-State recognition as a sophomore, and Best Offensive Player honors in her junior year. In basketball, Allen was a three-time First Team All-Conference selection, and she also earned three All-State selections in track & field.
• Allie Dorman – An outside hitter from Colorado Springs, CO, Dorman joins MSUB from Pine Creek High School, where she played under head coach Molly Stowers. A four-year varsity letter winner, Dorman was named First Team All-Conference twice and was selected as her team's Most Valuable Player in back-to-back seasons. Off the court, she maintained honor roll status throughout all four years of high school.
• Avarie Gutierrez – A defensive specialist/libero from Cheyenne, WY, Gutierrez arrives at MSUB after a successful career at Cheyenne Central High School under head coach Jessica Bratton-Vega. A four-year letter winner, she led the 4A East Conference in digs as a senior (348) and ranked among the top 10 in service aces and assists. In 2024, she was named the 4A Defensive Player of the Year, 4A East Defensive Player of the Year, 4A All-State, and 4A East First Team All-Conference.
• Addison Holcomb – An outside hitter from Powell, WY, Holcomb joins the Yellowjackets from Powell High School, where she played under head coach Anna Flitner. A four-year varsity letter winner, she earned All-State and All-Conference honors in Wyoming's Class 3A during her senior season. Holcomb was also a First Team All-Midwest League selection in both 2022 and 2023 and appeared on the OSAA Top Kills list in both years.
• Adrienne Magdaleno – A defensive specialist/libero from San Bernardino, CA, Magdaleno comes to MSUB from Cajon High School. A three-time varsity letter winner, she played under coaches Paula Bougie and Cheyenne Vollkommer and helped lead the Cowboys to a 65–45 overall record. Magdaleno earned Honorable Mention All-League as a sophomore, Second Team All-League and team captain honors as a senior and led the league in service aces with 64 during her junior year.

 
COACH KEISTER ON THE NEWCOMERS: "We have a large group of newcomers, but I haven't really noticed that too much because even the "returners" are new to me as well. We really only have three returners that have court experience from last year so it's going to be a completely new look to our opponents. The nice part about such a large group of newcomers though is that none of them get to sit in the shadows. We need them to step up and contribute now. Several of them have really stepped up in that role and are doing great things in practice and we hope to see that trend as we start competing next week."
 
As he begins his first season as head coach of the MSUB volleyball program, Coach Keister brings 22 years of collegiate coaching experience to the role, aiming to lead the team to its first winning season since 2009. He most recently served as head coach at Northwest College (WY) for four years, compiling an 87-63 record. Prior to that, he spent seven seasons at Salt Lake Community College, where he helped the team make three NJCAA National Tournament appearances and capture two region titles. Supporting him for the 2025 season will be returning graduate assistant Lacey Juengel, who enters her second year in the role.
 
"Coming into a conference that is so strong is going to be a lot of fun," said coach Keister. "I have only heard other's perspectives on the level of play in the conference so I'm excited to see it firsthand. We will keep most of the focus on our own team this year though as we need to improve our level of game. We need to control the controllables and get a handle on that and then we can start to focus a little more each time on our opponents. We have really seen some great things in practice from our players, and we are excited to get the season started."
 
SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS

• The Yellowjackets will get their 2025 season started on Friday, September 11^th for the 1^st Interstate Bank Homecoming Classic, hosted by Minot State. MSUB will face off against the Beavers at 10 AM (MT), followed by a 2 PM (MT) matchup against Brandon University (Canada). Day two of the tournament will feature the 'Jackets will square off against the University of Mary at 7 AM (MT) and will cap off the four-game tournament against the University of Manitoba (Canada) at 11 AM (MT) with all games played at the Minot State Dome.

 

• Following  the 1^st Interstate Bank Homecoming Classic, the 'Jackets will jump right into GNAC competition with their home opener against the University of Alaska Fairbanks on September 18^th at 7 PM and the University of Alaska Anchorage on September 20^th at 1 PM. Including the home opening week, GNAC play consists of 18 total games, nine home and nine away until NCAA postseason competition starts on December 4^th for the West Region Tournament.

 

• The Rimrock Rivalry is back in action with the Yellowjackets looking to repeat their 2024 performance against the Battlin' Bears, winning both matches 3-1. The 'Jackets host the first matchup in Alterowitz on September 30^th at 7 PM, followed by Rocky Mountain College hosting the second matchup on November 4^th at 7 PM.

 
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