BISMARCK, N.D. – The Montana State University Billings volleyball team split its two matches on Friday at the University of Mary Invitational, falling to Black Hills State before earning its first victory of the 2026 season with a four-set win over Western New Mexico at the McDowell Activity Center.
The Yellowjackets dropped the opener to Black Hills State, 25-21, 25-16, 25-18, before responding with a 16-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-23 victory over Western New Mexico. MSUB moved to 1-2 overall after the day's action.
In the victory over Western New Mexico, the 'Jackets totaled 50 kills while recording five service aces and five team blocks. MSUB battled through 32 tie scores and nine lead changes, including a tightly contested third set and a two-point fourth-set victory to close out the match.
"Really proud of our team's effort today," said head coach
Scott Keister. "We had a to work through some early season mental errors in the first match, but they did a great job of correcting those and battled every single point in game two. Our setters did a great job distributing the ball evenly to our hitters while staying aggressive and making adjustments throughout the match."
Allie Dorman led the offense with 14 kills while adding 12 digs for her first double-double of the season.
Emma Fairbairn,
Izzy Ping and
Laina Whitney each added 10 kills, with Whitney posting a team-best .269 hitting percentage while contributing two aces and three total blocks.
Avery Starr directed the offense with 40 assists and added seven digs, while
Avarey Stuff collected 11 digs.
Adrienne Magdaleno chipped in eight digs and an ace.
Against Black Hills State, Whitney paced MSUB with eight kills on a .278 hitting percentage while adding two blocks. Dorman contributed six kills, Fairbairn finished with five, and Ping and
Mikayla Champlin each recorded four. Starr dished out 15 assists,
Aaliyah Gaylord added nine assists, and Magdaleno led the defensive effort with seven digs while serving three aces.
Black Hills State controlled much of the opening match, hitting .394 while limiting the Yellowjackets to a .152 attacking percentage. MSUB stayed within striking distance in the opening set before the 'Jackets fell 25-21. MSUB improved offensively in the second set, hitting .333, but were unable to overcome an early deficit in a 25-16 loss. Black Hills State completed the sweep with a 25-18 victory in the third set.
The Yellowjackets bounced back in the afternoon despite dropping the opening set. Western New Mexico used an early run to claim the first frame, but MSUB answered in the second set behind 13 kills to even the match with a 25-19 win.
The third set featured 14 ties and four lead changes as neither team gained separation. Trailing late, the 'Jackets rallied to edge the Mustangs 26-24 and take a 2-1 match lead.
MSUB finished off the comeback in another close fourth set. The teams traded points throughout before MSUB closed the match with the final two points to secure the 25-23 victory and earn
Scott Keister's squad its first win of the season.
THE BUZZ: Laina Whitney was named Player of the Game in game one and
Avery Starr was named Player of the Game in game two.
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets conclude play at the University of Mary Invitational on Saturday with a 9:00 am matchup against Bemidji State.
