Montana State University Billings Athletics

ANCHORAGE, Alas. - The Montana State University Billings volleyball team battled Alaska Anchorage Saturday night but fell in three sets, 25-23, 25-11, and 25-22, at the Alaska Airlines Center.
 
The Yellowjackets finished the match with 32 kills, 30 assists, three service aces, eight blocks and 40 digs. MSUB hit .176 as a team, including a .233 attack percentage in the opening set. The 'Jackets struggled to find their offensive rhythm in the second set, hitting .087, before closing the match with a .167 hitting percentage in the third frame.

"We are making progress," said head coach Scott Keister. "Sometimes faster and sometimes slower, but the trajectory is consistently up which is great as we work on building this program to be consistantly competitive. We are ready to be home after three weeks on the road, playing from southern Texas all the way to Alaska."
 
Allie Dorman led the Yellowjackets offensively with 13 kills on 35 attacks and added two blocks and six digs. Emma Fairbairn contributed eight kills, three aces and nine digs, while Addyson Quandt turned in an efficient performance with five kills on 10 attacks without committing an error for a team-best .500 hitting percentage.
 
Laina Whitney added four kills while hitting .364, and Avery Starr paced the offense with 23 assists while also recording six digs. Avarie Gutierrez contributed nine digs, while Mikayla Champlin added five digs and one block.
 
The opening set was a tightly contested battle from start to finish, with MSUB and Alaska Anchorage combining for 17 tie scores and three lead changes. The Yellowjackets established an early offensive rhythm, recording 16 kills while hitting .233. Neither team was able to create significant separation, and the 'Jackets remained within striking distance throughout the closing points. Alaska Anchorage ultimately secured the first set by a narrow 25-23 margin.
 
The second set proved to be the biggest challenge for the Yellowjackets. Alaska Anchorage gained control early and maintained its momentum throughout the frame, while MSUB was held to six kills and a .087 hitting percentage. The Seawolves pulled away to take the set 25-11 and build a two-set advantage.
 
MSUB responded with a stronger effort in the third set, putting together 10 kills and hitting .167. Dorman led the Yellowjackets with five kills in the frame, while Whitney added three kills. The 'Jackets stayed competitive throughout the set, but Alaska Anchorage was able to make enough plays down the stretch to finish off the match with a 25-22 victory.
 
The loss drops MSUB to 2-8 overall and 0-2 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play, while Alaska Anchorage improves to 9-3 overall and 2-0 in conference action.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets will return to Billings for their first home GNAC matches of the season next week. MSUB hosts Saint Martin's on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym before welcoming Western Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 2 p.m.