Mustangs Outlast Lady Jackets in Five Again
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Score
BILLINGS, MT – For the second time in as many
nights, Western New Mexico prevailed in five games over the
Montana State-Billings volleyball team. The Mustangs jumped to a
2-0 advantage and held on to win 30-23, 30-26, 20-30, 25-30,
15-7. The loss dropped MSU Billings to 6-3 overall while Western
improved to 12-4. All three of the Jackets’ losses this season
have been in five games.
On Friday night, the Mustangs won every odd
game to win the PacWest opener for both teams. Saturday night
appeared destined for a WNMU sweep as the Mustangs had little
trouble in either of the first two games.
Western jumped to a 12-9 lead in the third
game before the Yellowjackets finally rallied. Two kills apiece
from Olivia Munro, Alicia Cazemier and Jessica Bachmann gave the
Jackets a 16-14 lead that they did not relinquish. Andrea Donahue contributed three kills between points 17 and 23 to anchor the
Jackets’ final push in the game three victory.
A balanced attack from the Yellowjackets’ big
three hitters took over the fourth game. Munro (Sr., OH, Toronto,
Ontario) had four of her 16 kills in the fourth game. Jessica
Bratton (So., OH, Casper, WY) knocked down seven of her 18 kills
in the game, and Cazemier (Fr., MB, Vauxhall, Alberta) posted six
of her 14 kills. Cazemier was also in on five blocks.
Bratton’s 18 kills led four Yellowjackets in
double figures. Donahue (Sr., MB, Whitefish, MT) also added 10
kills and six blocks.
The Mustangs benefited from nine Yellowjacket
errors in the fifth and deciding game, with MSU Billings hitting
-.080 as a team. Western’s Liz Narkon finished with a match-high
27 kills. Jennifer Snowbarger added 16 kills, and Suzanne
Bruchhauser had 13. Mustangs libero Lauren Anicker had a solid
match in the back row, picking up 28 digs.
The Yellowjackets will try to rebound from
their two-match losing streak against Rocky Mountain College on
Tuesday. MSU Billings travels to the Fortin Center for a 7:00
p.m. road match against the Bears. |
