Lady Jackets Look to Keep Flying in Denver (8/31/05)

BILLINGS, MT – Coming off a 4-0 showing at the Arkansas Tech Invitational, the Montana State-Billings volleyball team will try to keep its hot streak going this Friday and Saturday at the Days Inn-Denver West Oredigger Classic hosted by Colorado School of Mines.  The eight team tournament runs September 2-3 in Golden, Colo.

The Yellowjackets won the Arkansas tournament behind several strong individual performances.  Junior Ali Watson (Calgary, Alberta) was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after averaging 4.12 kills and 4.06 digs per game and posting four double-doubles for kills and digs.  Earlier this week she was selected as the Heartland Conference hitter of the week.  Juniors Jessica Bratton (Casper, WY) and Natalie Bills (Provo, UT) were also named to the all-tournament team.  Bills was selected as the Heartland Conference setter of the week.

Junior Alexis Sandru (Twin Bridges, MT) had the biggest weekend of her career, averaging 3.19 kills and 4.44 digs per game.  She set career highs for kills (17 vs. Arkansas Tech) and digs (25 vs. Missouri Western).  Sophomore Alicia Cazemier (Vauxhall, Alberta) also had a strong opening weekend with 3.50 kills per game and a .413 hitting percentage.  She had a career-high 19 kills in the win over Missouri Western.  Sophomore Nicole Kruse (Huntley, MT) had a solid weekend as the libero in her first action in a Yellowjacket uniform.  She averaged 3.00 digs per game and led the team with 12 service aces.

This weekend’s tournament in Colorado should give the Yellowjackets a better indication of how they match up against regional competition.  They will face Colorado State-Pueblo and Colorado School of Mines on Friday.  On Saturday the Jackets will square off against Mesa State and Western State.  All four schools play in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.  MSU Billings will also get a look at conference opponents St. Edward’s and Oklahoma Panhandle State who are also playing in the round robin tournament.

Colorado State-Pueblo was 2-2 last week with wins over Texas A&M Commerce and Southeastern Oklahoma State.  Thunderwolves outside hitter Meagan Sater posted double-doubles in all four matches, including 21 kills in the win over TAMC.  Sater eclipsed the 1,000 career kills mark last weekend.

Colorado Mines was 3-0 last week, defeating Notre Dame de Namur once and Cal State-Stanislaus twice.  Samantha Bauer led the Orediggers with 44 kills, 26 digs, and eight aces in the three matches. 

Mesa State will likely be the best team the Yellowjackets face in the early season.  The Mavericks were an overwhelming pick to win the West Division of the RMAC and received votes in the AVCA preseason national poll.  Mesa was 4-0 to open the season last weekend at the Angelo State Classic.  Outside hitter Stacey Vogel was named RMAC player of the week after averaging 5.15 kills per game at the tournament.

Western State went 0-4 last week at the St. Mary’s Invitational.  The Mountaineers were led by Heather Adams who averaged 3.08 kills and 1.17 blocks per game.  Adams leads Western State in both kills and attack percentage.

Following the trip to Denver, the Yellowjackets hit the road for a September 12-13 tournament hosted by Montana-Western in Dillon.  MSU Billings opens its home schedule September 16-17 with conference matches against St. Mary’s.