Jackets Host Cardinals in Final Home Stand (11/2/05)

BILLINGS, MT – The Montana State-Billings women’s volleyball team is set to host the University of the Incarnate Word in the final two home matches of the season.  The two teams have yet to meet each other this season.

The Lady Jackets (19-5) overall and (7-3) in conference play lead the Heartland Conference in assists and service aces.  Offensively the Jackets are ranked second in attack percentage (.223) and in kills with 15.21 per game.  Alicia Cazemier (So., MB, Vauxhall, AB) leads the Jackets with a (.391) attack percentage and has knocked down 345 kills on 634 attempts.  Cazemier also leads the team in blocks (107).  Nicole Kruse (So., L, Huntley, MT) has put up 54 service aces to go with 299 digs on the season just behind teammate Natalie Bills (Jr., S, Provo, UT) who has posted 330 digs to go with her 44 services aces. 

The Cardinals (15-14), ranked second in the Heartland Conference are led by Amy Silva who has posted 400 kills and a (.230) attack percentage on the season.  Kari Champman leads the team in service aces (48) and has blocked 123 attacks to go with her 318 kills.  The Cardinals are ranked second in the conference in blocks, averaging 2.08 per game.  The team ranks third, just behind the Jackets in kills per game, posting an average of (13.94).

The Yellowjackets and Cardinals are set to square off Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium. At the conclusion of the regular season the Jackets, ranked fourth in the conference, will be heading to the Heartland Conference Championships November 11-12 in Austin Texas.