Watson, Bills Garner Heartland Awards (8/30/05)

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State-Billings volleyball players Ali Watson and Natalie Bills were selected as players of the week by the Heartland Conference on Tuesday.  The pair helped lead the Yellowjackets to a 4-0 record and the team title at the Arkansas Tech Invitational last weekend.

Watson was named the conference’s hitter of the week.  The junior outside hitter from Calgary, Alberta, averaged 4.12 kills and 4.06 digs per game in her first action as a Yellowjacket.  The transfer from Sheridan College led the Jackets in kills in three of four matches to earn tournament Most Valuable Player honors.  She had double-digit kills and digs in all four matches, including a 20-20 performance against host Arkansas Tech to lead MSU Billings to a 3-2 win after trailing 2-1 in the match.

Bills was selected as the Heartland’s setter of the week.  The junior from Provo, UT, directed the Yellowjacket offense, averaging 10.31 assists per game.  She posted weekend highs of 53 assists in the Jackets’ five-game wins over Arkansas Tech and Missouri Western.  Bills, who was also named to the all-tournament team, had 10 service aces in the four matches.

The Yellowjackets return to action this weekend when they play at the Colorado School of Mines Invitational.  They will face Colorado State-Pueblo and Colorado Mines on Friday.  On Saturday MSU Billings will meet Mesa State and Western State.