Jackets Volleyball Earns Split in Colorado (9/3/05)
Match 1 Box Score
Match 2 Box Score

GOLDEN, CO – The Montana State-Billings volleyball team took a four-match split away from the Days Inn Denver West/Oredigger Classic after splitting its two matches on Saturday.  The Yellowjackets were swept by unbeaten Mesa State in the morning match before bouncing back to sweep Western State in the afternoon.  MSU Billings is 6-2 overall after the first two weekends of the season.  The Jackets will next play at the Montana-Western Invitational next weekend in Dillon, MT.

Mesa State continued its torrid early season play in the 11:00 a.m. against MSU Billings.  The Mavericks improved to 7-0, winning 30-24, 30-28, 30-25.  The Mavs were led by a double-double from Stacey Vogel, who knocked down 16 kills and added 10 digs. 

Yellowjacket outsider hitter Ali Watson (Jr., Calgary, Alberta) led all players with 17 kills on a .289 attack percentage.  Jessica Bratton (Jr., Casper, WY) added 11 kills, and Alicia Cazemier (So., Vauxhall, Alberta) finished with 10.  Alexis Sandru (Jr., Twin Bridges, MT) led all players with 14 digs.

In the afternoon match against Western State (1-7), the Yellowjackets controlled play from the start to win 30-18, 30-27, 30-23.  MSU Billings had a .375 attack percentage in the first game and finished the match at .224.  The Mountaineers managed just a .083 team hitting percentage.

Watson posted a double-double of 17 kills and 23 digs.  For the season she leads the Yellowjackets in kills and digs.  Cazemier finished with 15 kills on a blistering .481 attack percentage.  She also had two blocks and is averaging 1.10 blocks per game.  Bratton and Sandru combined for 13 kills, and Jessica Lechner (Fr., Huntley, MT) added six kills.  Setter Natalie Bills (Jr., Provo, UT) handed out 39 assists, and libero Nicole Kruse (So., Huntley, MT) picked up 13 digs.

Western State was led by nine kills and five blocks from Heather Adams.  Lindsey Bowlin and Tynet Calhoun each recorded seven kills.