MSUB Uses Late Rally to Defeat Hawaii-Hilo

HILO, HI – The Montana State University-Billings volleyball team came back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Hawaii-Hilo 3-2 in PacWest volleyball action on Tuesday night.  The Yellowjackets picked up their first conference win of the year and moved to 5-8 overall, 1-3 in the PacWest.

The trip to Hawaii had not been a memorable one for the Yellowjackets through the first three matches as they lost all three against the schools on Oahu.  The trip to the Big Island must have been just the change of scenery MSUB needed as they downed Hawaii-Hilo in their final match before returning home.

Olivia Munro, who had been playing well all week, led the way for the Yellowjackets with 24 kills in 68 attempts.  She also added 17 digs.  Munro battled Hilo’s Sara Pilgreen, who notched 35 kills in 70 attempts. 

Entering the night a combined 1-9 in games played during the first three conference matches, MSU Billings quickly fell behind 2-0 after losing the opening two games by scores of 22-30 and 27-30.  Coach Pa’ulasi Matavao’s Yellowjackets stayed alive in game three, winning 30-23.

Hawaii-Hilo came close to closing out the match in the fourth game, but MSU Billings prevailed 31-29 to set up a deciding fifth game.  By that point the momentum had shifted to the visitors and the Yellowjackets took game five by a score of 15-11.

Senior setter Krissy Janney posted her best performance of the season, handing out 64 assists and recording 11 digs.  While Munro was her main target, three other Yellowjackets notched double-figure kills on the night.  Kari Gerretsen knocked down 18, Cortney Metzler had 13, and Mandi Paulson added 11.

The MSU Billings defense finally had a big game as five players recorded double-digit digs.  Along with Munro and Janney, Gerretsen and Joanna Peterson each picked up 15 digs and Paulson had 12.

Matavao felt early in the year that it may take some time for the mix of new and returning players to gel as a team this season.  Of the eight players who saw action in the Hilo match, three are new to the program this season.  The MSUB coaches hope that the team’s first win in Hawaii since October 28, 2000 will be a turning point of the season.

MSU Billings returns to Billings Thursday and will next play on September 24 when the Yellowjackets host Rocky Mountain College at 7:00 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium.