Yellowjackets Fall to No. 14 Hawaii Pacific for Second Time (Sept. 26, 2003)
Box Score
BILLINGS, MT – Although at 3-10 the MSU Billings
volleyball team is likely growing tired of “moral victories,” the
Yellowjackets were very competitive in their 3-0 loss to 14th-ranked
Hawaii Pacific on Friday night at Alterowitz Gymnasium. The Yellowjackets
led late in each of the first two games of the match before finally
succumbing 30-28, 30-24, 30-20. Hawaii Pacific improved to 9-2.
The Yellowjackets fell behind 10-15 in the first game
before rallying to tie the game at 16-16 on a Cortney Metzler (Jr., Roundup, MT) kill. Olivia Munro (Jr., Toronto, Ontario) and Jessica Bratton (Fr., Casper, WY) each had kills in the run. HPU forged a three-point
lead at 21-18 before the Jackets rallied to tie the game at 22 on a
Bratton service ace. MSUB took a 23-22 lead on an HPU attack error.
Hawaii Pacific won four of the next five points to take a 26-24 lead. The
Yellowjackets tied the game at 26-26 and 27-27 before the Sea Warriors
took three of four points for the win.
“It’s good to end the week on a good note,” said
Yellowjacket coach Pa’ulasi
Matavao. “Even though we didn’t win, we played with a lot more
confidence. We played with confidence that we could compete with these
good teams. I think that started last night.”
The Yellowjackets started the second game strong,
opening a 3-0 lead on a Bratton service ace, an HPU attack error, and a
Munro kill. Munro finished with a team-high 12 kills. The Sea Warriors
battled to tie the game at 6-6 on a Flavia Brakling service ace. The
teams played evenly for the next 20 points, reaching a 16-16 tie after a
Metzler kill for the Yellowjackets and a Vera Oliveira kill for the Sea
Warriors. Metzler had nine kills on the night. Munro gave MSUB a 17-16
lead with another kill, but HPU ran off three straight points and held on
for the six-point win.
Kari Jones (Jr.,
Hermiston, OR) had 29 assists for the Yellowjackets to go with five digs.
Munro and Bratton finished with seven digs apiece, and Alberta Letoa (Fr., Laie, HI) had a team-high eight digs.
Brakling finished with a match-high 15 kills, while
Nadica Karleusa added 13 kills and two service aces for the Sea Warriors.
HPU had six service aces in the game, with Oliveira registering the other
two. Oliveira also finished with 35 assists.
“It’s a tough loss when your kids play hard and play
really well,” said Matavao. “I thought we got better during the week
after not playing well against BYU-Hawaii. It was a big plus seeing that
we didn’t fold up and give up for the week. We played HPU tough last
night and even tougher tonight. Now we’ll get our first full week of
practice with a full-time setter and go into our next games with some
confidence.”
The Yellowjackets will travel to Hawaii for four
conference matches starting next weekend. They will be at Hawaii-Hilo and
Chaminade on October 3 and 4 respectively. They will then face Hawaii
Pacific and BYU-Hawaii on October 6 and 7. |
