Bills, Watson Honored Again by Heartland (9/20/05)

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State-Billings volleyball players Natalie Bills and Ali Watson were honored again this week as Heartland Conference players of the week.  Bills, a junior from Provo, UT, earned her third setter of the week award of the season.  Watson, a junior outside hitter from Calgary, Alberta, was selected as the defensive player of the week for the first time.  Western New Mexico’s Stephanie Higgins was the offensive player of the week.

Bills guided the Montana State -Billings offense to a two-match split with St. Mary’s in the Yellowjackets’ first-ever Heartland Conference matches.  She averaged 13.44 assists per game as the Yellowjackets had one of their best hitting weekends of the season.  MSU Billings hit .216 as a team in Friday’s 3-1 win and .300 in Saturday’s 3-2 loss.  Bills handed out 55 assists on Friday and 66 on Saturday.  The 66 assists were a career high for the junior as were her seven kills.  Bills leads the Heartland Conference in assists with 629 (12.10 per game)

Watson, one of the best offensive players for Montana State -Billings, had a stellar defensive week to help the Yellowjackets split their Heartland Conference matches.  She averaged 3.44 digs per game with 11 in Friday’s match and 20 in Saturday’s.  On Saturday she posted her fifth 20-20 performance of the season for kills and digs.  Watson was also key in the Jackets’ service reception, fielding 81 serves with just one error. 

The Yellowjackets (11-3 overall, 1-1 in the Heartland) host Western New Mexico (12-3, 2-0) Friday and Saturday in Heartland Conference matches.  Both matches start at 7:00 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium.  The Mustangs swept Dallas Baptist twice last weekend.