Jackets Stay Unbeaten in HLC (10/13/06)
Box Score
Game Photos
Coach Matavao post game audio

BILLINGS, MT – The Montana State-Billings volleyball team earned a hard-fought 3-1 victory over visiting St. Edward’s University on Friday to hold onto the top spot in the Heartland Conference standings.  The Jackets’ 30-19, 25-30, 31-29, 30-27 win improved them to 5-0 in the conference and 17-4 overall.  The Hilltoppers dropped to 4-3 in the conference and 6-18 overall.  The same teams meet on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Alterowitz Gym.

The Yellowjackets dominated the opening game of the match, out-hitting the Hilltoppers .256 to .000.  St. Edward’s, which managed just six kills the entire first game, clawed back and made the final three games of the match a fight.  In the matches’ last three games the Hilltoppers hit .224 as a team to finish with a .176 match attack percentage.  The Yellowjackets hit .196 as a team for the match and had 15 more kills than SEU.

MSU Billings had four players reach double figure kills, led by Ali Watson’s (Calgary, AB) 20.  Watson also had 20 digs and three service aces.  Alicia Cazemier (Vauxhall, AB) added 16 kills on a .500 attack percentage and was in on a team-high six blocks.  Seniors Jessica Bratton (Casper, WY) and Alexis Sandru (Twin Bridges, MT) had 13 and 11 kills respectively.  Sandru also had a double-double with 11 digs.

Natalie Bills (Provo, UT) handed out a match-high 57 assists for the Yellowjackets to go with 12 digs.  Nicole Kruse (Huntley, MT) added 20 digs from her libero position.  Both Kruse and Cazemier also had three service aces.

The Hilltoppers were paced by 24 kills from Lindsey Douglas.  She also had 15 digs.  Lauren Munselle added 10 kills and nine digs.  Setter Stephanie Martin dished out 50 assists and was in on six blocks.  Amy Johnson was in on a match-high 11 blocks as the Toppers out-blocked the Jackets 19-8 in the match.  Kelsey Teal picked up a match-high 25 digs.