September 8, 2007
 

Lady Jackets Shock Defending Champs
Box score
MSUB season statistics
Coach Schaub post match comments

SEATTLE, Wash. – Montana State Billings accomplished what no team had since 2004 on Saturday night.  The Yellowjackets won a volleyball match at Seattle Pacific. 

Alicia Cazemier (Vauxhall, Alberta) pounded out 19 kills to lead the Lady Jackets to a 30-26, 30-22, 26-30, 30-21 upset of the two-time defending conference champion Falcons.  MSUB improved to 7-3 and won their first-ever Great Northwest Athletic Conference match to move to 1-1 in the league.  Seattle Pacific fell to 6-4 overall and 1-1 in the conference.

"Our team was just really excited to play after a disappointing loss on Thursday," said Yellowjacket head coach Sara Schaub referring to MSUB's 3-1 loss at Northwest Nazarene.  "They had motivation to prove they are a better team than they were on Thursday.  This win proves to the players that it's in their hands.  On Thursday I thought we defeated ourselves.  Today we took control of the match from point one.  They made some adjustments in game three, but we were able to adjust to that.  This helps us know we can take control of our own fate."

Alicia Cazemier

The Jackets’ win snapped three Seattle Pacific winning streaks.  The Falcons entered the night with 21-straight GNAC wins at Brougham Pavilion, 28-straight GNAC wins overall, and 19-consecutive wins at home.  The last Falcons home conference loss came on Oct. 16, 2004.  During the 21-match home GNAC winning streak, 16 of the wins had been sweeps.

Cazemier’s 19 kills came on a .295 attack percentage.  The Yellowjackets hit .197 as a team to the Falcons’ .059.  Cazemier was also in on seven blocks.  Devon Crotteau (Casper, Wyo.) added 16 kills and 22 digs.  Jennifer Boe (Casper, Wyo.) finished with 13 kills and 15 digs.  Yellowjacket setter Stefania Aladjova (Sofia, Bulgaria) handed out 52 assists.

Along with out-hitting the Falcons by .138 points, the Jackets had 14 more kills (61-47) and 14 more digs (81-67).  Both teams recorded 11 blocks.  SPU was led by 14 kills from Rachel Biornstad and 13 from Alyssa Given.

The Yellowjackets will host their first GNAC matches next weekend when they entertain Saint Martin’s University and Western Oregon University.  The Jackets will host the Saints on Thursday and the Wolves on Saturday at Alterowitz Gym.  Both matches start at 7 p.m.