Records Go For Naught as MSU Billings Falls in City Battle

Box Score

BILLINGS, Mont. – Despite setting two school records, Montana State Billings watched as Rocky Mountain College rallied for a 3-2 (25-27, 20-25, 25-23, 25-22, 15-13) volleyball win Tuesday night.  Individual match records were set by Devon Crotteau (kills) and Hillary Morrison (assists).  The Yellowjackets are off until Thursday, Oct. 23, when they host Western Washington.  The match is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m.

Each game was back-and-forth action all the way.  In Game 1, Rocky Mountain had the lead at 25-24.  Jessica Lechner powered home the ball to tie the match.  Crotteau then got back-to-back kills to finish off the Battlin’ Bears.  In Game 2, the key moment came when at 20-19, the Jackets got three kills and a service ace to go up 24-19.  That effectively ended the game.

In Game 3, RMC came back from a 21-18 deficit to take the game 25-22.  The two teams then slugged it out in each of the last two games.  The Battlin’ Bears used the momentum to take the fourth game.  In Game 5, Crotteau smashed the ball off a RMC player to make it 14-13, Rocky.  Kath Hinrichsen then sent the ball down the line to win the match for Rocky Mountain.

For Montana State Billings (5-18), Crotteau had a monster night with 34 kills, 21 digs and hit .459.  It was her fourth straight double-double and her 34 kills broke the mark of 33 set by Oliva Munro against Western New Mexico (Nov. 14, 2003). Crotteau also tied the GNAC record set by Mandy Veley of Western Oregon vs. Humboldt State (Oct. 16, 2004).  Morrison had a strong performance as well with 73 assists.  That broke the mark of 66 set by Natalie Bills against St. Mary’s (Texas) (Sept. 17, 2005).  Jennifer Boe had 15 kills and 14 digs, Lechner had 13 kills and five total blocks while Ashley Welborn had 10 kills, 11 digs and hit .333.  Jill Trabing collected 17 digs while Melissa Porter had five block assists.