Yellowjackets Set for Conference Home Tilts

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WELCOME HOME...
After a long trip but a short stay in Alaska, Montana State Billings returns home for a pair of conference matches against Saint Martin’s on Sept. 22, and a familiar foe, Alaska Anchorage, on Sept. 28. Both games start at 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnaseum. This is the first match between Saint Martin’s and the Yellowjackets, but the second and final meeting between the Seawolves as MSUB defeated Anchorage 3-0 last weekend at UAA.

A LOOK BACK
Traveling over 4,000 miles for a two-day, two-match trip can wear a team down. The Yellowjackets were determined not to let that happen as they traveled to Fairbanks and Anchorage for a quick pair of conference clashes last week.

Thursday’s match against Fairbanks got off to a hot start as MSUB jumped out to a 2-0 lead behind a solid team effort in hitting and defense. Devon Crotteau led the team with 31 kills which also was a season-best in the conference

The lead wouldn’t stand though as the Nanooks fought their way back in the match with tight wins in sets three and four. With the final set seemingly in hand for the Yellowjackets, a 5-1 run by UAF gave them the lead and two attacking errors finished the night for the Yellowjackets.

Unable to think about the previous match, MSUB returned to the floor the next night after traveling some 200 miles to Anchorage. The Yellowjackets dominated the Seawolves throughout the match and earned a three set sweep. (27-25, 28-18, 25-18).

The victory pushed the ‘Jackets back to one game over .500 on the season and tied the win total from a season ago.

CROTTEAU EARNS POW

ABOUT SAINT MARTIN’S (1-8, 0-2)
Saint Martin’s enters this week with a 1-8 record overall and are 0-2 in the GNAC Conference. Last week the Saints fell to Western Washington (3-0) and Seattle Pacific (3-1) in its conference openers. The Saints started the season 0-6 before capturing its first win at home against Evergreen St. on Sept. 19. Saint Martin’s is led by Katy Ferguson and Teilissa Tua, who are hitting .207 and .161 respectively. The Saints are being out hit by their oppenents .205 to .084 on the season. Before making the trip to Billings, the Saints will head to Nampa, Idaho for a match against Northwest Nazarene, winners of the MSUB Volleyball Invite.

INSIDE THE SERIES...
In the brief series between the two schools, MSUB holds a slight 4-2 lead and are a perfect 3-0 at home, gaining the other victory on a neutral site court. Last season the series was split when both teams were victorious on their home courts. The Yellowjackets are on a one game win streak against the Saints as they defeated SMU 3-0 in the season finale last season.

ABOUT ALASKA ANCHORAGE (8-5, 0-1)
The Seawolves enter the week with an 8-5 record overall and are 0-1 in the conference after its loss to the ‘Jackets. Alaska Anchorage came away from its Hawaii trip with a 3-1 record. The Seawolves dropped their first match of the tournament to Pac West favorite, Hawaii-Hilo, but fought back to win the next three. Anchorage defeated BYU-Hawaii in five and then defeated Chaminade and Hawaii Pacific in four sets each. Stacie Meisner was named GNAC co-player of the week last week for her 86 dig effort in four matches in Hawaii. As a team, Anchorage has been near the top of the conference in numerous statistical categories. The Seawolves enter a stretch of road games where they play four matches in five days, Western Washington (Sept. 24), Central Washington (Sept. 26), Rocky Mountain (Sept. 27) and MSUB.

INSIDE THE SERIES...
The Yellowjackets have traditionally struggled against the Seawolves. In 38 matches the Yellowjackets have won just nine times. Recently, the ‘Jackets have fared much better against Anchorage, taking four of five since entering the GNAC. Last season the two teams split the series, each squad winning on its home floor. This season, MSUB is already 1-0 against the Seawolves and will look to win its third straight home match against Anchorage.

LOOKING AHEAD
After the quick trip to Alaska, the Yellowjackets return to Billings to finish off its road trip with a match against Rocky Mountain College Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m.

The focus then will again shift to conference play as MSUB hosts Saint Martin’s and Alaska Anchorage on Sept. 26 and 28 at 7 p.m. in Alterowitz Gymnasium.

NATIONAL AND LEAGUE LEADERS
MSUB had four players that ranked in the top-10 in numerous individual statistical categories and one that was tops in the nation.

Devon Crotteau was seventh in the nation in kills per set with 4.29 during the week of Sept. 14. She also led the GNAC in points and kills with 223.5 points and 193 kills, well ahead of second place in both. Crotteau also was top-10 in hitting percentage (5th) and service aces (4th).

Freshman Jody Lutz ranked third in blocks with a 0.98 average per set. She had 44 total blocks which led the league. Hillary Morrison was fifth in assists with 8.84 per set, while freshman Morgan Moss was eighth in service aces with a 0.36 average.

CROTTEAU EARNS ALL-TOURNAMENT
Devon Crotteau earned all-tournament honors for her 66 kills and .327 hitting percentage over the weekend. She also earned 42 digs, seven blocks and six aces during the tournament.

A GRAND MILESTONE
Four Players in MSUB volleyball history have eclipsed 1,000 kills in their career. This season, Devon Crotteau made it five.

Crotteau entered the 2009 season just 127 kills shy of the mark. With 19 kills in the final match against University of Mary (Sept. 5), Crotteau had exactly 1,000 kills.

With her performance at the MSUB Invite., Crotteau is now fourth on the all-time kills list at MSUB, passing Brandee Sayles (1994-97) with 1,043 kills. Crotteau also became the 22nd player in GNAC history to record 1,000 career kills.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2009
Former Fort Hays State coach Steve Smith (44-82, 4 years) takes over at Montana State Billings and has six letter winners available off last year’s team, which looks to improve on last season and build a new winning tradition.

Among the six is outside hitter Devon Crotteau (6-0, Sr., Casper, WY – Northern Colorado), who was one of the top kill producers in the GNAC, averaging 3.89 to rank second in the conference.

Crotteau also ranked 10th in kill percentage (.246), netted 3.19 digs per contest and contributed 29 aces and 36 blocks.

Also back are outside hitter Jennifer Boe (5-8, Jr., Casper, WY – Kelly Walsh), setter Hillary Morrison (5-10, Sr., Casper, WY – Chadron State) and libero Jill Trabing (5-8, Sr., Buffalo, WY).

Boe averaged 2.51 kills and 2.75 digs. Morrison was credited with 7.36 assists and Trabing had 3.52 digs.

Smith’s first MSUB team will include only two other letter winners – middle blocker Melissa Porter (6-3, So., Redmond, UT – North Sevier) and defensive specialist Whitney Mickelsen (5-4, So., Aurora, UT – North Sevier) – along with five freshmen.

YELLOWJACKETS TABBED EIGHTH
The Montana State Billings volleyball team was selected eighth in the annual Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason poll. The Yellowjackets received 15 points behind conference favorite Western Washington with 60 points.

Returning for MSUB is one of the league’s top kill producers in Devon Crotteau. Last season she ranked second in kills per game, averaging 3.89. Joining Crotteau as returning letter winners will be Jennifer Boe, Hillary Morrison, Jill Trabing, Melissa Porter, and Whitney Mickelson.

Yellowjackets Ink Two-Sport Product
Kayla Neumiller signed with the Yellowjackets for the 2009-2010 season. Neumiller plans on competing in both volleyball and track & field. Neumiller lettered all four years in high school in volleyball and was an all-state selection as a junior and senior. She was a first team all-conference selection for three years and earned state all-tournament honors as a senior. Neumiller recorded 330 kills, 48 blocks, 83 aces and 406 digs during her senior year and amassed over 1,000 kills (1,026), 211 aces and 161 blocks in her high school career.

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