Volleyball Sweeps Saints, 3-0

Box Score

Photo Gallery

BILLINGS, Mont. – Superb defensive play on the back side and strong performances from the middle helped Montana State Billings dump GNAC opponent, Saint Martin’s, 3-0 at the Alterowitz Gymnasium Saturday evening, 25-16, 25-17, 25-19. The win was the eight of the season for the Yellowjackets, surpassing their win total from a year ago of seven, and are now 2-2 in conference play.

“I was really happy that we were able to get such great play from our middles,” said head coach Steve Smith. “I was extremely pleased with the play of Jill Trabing in the back, but we still have a lot of things to work on. I think our blocking has come a long way, but that is still one thing we need to work on.”

Jill Trabing and Devon Crotteau led the team in digs with 12, while Hillary Morrison set up 29 of the teams’ 32 kills. Crotteau again led the team in kills, spiking the ball 10 times for a .259 hitting percentage. Melissa Porter had a great game, slamming down nine kills for a .438 hitting percentage.

Trailing 4-2 in the first set, the Yellowjackets reeled off seven unanswered points behind a kill from Porter and a service ace from Morgan Moss. Leading 14-9, MSUB put the first set out of reach by going on a 5-0 run and shut the door on the Saints with a kill from Crotteau and multiple attacking errors from SMU.

The second set saw much of the same as MSUB got off to a 7-2 start with a pair of service aces from Moss. Small spurts stretched the lead for the Yellowjackets and the set was put away with a service ace from Jen Boe, 27-17.

Leading 2-0, MSUB refused to let SMU get back in the game as Moss came up with three aces and led the Yellowjackets on 5-0 run to climb back into the third set. Leading by one, 17-16, the Yellowjackets got a big spike from Porter to push the lead to 22-17. Crotteau closed out the game with a kill and MSUB took the third set 25-19.

The Yellowjackets outhit the Saints .198 to .062, also winning the blocking edge, five to three. The Saints were led by Kirstyn Druzianich who had 13 kills, while Cymbree Decosta had 27 assists and 13 digs. The Saints fell to 1-10 on the season and 0-3 in the GNAC

MSUB (8-7, 2-2) returns to action Monday, Sept. 28, against Alaska Anchorage starting at 7 p.m. The Yellowjackets defeated the Seawolves just last weekend, sweeping the contest 3-0.