'Jackets Look to Ground Falcons

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DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME...
The 2009 season has been one of drastic improvement for the Yellowjackets. Following a 7-23 season a year-ago, MSUB is just one win away from doubling that win total with five games remaining. Currently, MSUB sits in fifth place in the conference (predicted eighth), one game behind Northwest Nazarene in fourth and a game-and-half behind Western Washington in third. The ‘Jackets are just three games behind conference-leading Alaska Anchorage. With the teams remaining on the schedule, the Yellowjackets are 2-3 against the opposition. MSUB has three games remaining at home (Nov. 5 - Western Oregon, Nov. 7 - Alaska Fairbanks) and wrap up the season on the road.

LUTZ GARNERS POW HONORS...
Jody Lutz was named Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week for Oct. 26.  It is her first weekly conference honor of the season and third for the volleyball program this season. The Dugald, Manitoba, Canada native recorded 13 kills and 10 blocks, nearly doubling her season set average in both categories, helping lead the Yellowjackets to consecutive 3-0 sweeps on the road at Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon. Currently, Lutz is fourth in the conference in blocks per set with 0.99 but is third in total blocks with 89. She also ranks sixth in hitting percentage with a .266 average and 115 kills.

BRING ON THE BEST...
Sitting in fifth, MSUB is 3-3 against the four teams above them in the standings. Of the top two teams, Alaska Anchorage and Seattle Pacific, the Yellowjackets are 3-0, handing Anchorage its only two conference losses. In fact, MSUB defeated the Seawolves in six of the seven sets this season. Against the teams below MSUB, the Yellowjackets are 3-2.

A LOOK BACK...
In crunch time the Yellowjackets delivered. Facing a two-game losing streak heading into last week, MSUB needed a jump start to stay in the conference race with wins at Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon. The Yellowjackets did not disappoint, going 2-0 on the road, sweeping both matches and keeping hopes alive to climb higher in the conference standings.

The Yellowjackets came up huge in Lacey, having little trouble with Saint Martin’s, winning 25-18, 25-16, 25-22. MSUB out hit the Saints .168 to .008 during the match and recorded 14 blocks in just three sets. Crotteau recorded 13 kills while Melissa Porter and Jody Lutz combined for 12 kills on the night. Jill Trabing had another great performance on the floor, recording 26 digs in the match. The win pulled the Yellowjackets back to .500 in its conference record.

Two nights later, Coach Smith returned to his alma matre and the team again did not disappoint. The ‘Jackets were able to jump out to an early lead and established the momentum early, defeating the Wolves 25-21, 25-23, 25-20. The win was even bigger because of the few amount of teams able to win in Monmouth. MSUB hit .238 in the match with seven blocks and 72 digs.

ABOUT SEATTLE PACIFIC (14-8, 8-2)
The Falcons come into the week in second place in the GNAC standings. Last week, SPU defeated Western Oregon 3-1 in Monmouth on Thursday night. Currently SPU is a half game behind Anchorage in the standings and look to the tie up the standing with a win in Billings this week. The Falcons are hitting .213 this season while holding opponents to .154 hitting. SPU averages 16.7 digs per set along with 1.8 blocks. They’re led by Sarah Risser who has 3.89 kills per set and averages a .212 hitting percentage. Courtney Weedman leads the team in assists (514), while Amber Johnson leads in blocks (1.04).

INSIDE THE SERIES...
The Yellowjackets have traditionally struggled against the Falcons, as SPU leads the overall series 18-6. In recent memory however, MSUB has a 4-1 record against the Falcons since joining the GNAC in 2007. Last year, the teams split the season series, both winning on its home court and in 3-0 sweeps. During the 2007 season, MSUB won at Royal Brougham for the first time since Nov. 14, 1997. This is the second meeting of the season, MSUB won the first match in Seattle (Oct. 3), 3-2.

LOOKING AHEAD...
With just five games left in the 2009 season, three home and two on the road, the Yellowjackets are looking to finish the season on a high note. After this week’s match with SPU, MSUB stays at home to face Western Oregon (Nov. 5) and Alaska Fairbanks (Nov. 7) with both games starting at 7 p.m. MSUB will then finish the season on the road at Central Washington (Nov. 12) and at Western Washington (Nov. 14). 

AMONG THE NATIONS ELITE... 
Devon Crotteau currently ranks fifth in the nation with 4.36 kills per set, the leader, Melinda Bastian of Benedict, has 4.93. Crotteau’s numbers currently rank her first in the GNAC and are also tops in the conference for points per set (4.92) and are fifth in hitting percentage and service aces per set.

PORTER CLAIMS POW...
Porter was named Great Northwest Athletic Conference Co-Player of the Week (Oct. 5) after helping the Yellowjackets to wins over Alaska Anchorage and previously unbeaten Seattle Pacific. In three matches, she had 29 kills and a team-best 16 blocks. Her third-set block ignited a comeback from a 17-11 deficit and she then later had a kill to break a 24-24 tie in a 26-24 set victory over the Seawolves. She finished with 10 kills and four blocks against UAA, then had 13 kills and seven blocks against NNU and then contributed six kills and five blocks against SPU.

CROTTEAU EARNS POW...
Senior outside hitter, Devon Crotteau, was named Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week this past week.  It is her first weekly conference honor of the season. The Casper, Wyo. native recorded 48 kills and 23 digs and hit for a .349 percentage as the Yellowjackets went 1-1 on their recent trip to Alaska. Her 31 kills at Fairbanks are a season-best for the conference and she now has four of the top eight kill totals in the conference this season. Crotteau leads the GNAC in kills (4.55) and points (5.20) and ranks 14th in career kills (1,114).

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.

Steve Smith begins his first season as the head coach at Montana State University Billings. He comes to the Yellowjackets after four seasons at Fort Hays State University where he guided the Lady Tigers to a 16-15 record in 2005 and a berth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament. Smith led FHSU to double-digit wins in two of his four seasons and just missed his third this past year.

Prior to his tenure at FHSU, Smith served as the assistant coach at Western Oregon University for nine seasons under Judy Lovre, the program’s leader in career victories. During his time at WOU, Smith helepd guide the Wolves to a 170-122 record, including four-straight appearances in the NAIA National Championship tournament from 1996-99.

Smith also coached various club and high school teams, including the No Dinx Volleyball Club from 2003-05 in Corvallis, Ore., and the Salem (Ore.) Volleyball Club from 2001-03. Smith also served as a club coach for six years (1995-2001) for the Emerald City Volleyball Club in Eugene, Ore., and was the head coach at Stayton High School in Stayton, Ore., from 1993-96.

A native of Salem, Ore., Smith received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degrees in physical education from Western Oregon University.