‘Jackets Tame Wildcats, Win Sixth Straight, 3-1

Box Score

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Rebounding from a horrific first set, the Montana State Billings volleyball team reeled off three consecutive set victories to defeat Central Washington Thursday evening at Nicholson Pavilion, 12-25,25-13, 25-20 and 30-28, to extend its six-game winning streak. The win moves the Yellowjackets to 10-5 in the conference and 17-10 overall.

“We beat a really good team tonight on its home floor,” said head coach Steve Smith. “They’re such a tough team to play against because they’re always so prepared and such a great defensive team. I think the biggest reason we won tonight was because we played a little better defense than they did. We were able to make adjustments after one of the ugliest sets we’ve played all season and came together again to defeat a really good team.”

Despite the dismal first set, the Yellowjackets had one the greatest offensive and defensive showings this season. Jen Boe led the way with a double-double, including a career-high in kills with 21 and added 18 digs as well. Devon Crotteau also pulled a double feature with 17 kills and 20 digs.

Defensively, MSUB was led by Jill Trabing who nearly tied her career-high in digs with 25, while freshman Jody Lutz had seven kills and six blocks. Hannah Johnson added five blocks of her own, while Hillary Morrison dished out 43 assists to her teammates.

The Yellowjackets found themselves in a 1-0 hole early, but quickly dug out of it with a dominating second set performance that saw them hold Central to -0.93 hitting after hitting .414 in the first.
After taking the third set and claiming a 2-1 lead, MSUB looked to close out the match in the fourth. As the set went back and forth, the Yellowjackets held match point at 24-22, but the Wildcats took three consecutive points on a pair of kills and an attacking error by MSUB to lead 25-24.

A pair of errors by Central gave the Yellowjackets match point at 26-25, but again got a kill by Marcy Hjellum and help from MSUB to take back match point, 27-26. A kill by Boe and an attacking error by Hjellum handed momentum over to MSUB.

With the match in hand, MSUB gave Central life with an attacking error, but wouldn’t let the match slip away after a pair of kills from Boe and Crotteau closed out the marathon set. The Yellowjackets hit .134 with 20 kills in the set despite making 11 errors.

Central Washington (15-11, 7-8) was led by 12 kills, eight digs and four blocks from Kady Try and 10 kills and seven digs by Hjellum. Brandie Vea recorded 21 digs while Carlee Marble had 34 assists.
MSUB outhit the Wildcats .185 to .133 recording 57 kills and 50 assists. The Yellowjackets had eight service aces and won the defensive battle by recording 88 digs while being out-blocked by a half of block, 11-11.5.

With the win, MSUB recorded its first victory in school history in Ellensburg and was the first win over the Wildcats since Sept. 29, 2007.