The Retort

Yellowjackets Silence Wolves, 3-0

October 23rd, 2009 by MSUB Athletics For The Retort

Montana State University Billings controlled the match from start to finish, sweeping Western Oregon University (25-22, 25-23, 25-20), on its way to moving to 6-5 in conference play and 13-10 overall on Saturday evening, October 24, at the New PE Building on the campus of Western Oregon University.

“We had a pretty good performance overall tonight,” said head coach Steve Smith. “We played a lot better on offense and defense throughout the night but I think the key was that we made fewer mistakes than Western Oregon did.”

The Yellowjackets received double-double efforts from Jen Boe and Devon Crotteau to lead the team. Boe had a team-high hitting percentage of .433 after 14 kills in 30 attempts with just one error and a team-high in digs with 22. Crotteau led the team with 16 kills and had 13 digs, while Jill Trabing came up with 20 digs and Jody Lutz had a match-high five blocks.

Montana State University Billings fell behind early in the first set as the Wolves got out to a 4-2 lead. The Yellowjackets pulled even in the match with a Hannah Johnson kill, 4-4. The score went back and forth throughout most of the set as neither team was able to take control. Western Oregon University tied the match at 19-19 with a kill from Laura Sakala, but Montana State University Billings was able to close out the set on a trio of kills from Crotteau, one from Melissa Porter and a service ace from Jill Trabing.

Leading 1-0, Montana State Billings looked to take control of the match in set two, but the set was much like the first, back and forth throughout. At 18-18, MSUB received a timely kill from Boe that gave the Yellowjackets the lead for good. The Yellowjackets were able to take control of the match with by shutting out the second set with a kill from Morrison and Johnson as well as getting help from the Wolves with an attacking error.

Montana State University Billings trailed 4-3 to start the third, but after tying the match at 4-4, MSUB would not trail the rest of the set and opened up a 15-9 lead behind clutch defense and accurate hitting. Western Oregon University tried to mount a comeback late in the set, but again the Yellowjacket offense put the clamps down and closed out the set and match with kills Lutz and Crotteau.

The Wolves were led by Sakala with 11 kills and a .476 hitting average, while Danielle English came up with 21 digs and Amy Herron collected 30 assists. As a team, Western Oregon University hit .171 and collected 63 digs and recorded four blocks. They fall to 7-15 on the season and 4-7 in the conference.

The win gives Montana State University Billings its first win in Monmouth in school history and is now 2-6 all-time against the Wolves. The Yellowjackets hit .238 as a team, recording 72 digs and collecting seven blocks in total. MSUB is now on a two game winning streak and have six-straight set wins.

The Yellowjacket spikers return to the court Thursday, October 29, at home against Seattle Pacific University starting at 7 pm. Montana State University Billings won the first match-up with the Falcons in five sets and will look for the season sweep.