by CARSON, Calif. – In the final match of the inaugural D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase for MSUB, the Yellowjackets lost a four set match to host Cal State Dominguez Hills in the Torodome Saturday 25-19, 23-25, 25-15, and 25-19.
Montana State University Billings is on a seven match slide, falling to 1-7 on the season while Cal State Dominguez Hills improves to an even 4-4 on the year. The ‘Jackets lost all four matches in California at the west region tournament. Next week, MSUB returns to Billings for three matches. On Monday, MSUB heads to Rocky Mountain College, before opening Great Northwest Athletic Conference action on Friday against Simon Fraser and Saturday hosting Western Washington.
Against CSUDH, the Yellowjackets were held to their lowest attack percentage of the season at .120 (39-22-142). The Toros banked 57 kills on a .225 attack percentage (57-23-151). Tati Yandall led the charge for CSUDH with 23 kills. Yandall was all over the court, finishing with 3.0 block assists and three service aces. Claire Autry added 11 kills and Hailey Smith 10. Antonette Rolda posted 51 assists and Kylie Osgood 27 digs.
Stormy Siemion led the Yellowjackets with her fourth double-double of the season, putting away 14 kills and collecting 13 digs. Ashlynn Ward (Standing Rock Sioux) added 10 kills and Mataia Robinson 13 digs and two service aces.
Freshman Bre Rodrigues led the team in blocks with 5.0. Angala Jensen finished with 28 assists, 3.0 block assists, and nine digs. Senior Kylee Cornelio led all players with five service aces. The Yellowjackets topped the Toros from the service line 9-7.
After conceding a first set lost, MSUB bounced back to even the match. In the second set, MSUB surrendered an 8-point lead before closing down CSUDH’s offense in the late points of the frame. The Toros battled hard for a double-digit lead in the third set, holding on for the 2-1 advantage. The Yellowjackets were within striking distance at the end of the fourth set before CSUDH pulled away late for the win.
The host Toros began the match with an impressive 12-0 opening bid. Settling down, MSUB embarked on an 11-2 counter to pull the set within reach. A service ace from Jensen and an error from the CSUDH closed the gap to one, 19-18. Finishing cleanly, the Toros used a kill from Yandall and one from Autry to close out the first set.
In the second frame, a block from Rodrigues and Jensen worked the ‘Jackets up to an 8-point, 13-5, advantage. CSUDH battled back to within a point, 17-16. The Toros claimed their first late lead of the set on a kill from Yandall for 19-18. Siemion tied the match on a shot off an assist from Robinson. The Yellowjackets kept their composure, dictating the final points of the set, finishing on a roll shot and error from CSUDH for the second set win.
CSUDH built up a 16-8 lead in the fourth set. MSUB’s Lexa de Jesus lined up a shot down the right side line and Ward struck a hard ball into the deep court. Jensen and Casey Rich used a double block and MSUB forced an error from the Toros. The ‘Jackets worked at making up ground. In the final 18 points of the set, both teams scored nine, as MSUB was unable to complete the comeback and CSUDH finished the set winning 25-15.
The fourth frame was the most even of the match. CSUDH used a short 4-1 run to take a 15-10 lead on a kill from Morelia Castro. MSUB fought to within one, 16-15, on a block from Rodrigues and Jensen. Keeping it close, Rich earned a point and de Jesus cleared another off the block for 22-19.
Yandall was instrumental for the Toros in the last three points of the match for CSUDH with two kills and a block.
THE BUZZ: Rodrigues named the St. Vincent Healthcare Athlete of the Match, posting a match-high 5.0 block assists, adding in five kills for MSUB.
UP NEXT: MSU Billings returns home for a match on Monday, Sept. 12. The Yellowjackets travel across town to the Fortin Center for the first of two matches this season against Rocky Mountain College.
