BILLINGS, Mont. – For the fifth time this season, the Western Oregon University volleyball team played all five sets in a match. On Thursday night, the Wolves held a 2-1 lead before Montana State Billings rallied for the 3-2 victory (25-21, 23-25, 17-25, 25-17, 15-6) in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action inside Alterowitz Gym.
In the opening set, WOU (2-9, 0-4 GNAC) moved out to a 3-2 lead with Lauren Smith and Isabel Hurliman tallying kills. Following a service ace by Aubrey Stanton, the Wolves were out to an 8-5 lead. Montana State Billings (5-8, 2-3 GNAC) turned it around and moved in front 17-13. After WOU recorded the next point, the Yellowjackets scored the next five points to stretch the lead to 22-14. WOU made one final push coming back with seven of the next eight points to pull to within two. Hurliman, Madison Hornback and Makenzie York all tallied points around a few MSUB errors that had WOU back to 23-21. The Yellowjackets then closed the set getting a kill and an attacking error for the 25-21 opening set win.
MSUB moved out to a 5-2 lead in the second set. The Yellowjackets continued to push getting ahead 10-5. Down 11-7, WOU came back with the next five points to grab the lead. Bailee Hartsook started the run with a kill, Bella MacLellan added a solo block and then MacLellan and Hartsook combined for a double-block to end the rally that left WOU with a 12-11 lead. After a service error evened the set, WOU went on another big run, this time a 6-0 variety, with Hartsook posting a kill, Stanton with a service ace, MacLellan a kill and after a few errors, Stanton finished the run with a service ace that had WOU with a 18-12 lead. MSUB kept fighting back, recording 11 of the next 15 points to pull in front 23-22. After a timeout by the Wolves, WOU answered with the next three points to take the set. Following an attack error, Hartsook tallied a kill and then double-block by Stanton and York gave WOU the second set at 25-23 to even the match at one.
WOU used the momentum from that set and started out the third set on a 7-0 run. Hartsook, MacLellan and Smith all had points around a few errors from the 'Jackets during the run. WOU kept pressing with Ally Henry spinning in a service ace and then kills from Hurliman and Smith had the Wolves looking at a 12-3 advantage. MSUB looked to get right back in it answering with the next five points to leave WOU with a 12-8 lead. Smith helped stop the Yellowjackets run with a kill and after adding another kill she combined for a double-block with York to move WOU to a 16-8 lead. The Wolves would remain in control the rest of the set with MacLellan tallying a kill before an attack error by the Yellowjackets sent WOU to the 25-17 third set win and 2-1 match lead.
MSUB didn't go away jumping out to a 7-3 lead in the fourth set. WOU got back to within three at 9-6 before the Yellowjackets ripped off the next seven points to take a 16-6 lead. Down the stretch, Hurliman posted a couple of kills and a service ace by Smith kept things close, but it was too much Yellowjackets as they claimed the set at 25-17 to force a decisive fifth set.
In the decisive fifth set, the teams were tied at two early with Hartsook and Smith recording kills for the Wolves. MSUB caught fire after that scoring the next eight points to move ahead at 10-2. York and Hurliman tallied kills over the next several points, but the deficit was too much to overcome with MSUB closing out the set win at 15-6 and taking the match at 3-2.
Overall for the match, WOU tallied 49 kills to 30 errors in 160 chances to hit .119. MSUB recorded 60 kills to 30 errors in 158 chances to hit .190. WOU held the edge in blocks (8-7) and the teams tied in service aces (9-9). MSUB held the edge in assists (53-48) and in digs (68-59).
Hurliman went for her fifth double-double of the season posting 16 kills and 17digs. Hartsook and Smith added 12 kills apiece. Smith hit .370 for the match with just two errors in 27 total swings. Stanton dished out 38 assists, while on defense, Sophie Matlock added 14 digs and both MacLellan and York sent back four blocks, with MacLellan recording two solo blocks.
Bayli Monck led MSUB with a game-high 21 kills. Joelle Mahowald added 14 kills and Skylar Reed tallied 13 kills. Hannah Hashbarger dished out 43 assists, while on defense Christine Funk posted 26 digs and Hannah Hayden sent back six blocks.
WOU will remain on the road this Saturday when they will play at Seattle Pacific starting at 2 p.m. The Falcons defeated Saint Martin's in straight sets earlier on Thursday.
Volleyball Plays Another Five-Set Battle Falling Just Short In Montana - WOU Athletics
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