Volleyball | 9/24/2011 9:09:00 PM

Box Score [Box score]

BILLINGS, Mont. - The Western Oregon volleyball team battled Montana State Billings throughout five sets on Saturday (Sept. 24) but in the end the Yellowjackets prevailed with a 26-24, 22-25, 26-28, 26-24 and 15-13 win.

After splitting the first two sets, Western Oregon (4-6, 3-3 GNAC) found itself down 24-19 in the third set. The Wolves stormed back with six straight points and ended up winning the set 26-24 to go up two sets to one.

The fourth set also saw swings back and forth but this time WOU was on the bad end of the draw. Western Oregon was up 19-15 before MSUB (8-5, 2-2 GNAC) came back to tie the match at 20-20. The teams then exchanged points until the match was tied at 24-24, but the Yellowjackets then broke through with two straight points to win the set and tie the match at 2-2.

In the fifth set, MSUB came out strong and went on top 14-9. Western Oregon then fought back with four straight points to bring the match to 14-13 but MSUB got a match-ending kill from Monica Grimsrud to win the match.

Danielle Reese led the Wolves in kills 21 and also added 12 digs for the double-double. Western Oregon also got 12 kills apiece from Krissi Kemper, Corynn Kopra and Samantha Ward. Becky Blees had four service aces and added five blocks. LesLyne Satele had 55 assists.

Grimsrud had a match-high 26 kills for the Yellowjackets.

The Western Oregon volleyball team will be at home next week to take on Central Washington (Sept. 29) and Northwest Nazarene (Oct. 1).