MONMOUTH, Ore.--Kate Markley had a career-high 20 kills and Western Oregon held off a late match surge from visiting Montana State-Billings to top the Yellowjackets three sets to one on Thursday night at the Western Athletic Center.
The Wolves took the conference encounter 25-21, 25-21, 18-25, 25-17 for their second straight win. They improved to 8-10 overall and to 4-6 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Yellowjackets are now 3-16 on the year and 0-10 in the GNAC.
Markley rained down 20 kills and hit .256 in the process. The junior from Idaho had plenty of help as
Vivian Yount added 15 kills and
Payton Davis added 10. On defense,
Cali-Jo Shigemasa had 17 digs, her third straight game in double figures.
Kilinoelehua Helm had 13 digs.Â
The Wolves led nearly the entire first set, jumping to 5-0 and 7-1 leads out of the gate. But the Yellowjackets, down 10-4, scored seven straight points to take a 11-10 lead, yet the Wolves answered with four consecutive points of their own and they never trailed after that on their way to the 25-21 verdict.
WOU led the entire second set, but never by more than four points to the 25-21 finish. But MSUB, with their backs up against the wall, jumped out to an early lead in the third. They would not trail and hit a sizzling .308 on their way to the 25-18 win. The fourth set was tight, with the Yellowjackets jumping out to a quick margin again at 10-4. But the Wolves battled back to tie the set the 13-13, 14-14, and 15-15. The home team then scored three straight points on a Yount kill, an MSUB error and an ace by
Kealani Rosa to take a lead that they wouldn't relinquish.Â
The Wolves would hit .343 in the decisive fourth set.Â
MSUB was tough at the net all night with 18 total blocks. Allie Dorman led her team with 18 kills.Â
The Wolves next host Seattle Pacific on Saturday at 1 pm.Â
