Thursday, Sept. 8

Volleyball: Wolves, Saints Record Road Victories

Reese

Western Oregon fought off four match points in the fourth set and went on to defeat Alaska Anchorage, 26-24, 21-25, 18-25, 28-26, 15-7 Thursday in a GNAC volleyball match at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

Saint Martin's also earned a road victory keeping Alaska Fairbanks (0-9) winless with a 25-21, 25-13, 25-19 victory. Meanwhile, Western Washington swept Northwest Nazarene, 25-13, 25-19, 25-20. The matches were the conference openers for all six schools.

In a non-conference match, Grand Canyon handed Montana State Billings (4-1) its first loss of the season defeating the Yellowjackets 25-22, 25-20, 25-22.

Western Oregon's Danielle Reese and Krissi Kemper combined for four kills to rally the Wolves (2-3) from a 24-22 deficit in the fourth set. Reese had two kills to tie the set at 24-24.

Kemper got kills to tie the contest at 25-25 and 26-26 on UAA's third and fourth try for match point.

The Wolves then got a kill from Samantha Ward and a service ace from Reese to force the decisive fifth set. In that set the teams were tied 4-4 when Kemper gave her team the lead for good with a kill.

Reese had a match-high 23 kills and 14 digs, while Corynn Kopra and Kemper were also in double figures with 14 and 13 kills, respectively.

UAA (4-5) was led by 18 kills and a career-high-tying 23 digs from Jackie Matthisen. Robyn Burton had 16 kills and five blocks.

UAA libero Quincy Haught delivered a career-high 25 digs, and outside hitter Nikkie Viotto had her second career double-double with 12 kills and 16 digs.

Kristyn Ross had 13 kills and Katy Ferguson had 11 as Saint Martin's won its conference opener for the first time since it defeated Seattle University to open the 2001 season.

The Saints (2-3) outhit the Nanooks .153 to .074 as Brianna Bautista and Teilissa Tua led the defense with 29 digs and six blocks, respectively.

Reilly Stevens paced UAF with 13 kills and Keri Knight had 10. Jaxon Hill was credited with five blocks.

Marlayna Geary had 18 kills and hit for a .417 percentage in Western Washington's victory. Emily Jepsen added 11 kills for the Vikings (3-2) who outhit Northwest Nazarene .297 to .181.

Viking setter Laurie Yearout was credited with 38 assists and Samantha Hutchinson had 18 digs. Kaitlyn Tuholski led Northwest Nazarene (2-3) with eight kills and Haley Abbott had seven.

Grand Canyon had only a .124 to .117 hitting percentage advantage in its 3-0 win against MSU Billings, but had a 14-9 point advantage from the serving line.

MSUB's Monica Grimsrud was the only player in double figure kills with 11. Melissa Porter had five blocks.

Women's Soccer: Seattle Pacific Swats Argonauts 6-1

Verdoia

Freshman forward Ali Martin scored the first two goals of her Seattle Pacific career – tallying both just 90 seconds apart late in the game -- and senior forward Mandy Verdoia also scored a pair as the Falcons routed Notre Dame de Namur 6-1 Thursday at Interbay Stadium.

Montana State Billings (3-0) was the only other GNAC team to win as it edged Rocky Mountain 1-0.

Saint Martin's (0-2-1) and Central Washington (1-1-2) earned ties. The Saints battled to a 1-1 draw with Nebraska-Omaha, which is transitioning to Division I.

The Wildcats played their fourth consecutive overtime game. This one with Northwest University ended in a 2-2 deadlock. Northwest Nazarene (1-2-0) was the only GNAC loser, falling to Cal Baptist 3-1.

Seattle Pacific also got goals from Brandi Hamre and freshman midfielder Demi Waitley in its win. Hamre also had an assist in the contest.

The Falcons (2-1-0) had a 26-5 shot advantage. Only one Notre Dame shot was "on goal", a successful goal by Massiel Castellanos at 64:06.

Heidi Greenback scored her fourth goal of the season to keep Montana State Billings unbeaten. The Yellowjackets had a 13-6 shot advantage in the win. Danielle Gordon had two saves to post the shutout.

Saint Martin's gave up an early goal (at 8:23), then scored with 2:37 left in regulation to earn its draw. Hanna Massee scored from five yards out off a rebound from a shot by Clarissa Strayer.

The Nebraska team had a 21-12 shot advantage and took seven of the game's eight corners. Ashley Engel had eight saves in the second half and overtime.

Central Washington got goals from Carson McKole and Brittany Franks to take a 2-1 lead against Northwest, but then gave up a goal in the 76th minute to Rachel Saleen. Miranda Hesleo and McKole had assists on CWU's two goals.

Kimberly Allard scored two goals in Cal Baptist's win. Jenny Field scored Northwest Nazarene's goal. But, the Crusaders were outshot 27-7. Tanya Zickefoose had 16 saves for NNU to keep the contest close.

Men's Soccer: Emerick Leads MSUB Past Mary

Emerick

Freshman Kyle Emerick scored both of Montana State Billings' goals Thursday in a 2-1 win over the University of Mary at Yellowjacket Field.

Saint Martin's and Seattle Pacific each lost home games. The Saints fell to Metro State 3-2, while the Falcons lost to Notre Dame de Namur 3-1.

Mary grabbed the early lead with a goal in the fifth minute, but Emerick converted a breakaway to tie the contest at 27:45, then took a through ball from Thomas Chameraud and beat the Marauder keeper for the game-winner at 48:11.

MSUB (1-2-0) finished with a 16-13 shot advantage. Goalkeeper Eoin Hurley had four saves.

Metro State built an early 3-0 lead in its win against Saint Martin's getting goals at 5:23, 20:24 and 22:05.

Xan Nixon got the Saints (1-2-0) on the board in the 43rd minute on a free kick from 20 yards, then scored again at 73:59, but SMU was unable to get the equalizer.

Notre Dame de Namur jumped to a 3-0 lead against Seattle Pacific (0-1-1) before the Falcons got on the board at 83:44 on an unassisted goal by Ryan Brand.

Golf: MSUB's Thomas Leads Yellowjacket Invitational

P.J. Thomas

Montana State Billlings freshman P.J. Thomas fired a two-under par 70 to take the first-day lead in the MSUB Yellowjacket Invitational at Briarwood Golf Club Thursday.

Thomas has a one-shot lead on the 7,004 yard layout over Connor Rakowski of Rocky Mountain. MSUB's Marcus Drange, competing for the Yellowjacket B team, is fifth with a four-over par 76.

In the women's tournament, Dominique Dinallo of Colorado State Pueblo is the first-day leader. Her three-over-par 75 on the 6,310 yard layout is five shots ahead of MSUB's Kalli Stanhope who is in second place with an 80.

In the team standings, Rocky Mountain has a pair of one shot leads over the MSUB men (305 to 306) and the Colorado State Pueblo women (336 to 337). The Yellowjacket women are third with a 339 total.