Saint Martin’s keeps MSU-Billings winless after five-setter win 

In yet another conference match going to the distance, the Saint Martin’s Volleyball team beat Montana State Billings, 3-2 (25-18, 21-25, 25-17, 14-25, 15-12) at the Alterowitz Gymnasium in Montana last Thursday, October 17. 

It’s an all-around team effort for the Saints to escape another five-set thriller with a win.

Emmy Hansen recorded a season-high 15 kills and 11 digs in an impressive performance for both ends, while Jennifer Soha recorded a 0.381 hitting percentage with ten kills and seven blocks.

Emily Garten also contributed eight kills and 14 digs, while Zoey Crimin and Nadia Gallegos recorded six blocks each, and setters Tiffany Lam and Aundrea Oxentine combined for 42 assists. 

It was a close first few minutes in the opening set, with both teams finding their rhythm until a 6-0 run orchestrated by Soha and Garten swung the momentum entirely for the Saints. After regaining a 13-9 lead, the Saints sustained the pace throughout the first set for a 1-0 lead after finishing at 25-18. 

The Saints would continue with a hot start in the second set with a 9-1 opening run, but the Yellowjackets clawed the lead back slowly with inspired performances from Jordin Taulua and Jahsita Fa’ali’i, bridging the gap up until reversing it finally with a 20-17 lead up until closing the set at 25-21 to get things even. 

SMU recovered quickly with that second set choke with a determined offense in the third. Having an early 4-2 lead, the visitors did not give the hosts a chance to lead, and while at 16-14, Emmy Hansen led a 5-0 run along with capitalizing errors from the other side to widen the gap up until the 25-17 scoreline to regain the advantage for a chance to clinch the win earlier.  

But they can’t get away with a surviving MSU as the hosts were favored by the volleyball gods in the fourth, expanding an early 6-3 lead to as much as 17-9. The Saints conserved energy for the inevitable decider set as they gave away the fourth while only scoring 14 points. 

In hindsight, the fifth set was perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Saints, as they have never been beaten in the fifth set in this conference season so far. They expanded that undefeated run in the closing set, jumping out to another early lead thanks to a fast-paced opening attack. A kill by Crimin and two errors from the hosts closed the match out for the Saints, who would win the finale 15-12. 

The Saints improve their record to 3-5, while the Yellowjackets are yet to get a win in eight outings this season. 

The Saints will host two Alaskan schools this week.

They will face Alaska Fairbanks on Thursday, October 24, at Marcus Pavilion at 7 p.m. and Alaska Anchorage at 1 p.m. on South Puget Sound in Olympia on Saturday, October 26.