MSUB's Haley Wells is named the conference defensive player of the week for the opening week of volleyball competition. With victories over all four NCAA Div. II opponents last weekend, the Yellowjackets started the season out with a perfect 4-0 record.
 
PORTLAND, Ore. – Freshman Haley Wells (L, 5-5, Fr., Albany, OR) had team highs of 70 digs and six service aces to help secure four wins in the Jackets' Volleyball Classic and has been selected as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference defensive Player of the Week announced by the conference office Monday.
 
The Yellowjackets won all four games of the round-robin tournament including straight-set victories over the University of Mary, Black Hills State University, and Chadron State College, and a tough five-set victory over Minot State University.
 
"Haley had a great weekend coming in and stepping into the libero position. She was getting a lot of balls up and giving our offense a second chance to take a swing," head coach Lisa Axel said. "She just had great poise as a freshman coming in her first weekend and steadied our service game as well."
 
Wells played in all 14 sets for the tournament and led MSU Billings in digs with 70 and service aces with six. For the tournament she was second in digs per set with five and third in service aces.
 
Wells had a match-high 21 digs in the MSUB come from behind victory against Minot. The Yellowjackets were down two sets and came back with three-set wins to take the match in a thrilling five-set win.
 
This week MSU Billings travels to California to play in the PacWest/GNAC cross-over tournament.  The Yellowjackets play Thursday against host Dominican University at 3 p.m. and Chaminade University at 8 p.m.  The team has one match on Friday against Fresno Pacific University at 12 p.m. and a match against Academy of Art on Saturday at 11 a.m.