VB 03-04 MG.pmd - Montana State University - Billings

About MSUB Athletics
Montana State University-Billings is an NCAA Division II member sponsoring twelve varsity sports,
seven for women and five for men, plus co-ed cheerleading. The mission of MSU-Billings Athletics
is to provide opportunities for student-athletes that are high in both quantity and quality. By offering
a variety of teams for men and women as well as a broad range of academic programs, Yellowjacket
Athletics has continued to grow in recent years.
Fall Sports
The men’s soccer team faced a grueling road schedule in 2002, playing 16 of its 17 contests outside
of Montana. The Yellowjackets finished the season with a 6-11 highlighted by winning their first
tournament at the Northwest Nazarene Invitational. Doug Seigle will enter his second year at the
helm of the Jackets in 2003 with a team that he believes will be one of the strongest defensive squads
in the region. Seigle has added a balanced mix of transfers and high school players to a talented
group of returnees.
The Lady Jacket soccer team is in the midst of rebuilding after winning just twice in 16 games last
season. The Yellowjackets played with a short roster for much of the year, sometimes suiting up only
13 players. Second year coach Don Trentham has added depth and speed with one of the program’s
largest-ever recruiting classes. With a strong home schedule that includes nine games at
Yellowjacket Field, 2003 could be turning point for the women’s soccer program at MSU-Billings.
The Yellowjacket volleyball team posted a 9-18 record in one of the most competitive conferences in
NCAA II. The Jackets played four matches against eventual national champions in 2002, including
three against NCAA II National Champion BYU-Hawaii and NAIA National Champion National
American. The season was highlighted by a 3-2 victory at Hawaii-Hilo after trailing 2-0. Coach
Pa’ulasi Matavao will boast the longest tenure of any Yellowjacket volleyball coach when he finishes
his fourth season in 2003. He also needs just five more victories to become the winningest coach in
Yellowjacket history.
The women’s cross-country team posted the highest team GPA among NCAA II teams for the third
straight year in 2002-2003. They have now been on the Cross Country Coaches Association All-
Academic list for eight years running. The Lady Jackets placed 16 th at the West Regional Meet, led
by Ellen Swogger’s 47 th place finish. Chelsea Lynnes wasn’t far behind in 59 th place and both
runners return this year.
The men’s cross-country team had as many as nine runners just a month before the season. By the
end of the season, the Jackets were down to three runners and were unable to compete as a team.
Freshman Brian Fosjord finished 90 th at the Regional for the Jackets’ highest individual place.
Coach Dave Coppock has a 2003 recruiting class that will put the Yellowjackets back into team
competition.
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