Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BILLINGS, Mont. – Unable to find its groove offensively, the University of Mary volleyball team opened the season with two tough losses at the Jackets' Volleyball Classic. The Marauders dropped their season opener 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-18) to tournament host MSU Billings. The first day concluded with a 3-1 (21-25, 25-11, 25-18, 25-20) loss to Black Hills State University.
 
Despite a team-high seven kills from Lauren Randell in her debut with U-Mary (0-2 overall), the Marauders couldn't match the offensive output of the host Yellowjackets. MSU-Billings (2-0 overall) connected for 40 kills and hit .193. U-Mary totaled 26 kills and hit .132. The Marauders did hold a 6-2 edge in blocks.
 
Allison Adams had five kills for U-Mary and had four blocks, including two solo. Alex Brown posted 19 digs and Janelle Finkneiner just missed a double double with 13 assists and nine digs.
 
Monica Grimsrud connected for 15 kills for MSUB and Stormy Siemion collected 11 kills and 12 digs.
 
In their second match of the day, the Marauders dominated the opening set with 14 kills to just seven for Black Hills State Yellowjackets. Fortunes reversed for BHSU in the second set when it held a 15-4 edge in kills. Black Hills State nudged U-Mary 41-39 in kills but it registered a .185 hitting percentage to a .000 mark for the Marauders. BHSU also had an 11-7 edge in blocks.
 
Paige Smith led the Marauders with 10 kills in the BHSU match, hitting a team-high .381 with just two attack errors. Loren Boldt chipped in eight kills with five block assists and Adams added six kills and six block assists. Brown had 18 digs to lead U-Mary for the second straight match.
 
Shelby Mayer led Black Hills State with 12 kills. Holly Hamlin added 10 kills and five blocks (three solo).
 
The Marauders conclude the Jacket's Classic on Saturday, Sept. 6, with matches against fellow Northern Sun member Minot State University and Chadron State College of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
 
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