Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information
HELENA, Mont. – The no. 17 ranked Montana Western women's volleyball team (17-6, 7-3) won a five-set battle against RV Carroll College this evening by scores of 25-22, 25-19, 20-25, 22-25, and 18-16.
Senior Kelsey Goddard broke the UMW career digs record in the match, a record previously held by Bulldog alumni Dylan Fowler. She totaled 26 digs in the game, putting her at a career total of 2,098.
"The girls played through a ton of adversity tonight and did a great job staying poised," Head Coach Katie Lovett said. "Everyone stepped up when they needed. Kelsey achieving the all-time digs record was just icing on the cake."
How It Happened
Western took control early in set one with a 9-6 lead. Carroll fought their way back in the set and tied the game at 14 all and the two teams battled for position mid-set. A block from Savana Warburton and Peyton Vogl gave UMW the lead at 19 and they would go on to outscore the Saints 7-4 down the stretch to win 25-22.
Carroll wasted little time in flipping the script, taking a 4-0 lead to force a UMW timeout early on in the set. The Bulldogs got back on track and tied the game at seven with a kill from Jazi Smith. Once again, the power struggle continued down the stretch. Tied at 15 all, UMW took a 5-0 run to claim a much-needed edge and finish the set on top once again at 25-19.
The pattern continued, with the Saints once again claiming an early lead. This time, the Bulldogs would be unable to overcome the Saints' powerful set. Carroll would total an impressive 18 kills with just one hitting error in the set to win 25-20.
Despite taking an early lead at 12-8 in the fourth frame, Carroll rode a 6-0 run to a lead change and kept the edge for the remainder of the fourth. They would force a fifth and deciding set after winning 25-22.
The final set proved to be a battle for both teams, with Western leading 7-6 mid-set. Carroll took an edge when they rattled off three straight points to take a two-point lead, but the Bulldogs fought back on their own 3-0 run immediately following. Down 16-15 to the Saints, Western put the nail in the coffin as Smith recorded a pair of kills and Danyel Martin paired with Olivia Rosborough for a block to win 18-16.
Notables
Western is now 8-0 this season in games that have gone to a fifth set, with five of their last seven games going to a fifth set.
Smith led the Bulldogs with an impressive 21 kills and a career-high 36 digs. She also added a pair of blocks.
Kaylee Fritz and Taylor Petersen led the Bulldogs, combining for 68 assists and 13.6 assists per set combined.
Martin was impressive at the net, earning six blocks in the match with the Bulldogs' only solo block of the night.
Up Next
Montana Western returns for Homecoming weekend this Saturday to take on the Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears for Dig Pink Night. The game is set for 6pm in the Straugh Gymnasium.
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