Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information cover photo Tessa McNeil
DILLON, Mont. – The no. 17 ranked Montana Western Women's Volleyball team (16-6, 6-3) remained undefeated in five-set games this season after upsetting the no. 13 ranked University of Providence this afternoon by scores of 27-29, 25-18, 22-25, 25-20, and 15-11.
"The team did a great job today just working together. I know earlier this week they really focused on what they wanted to pride themselves on and what their goals were for the rest of the season. I think these last two games have just shown what they are about and what they are capable of," Head Coach Katie Lovett said after the win. "Obviously, Providence is an extremely good team and was not an easy win. I don't expect any games that we play in the future to be easy wins, but it was a nice win for us today."
How It Happened
Western opened the match in dramatic fashion with both teams trading points back and forth down the stretch. Danyel Martin recorded a kill to give the Bulldogs an edge at 26-25, but the Argos refused to go down without a fight. UP would take the opening set 29-27.
The Bulldogs regrouped in the second set and capitalized on a service ace from Taylor Petersen and a kill from Martin to take a 17-11 lead. Peyton Vogl and Jazi Smith closed out the set with two kills apiece to give the Bulldogs their first set win of the match at 25-18.
Another highly competitive third set featured Western's lowest team hitting percentage of the match, recording nine hitting errors on their way to losing the frame 25-22.
The fourth set was once again a teeter totter, trading points back and forth before Western took a slight edge at 19-15. A pair of kills for the Argos brought the game back to one-point, but a well-placed timeout from Coach Lovett killed the Argo run and the Bulldogs would close the set by outscoring UP 6-2 to win 25-20.
Feeding off of their fourth set win, the Bulldogs came alive and totaled eight kills in the fifth set on their way to a 15-11 final frame win.
Notables
Western is 7-0 this season in games that have gone to a fifth set.
As a team, the Bulldogs recorded 16 total blocks, with 12 coming as solo blocks.
Setters Petersen and Kaylee Fritz impressed, leading the Bulldogs with a combined 12.2 assists per set and 29 and 28 assists apiece respectively.
Kelsey Goddard led the defense with 32 digs in the match, her second highest mark this season.
Freshman Savana Warburton had a breakout game, totaling a career high 11 kills in the game.
Vogl's season-high nine blocks led the Bulldogs in the front row, including five solo blocks.
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