GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The upset almost happened. UGF volleyball rallied from a seven point deficit in the fourth set to force a tie-breaker set, but fourth ranked Rocky Mountain College had too much in that fifth game, eventually winning a 3-2 match 25-23, 20-25, 25-22, 22-25, 15-10.

"I couldn't be more proud of the way our girls competed tonight," said UGF head coach Arunas Duda. "We continue to improve with every match and a close five set loss to the number four team in the country is proof of that."

In the first set the Lady Argos proved they could hang with the top team in the conference. Not only did UGF lose by just two points, but the stats for each team were almost identical. Both teams finished the set with a .087 hitting percentage, three team blocks, one ace, and one blocking error. The difference was two extra errors, one hitting and one serving. Errors would continue to cost UGF for the rest of the match.

"We had opportunities to take the first and third sets," Duda said. "So it might have been a different outcome if we could have finished one of those off."

The second set was the first true sign of a potential upset in the making. The Lady Argo's hitting percentage leapt to .116 while the Bear's dropped to just .021.  Junior outside hitter Madison Wilhelm's 11 digs in the set helped keep RMC off the scoreboard, while the UGF net defense led to nine RMC hitting errors.

Momentum shifted yet again in the third, with UGF again becoming the more error prone side. Junior middle blocker Tiffany Marks and senior right side hitter Kelsee Montagna did help to combine for three team blocks but it wasn't enough to overcome the team's nine third set errors.

At the start of the fourth set it seemed like the upset bid was over. RMC got out to a quick 11-4 lead before UGF began to rally back. It was the Lady Argo's defense that kept points alive despite only two hitting errors from the Bears. UGF finished both the set and the match with more digs than Rocky Mountain, the national leader in digs per game.

"Our defense played spectacularly all night long," Duda said. "Defense is all about attitude and wanting to get the ball up. We definitely had that mindset tonight."

Wilhelm and Montagna were able to turn the team's 25 digs in the set into points. Wilhelm finished the set with seven kills, while Montagna added another 5. Both only had one error each.

Tied 2-2 after a set that should have given UGF all the momentum, the Bears demonstrated why they're a serious national championship contender. RMC dominated the final set, leading wire-to-wire and only allowing a few two or three point runs from UGF.  

Despite the loss, the Lady Argos made it clear that their defense can play as well as anyone they face. Duda's squad finished the match with 124 digs to RMC's 109 as well as more kills (63-56), more assists (60-48) and an equal number of blocks.

"Our effort never wavered and I know I have a team full of fighters that I love to coach," Duda said.

The team's phenomenal defensive effort was led by senior defensive specialist Jacey Habets with 32 digs. Four other Lady Argos finished in double digits in that category. Junior libero Kennedy Chadwick finished with 30 joined by Wilhelm with 26, Norling with 11, and Montagna with 11.

Wilhelm finished as the team's leader in kills with 21, closely followed by Montagna with 17. All but four of the team's assists came from setter Dani Norling, who finished with 56 as well as 11 digs and four block assists.

The loss brings the Lady Argo's record to 21-8 (3-4). The team has five more matches left before the Frontier Conference playoffs. Their next test will be a road trip to Montana Tech on October 24 at 6 p.m.