HAVRE, Mont. – A trip to Havre meant a trough in Lady Argo volleyball's up and down season. Coming off of a dominant victory over Rocky Mountain College, UGF struggled against 2-9 Montana State University – Northern, losing 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-11).
 
The first set was a close one, with both teams holding the lead at times, and the scored tied at 18 each late in the set. Each team took a few rallies in the last 12 points but the Lady Argos came up just shy of the win.
 
Even though the score was close, the Lady Argo offense was already a bit out of sync in that set. UGF committed 8 hitting errors in set 1 and finished with a hitting percentage of 0.135, below the team's season average. Part of what made the set so close, was 4 service errors and 2 ball handling errors for the Lights.
 
In the next two sets, UGF's hitting percentage dropped incrementally and the Lights committed fewer errors. In fact, it was the same aggressive serving, which helped UGF in set 1 with a slew of errors, that caused the most problems for the Lady Argos in sets 2 and 3. MSUN earned all 7 of its aces over the next two sets, and UGF's troubles in serve receive made it difficult for the offense set up properly.
 
The one aspect of UGF's game that did work to some success was the team's net defense. The Lady Argo's 7 blocks, to MSUN's 5, was the lone statistical advantage for Great Falls. Both senior outside hitter Madison Wilhelm and sophomore middle blocker Maya Kiruluta tied or set their respective season highs with 2 solo blocks each.
 
Wilhelm also led UGF in kills with 6 and was second on the team with 5 digs. Junior outside hitter Korie Milan was right behind Wilhelm with 5 kills, three of which came in the first set.
 
The loss brings the Lady Argo's record to 7-9 (1-2). Just as they did last weekend, the team will look to bounce back from a tough loss with a solid win, as they travel to Carroll College on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.