Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
OMAHA, Neb. – Argo volleyball closed out day one of the GoSarpy.com Labor Day Classic with a perfect record, including a win over No. 7 Northwestern College, marking their second top 15 win of the season.
 
University of Providence 3 – Evangel University 1 (26-24, 25-23, 20-25, 25-19)
 
During set one, the Argos found themselves down quickly as the Crusaders sprinted out of the gate to an 8-3 lead early, however their lead was short-lived as Providence responded with a run of their own to tie things up at 10. Providence added another kill to take the lead and would not relinquish their lead to take the opening set, 26-24.
 
The Crusaders opened the second set with a 4-0 run and eventually held a 13-7 advantage. The Argos responded with a dominant 10-4 rally of their own to even things at 17. Much like the preceding set, the Argos would control the rest of the set, 25-23, to take a 2-0 lead over Evangel.
 
Both squads opened the third set trading points to where the Crusaders held an 8-7 advantage. The Crusaders then extended their lead following a 6-1 lead to make it 14-8. The Argos played from behind to try and catch back up, but the Crusaders controlled the set to push the match to a fourth set, 20-25.
 
The fourth set began in the Argos favor as they took an 8-4 lead, but the Crusaders responded to tie things at 12. Two more 3-0 runs for both teams put the game at 15 all. The Argos flexed their muscles as they closed out the set with a 10-4 run to take the match after four, 3-1.
 
Sydney Andersen and Kelsey Shaver lead the offensive attack for the Argos, collecting 16 and 14 kills, respectively. Lauren Brown also contributed on the offensive end with 12 kills and hit for a team-high .333 percent. Paige Jensen collected a game-high 50 assists and Averi Dyer led both squads on the defensive end with 24 digs.
 
University of Providence 3 - No. 7 Northwestern College 0 (25-18, 25-23, 26-24)
 
Providence began game two red-hot as they lead early following a 12-3 run to open up the match. The Red Raiders tried to catch back up, but the early dominance of the Argos was too much as Providence took the opening set, 25-18.
 
The Red Raiders took the lead at the beginning of the second set as a service error, service ace, and an attack error contributed to a 2-5 lead for Northwestern. Shortly after, the Red Raiders began committing a few errors of their own to eventually tie things up at 6. Providence took the lead and maintained it until the game was nearly tied up again at 21-20 following a service error, but a kill from Sydney Andersen helped to spark a finish for the Argos to take the 2-0 advantage.
 
The third set was extremely competitive as both squads continued to trade points with 12 ties leading to a 16-16 standstill. Two consecutive kills from Andersen put the Argos up by two, 18-16, but the Red Raiders put up a fight as they then scored four of their own to retake the lead at 18-20. Both teams tallied two more to push the game to 20-22. A service error, attack error, and kills from Anderson and Shaver put the Argos back on top and with game point. The Red Raiders earned a kill and a service ace to knot things back up at 24 all, but the Argos showed how they can play with anyone by earning two more points to take the straight-set win, 26-24.
 
Andersen was deadly, hitting for a season-high .636 percent and tallying 14 kills. Shaver also claimed 10 kills. Jensen dished out 36 assists, while also adding two blocks. Dyer led the match again with a game-high 13 digs.
 
Up Next
 
The Argos conclude their competition in Omaha, Nebraska as they return to the Lied Activity Center for day two of the GoSarpy.com Labor Day Classic. Providence start things off with an 8 a.m. matchup with William Woods University and close things out against Peru State College at 4 p.m.
 
Live stats for tomorrow's games can be found here.