SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The University of Providence volleyball team defeated Viterbo (Wisc.) during their first match of pool play at the NAIA National Championship in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Argos (22-2, 18-2) defeated the V-Hawks 25-14, 25-22, 25-18. The win marks the 20^th straight victory for the team on the season, expanding on the program record.  

"There are so many good teams here at the National Tournament so being able to come out with a three-set victory is an amazing accomplishment," head coach Arunas Duda said. "Our girls came ready to play. Viterbo was a little worn down from their match earlier today and our girls took advantage of that."

The Argos set the tone from the first play with their defensive intensity. Libero Sacha Legros was her usual self, flying around the court and leading the way with 17 digs. Adysen Burns, Cydney Finberg-Roberts and Sadie Lott each chipped in 11 digs. The Argos recorded 11 blocks total, led by four from Lott.

"Our defense was great again today," Duda said. "Sacha really set the tone for us. She was flying around the first couple of points. Viterbo knew they were in for a long night and that they were really going to have to work hard to put the ball away. You can't say enough about the effort. We had four players in double-digit digs. That's tremendous."

The Argos had a well-balanced attack offensively as well. Jensyn Turner led the way with 13 kills on a .370 hitting percentage while Lott and Burns each recorded 12 kills. Cydney Finberg-Roberts directed the offense beautifully, recording 38 assists on the night.

"We were able to move the ball around quite a bit today," Duda said. "Even if one player didn't have her best game, then other players stepped up and put the ball away for us. Everyone contributed. We have a lot of pieces and we plan to use them all."

Providence and Jamestown both defeated the V-Hawks on Tuesday during pool play, officially eliminating them from the National Tournament. The Argos and the top-seeded Jimmies (28-1, 15-1) will meet tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. MTN; the winner will advance to the Elite 8.

"They're number one for a reason," Duda said. "They do a lot of really good things. I just think that we have to show up with that same intensity. We're going to have to elevate our game even more. They have a lot of really good players. I think that we'll have to play really well. I know our girls are capable of it. They've shown us every step of the way that they definitely can do it. I'm preparing for a dogfight tomorrow. It's going to be fun."

Make sure to follow the Argos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for some behind the scenes coverage from the NAIA National Tournament.