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Butte, Mont. - The University of Providence is a young team this season, something that was known by the coaching staff heading into the opening weekend of play. That youth was on display Saturday in the second game of the day at the Big Sky Volleyball Challenge at Butte. Just an hour after falling in a 5-set match, the Argos turned around to square off against Northwest University (Wash.) battling to a loss in four sets 22-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-16.  

Number 10 Providence has matched last year's loss total and head coach Arunas Duda says that is weighing on the ladies, "Yeah, a lot of emotions especially for a young team trying to bounce back. Our kids are a little defeated. When you're used to winning and winning handily with such a winning tradition, and all of a sudden you struggle a little bit, it's tough for these girls to digest." 

After dropping the first set, Providence came out to even things up in the second thanks to the play of Jensyn Turner who had 8 kills for the match. In the third set, the Eagles of the Cascade Conference set the tone early behind returning All-American, Abi Broussard. The graduate student knocked down monster kill after monster kill as Northwest pulled away in the eight-point win. She was just as good in the final set, finishing with a game high 16 kills and a blistering .467 hitting percentage. Duda says she came as advertised, "She's a good player. She's been in that conference a long time. We knew she'd be tough to handle and she proved to be just that." 

The Argos were led in the loss by Jenna Thorne who tallied a double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs. Turner added 8 kills with Zoe Naugle chipping in 6. Bella Thompson had 20 assists.  

Providence closes the Big Sky Volleyball Challenge Saturday morning at Butte, taking on Vanguard (Calif.) at 11 am. Watch all the action at www.upargos.com.