BUTTE, Mont. -- The University of Providence volleyball program cruised to a pair of victories on day one at the Big Sky Challenge defeating Life Pacific 3-0 and Doane University 3-1.

In the first set of the season versus the Warriors (0-1) the Argos (1-0) were able to take an early lead courtesy of a kill by junior Franny Martins. The set would stay within three until a kill by sophomore Cabry Taylor and an ace by sophomore Ella Cochran gave the Argos a 9-4 lead. Despite the set coming within one, the Argos would score five straight points to put them ahead for good as UP took the first set 25-18.

UP jumped in front in set two as well with a kill by junior Ryann Eddins putting the Argos ahead by two. The set would be tied twice early but a 4-0 run by the Argos behind kills from Martins and Eddins gave UP a 16-10 edge. Life Pacific would make a late run, but UP was able to hold on to take the second set 25-19.

In the third set the Warriors scored the first point to take their first lead of the match but kills by Martins and junior Bella Green retook the lead for the Argos. UP would slowly distance themselves the rest of the match until six straight points behind back-to-back kills from junior Sadie Lott gave the Argos the third set 25-16 and the match 3-0. Martins led the way for UP with 9 kills and junior Bella Thompson added 33 assists and 13 digs.

In the second game of the day the Argos (2-0) scored the first point of the match, but their would be three early lead changes before a run from the Argos gave UP a 6-4 lead. The Argos would slowly extend their lead the rest of the set as UP took set one 25-20.

Doane (0-2) would jump ahead in the second set, and despite a late run by the Argos to tie it at 18, Doane was able to take the second set 25-21.

In set three Doane scored the first two points but kills by senior Nina Janjic and Eddins put the Argos ahead 4-2. After the Tigers took a 5-4 lead the Argos rattled off 12 points in a row to take a commanding 16-6 lead. Despite a late four-point run from the Tigers, a block from Lott and Eddins secured the set for UP 25-16.

The Argos jumped out to an early 8-3 lead in the fourth set behind kills from Taylor, Janjic, and Eddins, but a 7-1 run from Doane tied the set at 11. UP would respond with a 5-0 run behind a pair of kills from Janjic as the Argos cruised to a 25-19 set and 3-1 match victory. Taylor and Lott led the way with 12 and 10 kills respectively, and Thompson added 36 assists and 12 digs.

The Argos are back in action tomorrow with two matches at the Civic Center in Butte, Mont. The first match is against Our Lady of the Lake at 9:00 a.m. and game two versus Embry-Riddle begins at 2:00 p.m.