BUTTE, Mont. – The University of Providence women's volleyball program split on day one of the Big Sky Challenge defeating #21 Nelson 3-1 and falling to #5 Eastern Oregon 3-0.

In the first set of the day each side went back-and-forth, culminating at a tie at seven until a 10-2 run by #21 Nelson (1-2) put the Lions ahead by eight. Both teams traded points the rest of the way as the Argos (1-0) dropped the first set 25-18.

In the second set both teams rattled off 3-0 runs until seven straight from the Argos behind kills by senior Ryann Eddins and junior Cabry Taylor put UP ahead 10-6. The Argos slowly extended their lead off a kill from senior Bella Thompson and an ace from sophomore Isabelle Cahall to push the Argo lead to six. UP maintained that edge the rest of the way with a pair of kills from Eddins securing the second set 25-17.

Neither team could grab a lead by more than two in the third set until five straight from the Argos off three kills from Taylor gave UP a 16-12 edge. #21 Nelson answered with a pair of points but another 5-0 run from the Argos pushed UP's lead out to seven. The Lions would add a pair of kills down the stretch but kills by seniors Kiyana Faupula and Sadie Giles gave the Argos the third set 25-16.

In the fourth set the Argos scored the first five points of the set and took a commanding 9-4 lead behind a pair of kills by junior Martyna Fiedler and Eddins. The Lions rallied back, bringing the match within one but UP never relinquished the lead the rest of the way, taking the third set 25-22, and the match 3-1.

Eddins and Taylor led the way for the Argos with 14 and 11 kills, respectively. Thompson tallied 40 assists, and junior Kyra Saiers had 21 digs.

In game two against #5 Eastern Oregon, the Mountaineers (2-0) got out to a 7-2 lead, but the Argos (1-1) slowly cut into the lead with a kill from Eddins making it a three point edge. EOU pushed the lead out to five but five straight from the Argos behind a pair of kills from Eddins tied the set at 23. Both teams traded points until three straight from the Mountaineers gave EOU the first set 32-30.

UP turned the table in the second set, getting out to an early 6-2 lead, but the Mountaineers stormed back, tying the set at 10. Each side traded runs to tie the set at 17, but the Mountaineers scored five of the last six to take the second set 25-21.

The third set was back-and-forth throughout with neither team grabbing a lead by more than three until the Mountaineers ended the set with a 4-0 run to take the third set 25-20, and the match 3-0.
 
Eddins led the way for UP with 10 kills, Thompson and freshman Araleigh Arnold tallied 17 and 10 assists, and Saiers led the team in digs with 18.

The Argos will be back in action tomorrow, Aug. 23 when they face The Evergreen State College at 9:00 a.m. and will wrap up the Big Sky Challenge at 3:00 p.m. versus Taylor University.