University of Providence Athletics

GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence women's volleyball program fell to Bismarck State in five sets Thursday night.

In the first set the Argos (18-6) jumped out to a 7-2 lead behind kills from freshman Bree MacDonald and senior Martyna Fiedler, but the Mystics (10-12) answered with a 5-3 stretch to bring the match within three. The Argos slowly pushed their advantage out to eight off an ace from sophomore Araleigh Arnold and a kill from junior Kendall Picolet, and despite a late kill from the Mystics, the Argos cruised the rest of the set with a kill from senior Cabry Badley securing the first for UP 25-15.

In set two both sides went back-and-forth until a 5-1 stretch from the Mystics put Bismarck State ahead 10-7. The Mystics pushed their lead out to seven, and despite a pair of late kills from Picolet, Bismarck State hung on to take set two 25-20.

In the third set the Mystics got out to a 13-8 lead but a pair of kills from Fiedler shortened the Mystic advantage to four. Bismarck quickly answered to push the lead out to seven, and despite a late kill from Fiedler, the Mystics scored the final four points of the set to take the third 25-16.

In set four Bismarck State scored five of the first seven points but the Argos responded with eight straight off kills from MacDonald and Badley to put UP in front 14-7. The Mystics did not go away, bringing the set within three, but the Argos took control scoring 10 of the final 13 points of the fourth with an ace from senior Isabelle Cahall and a kill from MacDonald securing the set for UP 25-15.

In the deciding set the Mystics used an early 7-0 run to take a 10-5 lead, but the Argos answered with blocks from Badley, MacDonald, and sophomore Brooklyn Hillman to shorten the advantage to three. Following a kill from the Mystics, the Argos used a kill from Badley to make it 14-12, but the Mystics answered with a kill down the stretch to secure the fifth 15-12, and the match 3-2.
 
The Argos will be back in action on Friday, Oct. 23 when they host Dickinson State in Great Falls at 7:00 p.m.