University of Providence Athletics

BUTTE, Mont. – The University of Providence women's volleyball program finished the Big Sky Challenge with a pair of sweeps defeating Ottawa University (AZ) and Northwest University Saturday afternoon.

In the first set of the day both sides went back-and-forth with neither side gaining a lead by more than two until three straight from the Spirit (1-2) put Ottawa ahead 18-15. The Argos (6-1) slowly clawed back tying the game at 21 behind kills from senior Cabry Badley and junior Addison Hinckley, and despite the Spirit taking a 23-21 lead, the Argos scored the final four points of the set with a block by freshman Brooklyn Hillman and sophomore Trinity Tinsen securing the first for UP 25-23.

Set two was more of the same with each team trading points until a 6-1 run from the Argos off kills from freshman Bree MacDonald and Badley put UP in front 11-8. The Argos slowly pushed their lead out to six off a pair of kills from MacDonald, and despite a late flurry from the Spirit, the Argos scored the final three points of the set with a kill from Badley securing the second for UP 25-19.

In the third set Ottawa jumped out to a 6-3 lead but five straight from the Argos behind three aces in a row from junior Marli Lopeman put UP in front 8-6. Both teams traded runs culminating in a tie at 21 but the Argos scored four of the last five with a kill from Badley securing the third set for UP 25-22, and the match 3-0.

Cabry Badley led the way for UP with nine kills and five blocks while Addison Hinckley tallied seven kills and sophomore Araleigh Arnold added 26 assists.

In the final game of the Big Sky Challenge the Argos gained an early 8-4 advantage behind three kills from Hillman, but the Eagles (1-3) answered with five straight to take a one-point lead. The Argos slowly pushed their lead out to six with kills from freshman Bree MacDonald and senior Martyna Fiedler, and despite a late pair of points from Northwest, a kill from sophomore Kya Stanley secured set one for UP 25-18.

In set two the Argos used an early 6-1 run behind a kill from MacDonald and an ace from senior Kyra Saiers to take an 11-6 lead. UP slowly pushed the lead out to nine with a kill from junior Karolina Karabasz and an ace from junior Marli Lopeman, and despite a late 5-1 run from the Eagles, a kill from Hillman secured the second set for UP 25-17.

In the third set the Eagles jumped out to a 10-5 lead but the Argos answered with five straight off kills from MacDonald and junior Kendall Picolet to tie the set at 10. Both teams traded points until a 6-1 stretch from UP behind a kill from Badley and an ace from senior Isabelle Cahall extended the UP lead to 21-17. Northwest did not go away bringing the set within one, but a kill from MacDonald secured the third for UP 25-22, and the match 3-0.

Bree MacDonald led the way for UP with eight kills and eight digs while setters Araleigh Arnold and Marli Lopeman added 17 assists apiece.

The Argos will be back in action Friday, Sept. 4 when they head to Helena, Mont. for the Frontier Conference Opener. UP will face Carroll College at 6:00 p.m. in the PE Center.