BUTTE, Mont. – The Vanguard women's volleyball team concluded the Big Sky Volleyball Challenge with a split against top notch competition, defeating No. 10 Providence in straight sets before falling to host and 13th-ranked Montana Tech in four sets.
The win over Providence marked the second straight against a ranked foe, following Friday's five-set thriller over No. 9 Viterbo.
The Lions return to Orange County with a 2-2 record and loads of confidence after more than holding their own against some of the nation's best.
What Happened?
Vanguard 3, No. 10 Providence 0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-23)
The Lions used a balanced attack and stellar defense to subdue the Argos. Four Lions recorded seven kills – Hailey Petersen (SR/Omaha, NE), Cambria Fernandez (SR/Northridge, CA), Morgan Cole (FR/Bakersfield, CA) and Delaney Hill (FR/Foothill Ranch, CA) – and Providence struggled to mount much of an offense with just .011 hitting efficiency.
Madeline DeLucia (JR/Happy Valley, OR) and Rachel Lim (SO/La Palma, CA) split setting duties with 12 and 11 assists, respectively. The Lions hit .176 as a team, with Petersen slamming her seven kills on .667 (7-1-9) efficiency.
VU won the digs battle substantially by a 42-28 margin, as DeLucia, Cole and Blair Dodge (SO/Aliso Viejo, CA) had seven scoops apiece.
The Lions stormed out to a 11-4 lead in the first set on a kill from Hill. They still held a seven-point lead at 17-10 on Petersen's putaway. Providence crept within 21-17, but the Lions squashed any thoughts of a comeback by scoring the final four points, clinching the set on an attack error.
In the second set, Providence moved out to a 5-2 lead on a VU attack error. The Argos led 7-4 when VU notched four straight points to take an 8-7 edge. The Lions kept the pressure on and eventually led 12-8, scoring eight out of the last nine points.
VU would not look back as kills from Fernandez and Adeline Galvanoni (FR/Chandler, AZ) clinched the 25-18 set-two victory.
The third frame presented the tightest volleyball of the match as neither team led by more than three points. Fernandez put the Lions up 5-2 with a kill. An ace from DeLucia gave VU an 11-9 lead, but the Argos claimed their first lead with three consecutive points.
Trailing 12-11, VU went to work and eventually caught Providence at 15-14 on an ace from Dodge. But the Argos battled back with a 4-0 run to go up 18-15.
VU's grit would not allow the Argos to create any additional distance, and with Fernandez serving, the Lions scored three straight points to grab a 21-19 advantage. Providence would not give up, tying the score at 23-23 following three straight errors by the Lions.
But a bad set from Providence set up match point, and an attack error from the Argos followed as Vanguard took the 25-23 victory.
The Lions swept a ranked opponent for the first time since Nov. 2, 2019 against No. 24 Hope International.
No. 13 Montana Tech 3, Vanguard 1 (25-18, 25-16, 23-25, 26-24)
The Lions put up a fight and came within two points of taking No. 13 Montana Tech to a fifth set, but could not pull off the upset.
Hill led the Lions with 11 kills, followed by six each from Callie Bickmore (JR/Auburn, CA) and Payton Darm (SO/San Juan Capistrano, CA). Bickmore hit .455 (6-1-11) and Darm .308 (6-2-13).
Lim handed out 20 assists and Dodge continued her stellar play from the backrow with 22 digs. VU hit .049 as a team while the Diggers swung at a .212 clip.
The Diggers were in command early with 25-18 and 25-16 victories in the first two sets. The Lions trailed from start to finish in both sets.
VU turned things around with a 25-23 set three triumph. Three kills from Hill helped matters for VU, including a set clinching smash. The Lions led by as much as three at 11-8, but the Diggers clawed back to take a 16-14 lead.
A big block from Darm and Hill brought VU within one, and the Lions stayed one back as Bickmore's kill made the score 18-17. Montana Tech scored two straight to take a 20-17 lead and force a VU timeout. The break in action did wonders as the Lions went on a 4-1 run to tie the score at 21-21, the tying point on a Bickmore kill.
The score remained tied at 22-22 and 23-23, but VU had the final push in hand.
Seeking another set win, the Lions and Diggers were tied seven times – the final at 11-11 in set four. Montana Tech then utilized a 6-2 run as errors plagued the Lions.
With a 17-13 advantage, the Diggers maintained their lead but VU had one more run in its arsenal. Viktoria Dickson (FR/Chula Vista, CA) came off the bench with three late kills, her last one pulling the Lions within 23-22. Hill kept the Lions within one at 24-23 and a Digger attack error tied the scoreline at 24-24.
However, Montana Tech would take the 26-24 win in set four on a VU attack error and a final winning swing from Maureen Jessop, who led the Diggers with 22 kills.
Why Is It Important?: The Lions came away with two wins against top-10 teams and did so with several freshmen on the floor. It is the first time VU defeated two ranked opponents at one tournament since this same Big Sky Volleyball Challenge in 2018. At that event, the Lions downed No. 15 Eastern Oregon and No. 7 College of Idaho.
What Was Said?: "Great morning for us. We came out ready and kept pressure on Providence, capitalizing on our offense," said Head Coach Jennifer Dorn. "This afternoon we faced a bigger block and struggled learning how to adapt. When we did, our block picked up and we started attacking the ball at a greater efficiency. Bickmore stepped in huge with blocking and offense and we battled well as a team. This is a great weekend for us and built confidence for our young team."
What's Next?: The Lions play four more matches over two days at the Hope International Summer Slam next Friday and Saturday. VU will tangle with two more ranked opponents in No. 8 Northwestern College and No. 24 Dordt on Saturday. The Lions open with Benedictine Mesa and Evergreen State on Friday.
