BILLINGS, Mont. — The Montana Western volleyball team (15-2, 2-1) lost in a five-set matchup (20-25, 25-23, 25-27, 27-25, 7-15) to (RV) Rocky Mountain College (13-6, 2-0).
Danyel Martin logged two blocks in the matchup, good enough to take the top spot in the UMW volleyball record books (since the rally points change in 2008). She took the top spot over Bulldog alumni Charelle Minor who recorded 233 career blocks from 2010-13.
How it Happened
The two teams matched each other step for step for much of the first set. UMW took a two-point lead following a kill from
Jazi Smith. Up 19-17, Rocky Mountain went on a 5-0 run, taking the edge at 22-19.
Jaiden Perez provided the lone kill for the remainder of the set for UMW. The Battlin' Bears took the lead behind a 25-20 victory.
Following suit from the first set, the two teams continued to battle for each point. Kills from Martin and
Kaitlyn Van Well boosted the Bulldogs to a 16-14 lead mid-set. A kill from
Jordan Olson and a block from Martin and Olson closed out the set with the Bulldogs up 25-23.
Smith provided a kill that put UMW up 9-7 early in third frame. Rocky Mountain answered with a 6-1 scoring run, taking back the lead at 13-10. Rocky would continue to hang on to the edge and take the set 27-25.
Despite hitting .186 as a team in the fourth frame, the Bulldogs put together a set-high of 19 kills as a team on their way to a 27-25 win, forcing a fifth and deciding set.
The final frame was all Battlin' Bears, quickly defeating the Bulldogs 15-7 behind a .286 team hitting percentage. The Bulldogs struggled behind five errors and hit just -.214.
Notables
- Martin had a career night, posting a season high of 16 kills, riding behind a .424 hitting percentage. She also added two blocks, edging her over the hill to take a spot in the UMW record books.
- Smith added another 14 kills, along with a career high of 31 digs in the back row.
- Kelsey Goddard racked up 34 digs for the Bulldogs.
- Four Bulldogs added serving aces in the game, three of which totaling two (Smith, Kaylee Fritz, Morgyn Harrison).
- Fritz led the Bulldogs with 26 assists.
Up Next
The Bulldogs continue on their road stand for the next two matchups. They will travel to take on the No. 9 ranked Montana Tech on October 4. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
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