BU stumbles against Argos in Top-5 matchup

Box Score
Frontier Standings

GREAT FALLS, Mont. -- The No. 5-ranked Bellevue University volleyball team was unable to slow down a red-hot No. 4 University of Providence squad on Friday night, falling in straight sets 25-16, 25-17, 25-16 at the McLaughlin Center Gymnasium.

The setback snapped BU's five-match winning streak and dropped the Bruins to 10-3 overall and 6-2 in the Frontier Conference. Providence extended its own streak to 14 straight victories while improving to 15-1 and 8-0 in league play.

Providence hit a blistering .330 for the match, the highest percentage BU has allowed this season. Conversely, Bellevue's .081 efficiency marked its lowest of the year.

Set 1: Providence 25, Bellevue 16
The opener featured eight ties and four lead changes before the Argos seized control midway through the frame. Martyna Fiedler and Sadie Giles fueled a 12-3 stretch that turned a 9-7 BU edge into a 19-12 UP lead. Providence's defense held the Bruins to -.032 hitting, closing the set 25-16.

Set 2: Providence 25, Bellevue 17
Bellevue started strong, pushing ahead 14-12 on kills from Bentlee Kollbaum and Rowyn Scheer. But UP responded with a decisive 10-2 surge, keyed by Giles and Fiedler, to pull away for a 25-17 decision. The Bruins hit .182 in the set, their best offensive effort of the night, but couldn't match Providence's 18 kills and .333 efficiency.

Set 3: Providence 25, Bellevue 16
Providence stormed out to a 15-7 lead and appeared on the verge of a runaway, but Bellevue rallied late to save three match points and extend the frame. The Argos ultimately finished it off on the fourth opportunity, sealing the sweep 25-16 on a Bella Green kill.

Bruin Leaders

Eve Fountain: 8 kills, 9 digs, 2 aces

Kealy Kiviniemi: 6 kills, 2 digs, 1 block assist

Zoie Roghair: 10 digs, 1 assist

Mila Aiwohi: 12 assists, 5 digs

Victoria Runyan: 9 assists, 5 digs

Providence was led by Martyna Fiedler (15 kills, .400, 4 blocks), Sadie Giles (12 kills, 9 digs), and setter Bella Thompson (38 assists, 12 digs).

Up Next
Bellevue continues its Montana road swing on Saturday, Sept. 27, traveling to Montana State-Northern for a 6 p.m. (CT) contest in Havre, Mont.