Spokane, Wash. – The Lady Diggers opened the Red Lion Cascade Frontier Challenge with a close loss to No. 21 Eastern Oregon taking the match to the fifth set. The Mountaineers held off Tech 26-24 20-25 25-21 23-25 15-9.

Montana Tech (0-2) is still looking for their first win of 2013, but their first two competitions have been against tough opponents. The Orediggers fell to Midland (Neb.) last weekend at the Carroll College Tournament.

Freshman Jordan Danz led the squad at the net with 14 kills. The 6' Bigfork native hit for 0.222 in the match.
Junior Samantha Hutcheson tallied 11 kills with a solid 0.257 hitting percentage and only two errors in the match. She also helped block four at the net.

Sophomore Sydney Norris had 10 kills in the match returning to her home state.

Freshman middle blocker Bailie Cortner helped block nine at the net in addition to six kills.

Last year's Frontier Freshman and Libero of the Year posted 28 digs in the match.

Montana Tech faces Oregon Tech tomorrow at 1 p.m. MST.