BUTTE -- Montana Tech's volleyball team fell in straight sets Friday night to Valley City State, 25-22, 25-23, 25-21, inside Valley Bank Arena.
Both teams' defenses prevailed in the match, combining for 23 blocks. Tech held the Vikings to just a .127 hitting percentage, while VCSU limited the Orediggers to a .145 clip.
Kinnidi Willmore led the Orediggers (11-8, 7-6 Frontier Conference) with nine kills, while
Payton Treadwell added eight to go with seven blocks.
Ellie Reinertson dished out a team-best 21 assists.
Valley City State (7-10, 5-7) jumped out to an early lead in the opening set, but Tech rallied back to tie the score at six and force a Vikings timeout. The Orediggers continued the run through the timeout, stretching it to 8-2 for a four-point lead. But the Vikings stayed in it and retook the lead with a 5-0 run in the late going. Tech reassumed the lead, 21-20, on
Madison Biery's kill before the Vikings rattled off a 5-1 run to take the first.
Montana Tech jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the second, but VCSU again had the answer with a 4-0 run that tied the score. The teams traded the lead several times, but Valley City again had the last run, an 8-3 barrage that gave the visitors a 2-0 lead in the match.
In the third, it was the Orediggers playing from behind early. But another Biery kill sparked a 4-0 Tech run that put the hosts up, 11-9. The teams again traded blows before VCSU tallied another late run, scoring seven of the final 10 points to sweep the match.
Danielle Hagler led the way for the Vikings with 12 kills and seven blocks.
Montana Tech will look to get back on the winning track at home Saturday against Mayville State. It will be the first-ever meeting in Butte between the two programs. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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