Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BUTTE -- The No. 17 Montana Tech volleyball team split a pair of matches on Day 2 of the 2025 Big Sky Volleyball Challenge Friday at the Butte Civic Center. 

The Orediggers earned a straight-sets win over Evergreen in the morning before falling in a five-set marathon against No. 24 William Carey in the nightcap. 

Montana Tech (2-1) got Friday started on a high note with a sweep of Evergreen, 25-15, 25-9, 25-15. It was a dominant defensive effort for Tech, holding the Geoducks to a .000 hitting percentage over the three blowout sets. 

A pair of redshirt freshmen led the way for the Orediggers. Talan Dodson highlighted the Tech attack with 10 kills, while Sophie Madsen was in on five of the victors' eight blocks. Libero Emmy Green paired a match-best 19 digs with five aces. 

After the first set started off close, Montana Tech put together a 12-3 run to win handily. Tech left no doubt in the second, hitting .478 to take a commanding lead. The third was much of the same as the Diggers ripped off an 11-4 run to start the clincher, winning handily. 

In the evening session, the Orediggers jumped out to an early lead but dropped at 21-25, 25-19, 28-26, 14-25, 15-13 thriller to William Carey. 

Kinnidi Willmore led Tech with 18 kills, Green had a team-best 20 digs, and Rhys Layton just missed a double-double with 26 assists and nine digs. Talan Dodson (10 kills), Madison Biery (10 kills, five blocks), and Austin Long (16 digs, five aces) also put up big numbers for the hosts. 

The Orediggers will have the day off Saturday as the 2025 Big Sky Volleyball Challenge concludes with six neutral-site matches at the Butte Civic Center. 

Montana Tech makes the long trip southeast for its next competition, heading to Williamsburg, Ky. for the Cumberlands Invitational. There, the Orediggers will take on host Cumberlands, Carolina University, and Union Commonwealth. 

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