Tori Wegdahl and Kathleena Ly (9)
Geoducks Win Twice at Big Sky Challenge
BUTTE, Mont. – With victories over UC Merced and Montana State-Northern, The Evergreen State College is one five volleyball teams that is still undefeated after Friday's opening day of the 17-team Big Sky Challenge hosted by Montana Tech.
Four of the undefeated teams, including Evergreen, are from the Cascade Collegiate Conference.
The Geoducks (3-2) opened the tournament with a 25-22, 25-17, 26-24 win over UC Merced and came back several hours later to rally for a 25-21, 21-25, 25-27, 25-17, 15-10 triumph over MSU-Northern.
"It was an awesome first day," Evergreen head coach Angela Spoja said. "This team is showing a lot of grit and fight. We have so many options defensively as well as offensively. This is the best we have felt in preseason with a team that loves each other and is becoming a family, which builds cohesiveness on the court."
Outside hitter Natalie Taylor and middle blockers Chloee Hunt and Bethanie Nelson led the attack, Taylor registering 32 kills while hitting .382, Hunt getting 24 kills and hitting .250, and Nelson notching 18 kills and a .318 attack percentage.
Taylor ranks first in total kills and is second in kills per set among all players after the tournament's first day.
Dual setters Matalasi Laban and Ashtyn Bagby combined for 91 assists in the two wins. "Both of our setters are running a faster offense and making great choices, allowing our hitters a one-on-one opportunity to swing," Spoja said.
Libero Megan Breckenridge, who averaged 3.9 digs per set in the two matches, "passed consistently, which allowed us to stay in the system," Spoja said, while defensive specialist Tori Wegdahl contributed 3.3 digs per set.
EVERGREEN 3, UC MERCED 0
Taylor hit .409 with 11 kills and both Laban and Bagby had 15 assists as the Geoducks, who played two matches the previous night in Dillon, an hour from Butte, came out with a sweep of the California school in the first morning match. Evergreen didn't commit a hitting error in the second set and finished the match with 10 team blocks, including a solo block and three assists from Nelson and five block assists by Tasha Hungate.
EVERGREEN 3, MONTANA STATE-NORTHERN 2
Facing a 2-1 deficit and playing their fifth match in three days, the Geoducks came back to shut off the Northern Lights. They finished with a .304 attack percentage in the crucial fourth set, registering 16 kills and just two errors in 46 attempts.
Carrying that momentum in the deciding fifth set, Evergreen opened with three aces from Alexis Garrison in taking a 5-1 lead and then holding on for the win.
Taylor finished with 21 kills while hitting .370 and both Hunt and Nelson contributed 15 kills, while Laban and Bagby combined for 61 assists. Breckenridge led the back row with 22 digs.
The Geoducks play twice on Saturday in the Big Sky Challenge, facing Lewis-Clark State (2-0 in the tournament) and University of Providence (1-1).