GREAT FALLS, Montana - The Northwest University volleyball team finished their season in the NAIA Opening Round as they took on the No. 2 University of Providence Argos. In a match in which they were the underdogs, the Eagles showed a lot of fight and grit as they battled in all four sets. Eventually, the Argos took the victory and secured their spot at the final site with a score of 3-1 (25-23, 21-25, 26-24, 25-18).
The first set was a back-and-forth game as both teams were looking to find their rhythm. Despite the teams trading points, the Argos just edged out the Eagles to get the lead in the match. The Argos got out to an early lead in the second set, but Northwest fought their way back and tied the game at 13. From there, the teams traded points untill they were even at 20. The Eagles were able to pull ahead and close out the set to even the match at 1-1.
Going into the third set, both teams were determined to get the lead in the match. Just like the first two sets, the teams faced many ties, and neither squad was able to create a large lead. The Eagles held off one set point by the Argos before Providence was able to close out the set.
Down 2-1 in the match, Northwest struggled to find their momentum in the fourth set. The Argos got out to a quick lead that proved difficult for the Eagles to bounce back. As the Eagles tried to chip away at their lead, they ran out of time. Providence took the fourth set and ended the night with the 3-1 victory.
Seniors Delaney Sparks and Kaitlyn Mickle headlined the offense for the Eagles. Sparks tallied 17 kills, and Mickle had 15. Morgan Harter had 50 assists as she helped lead her offense. Chloe Kennedy hit .500 on the night, and Ellie Van Berkum led the back row with 21 digs.
"Tonight's match was played between two well-prepared teams who knew what was on the line, and congratulations to Providence for advancing to Sioux City," said NU Head Coach Steve Bain. "Our ladies battled, though, and the stat sheet shows just how narrow the margins are when you're competing at the highest level. I couldn't be prouder of the effort our ladies put forth against a top-ranked team, and the experience is something they will treasure in the years to come."
The Eagles earned their way back to the tournament this year for the first time since 2017. They finish the season 16-13 overall.