BUTTE, Mont. -- The Evergreen State College fell to the University of Providence (Mont.) and to Carroll College (Mont.) during the final day of the 2025 Big Sky Challenge at the Butte Civic Center. Providence defeated the Geoducks 3-0, winning 25-19, 25-11, 25-20. Carroll downed Evergreen 3-0 by scores of 25-12, 25-14, and 25-9. Providence moved to 2-1, while Carroll upped its record to 4-0. Evergreen fell to 0-4.
The Big Sky Challenge was hosted by Montana Tech. During the tournament, Evergreen played four teams that were ranked or received votes in the NAIA Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll. Providence was ranked #10 and Montana Tech was ranked #17. Taylor University (Ind.) and Carroll received votes.
In the match with Providence on Saturday, Sophia Scroggins (Sr., OPP/MB) and Zofia Formella (So., MB) each recorded seven kills for Evergreen. Ashley Walker Campbell (Sr., OPP) added five kills. Joy Miyazawa (So., S/DS) provided 12 assists and Bright Brubaker (So., OPP) tacked on 10 assists. Miyazawa registered two of Evergreen's four service aces. Amaialyne Cepeda (Sr., DS/L) topped the Geoducks with 12 digs.
For Providence, Franny Martins led the way with 11 kills. Kiyana Faupula finished with eight kills and a .583 hitting percentage. Araleigh Arnold supplied the Argos with 23 assists, while Ellie Carlson accumulated 13 digs and two service aces. Kyra Saiers earned nine digs.
The Geoducks trailed 3-1 in the first set but went on a 4-0 run to claim a 5-3 lead. The final point of the run was registered on a kill by Scroggins. Providence broke a 6-6 tie with a 6-2 run, as the Argos gained an 12-8 advantage following a solo block by Martins. Evergreen cut the margin to 12-11 on a service ace by Miyazawa. The Argos countered with eight consecutive points for a 20-11 lead on their way to a 25-19 win.
Evergreen held a 7-6 margin in the second set on a kill by Brubaker assisted by Scroggins. Providence went on a 9-1 run for a 15-8 lead, and the Geoducks were unable to rally.
In the third set, the Argos surged out to an 11-4 advantage including at least one kill from five players. The Geoducks responded with an 11-8 run to pull Evergreen as close as 19-15 after consecutive kills by Formella, Walker Campbell, and Scroggins. The Argos tallied the next three points for a 22-15 lead. Evergreen moved within 23-20 after two attacking errors by Providence, but the Argos scored the next two points for a 25-20 win.
Against the Saints, Cepeda led the Evergreen defense with 11 digs. She has recorded 43 digs so far this season, including double-digit totals in three of four matches. On offense versus Carroll, Formella contributed five kills and Ally Ainoa (Fr., OH/DS) added four kills. Miyazawa earned seven assists, while Brubaker (So., OPP) provided six assists.
Lauren Heuiser registered 16 kills for Carroll. McKaila Balcom and Kaylen Hay each achieved six kills. Molly O'Connor accumulated 15 digs. Jansyn Carrizales was credited with 16 assists and Lauren Fox added 12 assists. The Saints produced 10 service aces, led by Heuiser with four and Norah Allen with three.
Evergreen took a 5-3 lead in the first set on a kill by Brubaker. The Geoducks also led 7-5 and 8-7 after Carroll attacking errors. The Saints countered with three consecutive points for a 10-8 advantage. Evergreen scored next with a kill by Mikayla Kelly (Grad., MB), but Carroll went on a 7-0 run for a 17-9 lead after a kill by Heuiser. The Saints took the set 25-12.
The Geoducks started strong in the second set, building a 5-2 lead. The early run included a combo block by Ainoa and Kelly. Carroll tallied the next eight points to grab a 10-5 advantage. The run included three service aces.
Evergreen battled to within 13-11 on a kill by Mikayla Kelly that completed an 8-1 run. The Saints held a 16-12 lead a bit later before gradually extending the lead for a 25-14 win.
Carroll scored the first eight points of the third set on its way to a 12-2 lead. Evergreen was unable to recover, as the Saints completed the match.
The Geoducks will play an exhibition match at the University of Puget Sound on Wednesday, Aug. 27. Match time is scheduled for 5 p.m. in Tacoma, Washington.