GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Valley City State held a brief lead in the first set before Providence took control of the set and the match in a 3-0 loss to the fifth ranked Argos on Saturday. Providence won 25-11, 25-10, 25-21.

Danielle Hagler picked up where she left off on Friday with a kill on the opening volley, giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead. They would lose the lead briefly, then get it back when Morgan Freije and Rosie Anderson combined for a block, making the score 4-3 VCSU. The Argos would then go on a 15-3 run, including eight points in a row, to take control and lead 18-7. Back-to-back kills by Emma Lucas would cut the Argos lead to 18-9. Providence would then end the set on a 7-2 run to take the set 25-11.

The second set all Providence after a Macy Fridgen kill for the Vikings tied the set at 1-1. The Argos would then score the next twelve points to take a 13-1 lead. A kill by Morgan Freije capped a 4-1 mini run for Valley City State to cut the lead to 14-5. The lead stayed between ten and twelve points until Providence would end the set with a 5-2 run to win 25-10.

The Vikings scored the first two points of the third set to take the early 2-0 lead. Providence would then go on a 5-1 run to take the lead at 5-3. The Vikings would take the lead back with a 5-0 run. Hagler had two kills in the run and JayCee Richter had a service ace. With Valley City State up 8-5, Providence took a timeout. The two teams began exchanging points, with neither team able to take control of the set. After that time out, there were three ties and one lead change. Providence would take the lead on a Sadie Giles kill that made it 15-14 Argos. Valley City State got to within one point five times but were never able to retake the lead. Providence would end set on a 4-1 to win 25-21.

Morgan Freije led Valley City State with nine kills and a 450 hitting percentage. Danielle Hagler had eight kills, Macy Fridgen had six, Emma Lucas had four, and Ellie Lucas had two.  Gracie Schumacher and Madden Bogenreif both had 13 assists and seven digs. JayCee Richter had 19 digs while Delani Clarke had 12. Hagler had a team high two blocks, both block assists.

Valley City falls to 3-7 overall and 1-4 in the Frontier Conference. Providence is now 12-1 overall and 5-0 in the conference.

UP NEXT: Valley City State will stay in Montana for two more matches. Wednesday, they travel to Billings to play Rocky Mountain College at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, the Vikings head to Helena, Montana for a match up with Carroll College at 7:00 p.m.