GREAT FALLS, Mont. - The Carroll College Volleyball team couldn't complete the perfect week on the road, falling in four sets to Providence at the McLaughlin Center on Saturday night.
The Fighting Saints (14-7, 9-5)Â took the opening set and then battled through two sets decided by just two points each, but fell 3-1 to Providence (16-5, 10-4) to split the season series.
Lauren Heuiser (Helena, Mont. / SR) led the Fighting Saints with 19 kills, a .318 hitting percentage, and 21.5 points, but it would be the Argos who emerged victorious.
Carroll's offense got going right away. After falling behind 5-3 in the opener, the Saints ran off seven straight points, with six of them coming while Heuiser served, to take a 10-5 lead. Providence cut it to 17-14, but Carroll took a timeout and closed the set on an 8-5 run. Birdie Heuiser's (Helena, Mont. / SO) ace gave Carroll a 21-17 lead, and the Saints hit .262 in the set to win 25-19.
Providence took the second set 25-20. Carroll climbed out of a 13-5 hole and got within three at 20-23 but ultimately ran out of time.
The third set of the evening was the closest. Carroll opened a 10-7 lead with four straight points, including two kills from freshman Sydney Simone (Cody, Wyo.). The early lead gave way to a 23-19 deficit late in the frame. The Saints took a timeout and came back with four unanswered points to knot things up at 23-23, but Providence would rallly for the final two points and a 25-23 win.
The fourth set was also tight. Carroll took a 23-22 lead late, but couldn't find a way to close the frame out as Providence scored the final three points for a 25-23 finish, taking the set and match.
The Saints matched Providence in kills (55-55)Â and held a slight edge in hitting percentage, .171 to .164, but couldn't overcome mistakes throughout.
Sofia Kimmel (Bozeman, Mont. / SO) posted a double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs. Birdie Heuiser also had 10 kills, plus five blocks on the night, while Kaylen Hay (Pocatello, Idaho / R-SO) added nine kills.
Lauren Fox (Bozeman, Mont. / SO) led the Saints with 31 assists, while Norah Allen (Great Falls, Mont. / SR) led the defense with 24 digs.
Carroll will look to rebound next week as they head East for a pair against Dakota State and Bellevue.
Be sure to visit www.carrollatheltics.com for a preview of the road trip, and for complete coverage of the Fighting Saints all season long.
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