Montana Western gets past Montana Tech, faces Providence in Frontier Volleyball Conference Championship match

November 15, 2024 HAVRE, Mont. - After surviving a five-set thriller in the quarterfinals round of the Frontier Conference Volleyball Tournament (presented by First Interstate Bank) earlier Friday afternoon, third-seed Montana Western held on to defeat second-seed Montana Tech 3-1. The match at the Armory Gym saw a series of dramatic turns with the Bulldogs ultimately claiming victory. The Orediggers started strong with a win in the first set, 25-21, showcasing their robust offensive power. However, the Bulldogs responded with overwhelming force, dominating the second set with a comfortable 25-8 victory, underscoring their dynamic comeback capabilities in critical moments. The third set was pivotal, as Montana Western overturned a deficit to secure a 28-26 win, further tipping the balance in their favor. They maintained this momentum into the fourth set, winning 25-22 and thus sealing their overall victory against Montana Tech. Key players from Montana Western such as Jazi Smith, with an impressive 18 kills, and Dani Brown, contributing nine kills, played pivotal roles in their team's offensive efforts. Additionally, their defensive gameplay was notably strengthened by Peyton Vogl, who managed to secure four blocks. On the side of Montana Tech, Kinnidi Willmore was a standout with 17 kills, and Olivia Labeau added significant defensive prowess with three blocks. Montana Western (22-8 overall record) is now looking ahead to their next challenge as they prepare to face the #1 seed Providence tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. in the Frontier Conference Volleyball postseason championship match. The winner receive the conference's automatic bid to the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Tournament Opening Round on Saturday, Nov. 23. Montana Tech (19-10) waits to hear from the NAIA national office if they will receive an at-large bid to the national tournament.