GREAT FALLS, Mont. -- The Geoducks battled Montana State University Northern through five sets on Saturday, Aug. 28, before the Skylights won 3-2 at the University of Providence Tournament. MSUN outlasted The Evergreen State College, 25-14, 22-25, 25-21, 20-25, 15-9. The Skylights improved to 5-1 on the season, while Evergreen fell to 0-4.

Sophia Scroggins (So., OPP/MB) paced the Evergreen offense with 14 kills, while teammate Lucendy Perez (Sr., OH) added 13 kills. Molly Packer (Jr., DS/L) registered 26 digs giving her 83 digs in Evergreen's four matches and 15 sets. She is averaging 5.5 digs per set. Amaialyne Cepeda (Jr., DS/L) added 23 digs for the Geoducks. 

Maloree Calzadillas (Sr., S) supplied 23 assists. Jessica Mitchell (Jr., S) contributed 22 assists to go along with 10 digs. Marin Collins (So., MB) led the Geoducks with four block assists.

The Skylights zoomed out to a 10-3 lead in the first set. Bailey Egan provided MSUN with three service aces during the run. Evergreen trailed 18-12, before the Skylights ended the set with a 7-2 surge. The final run featured two kills from Alana Graves. For Evergreen, Collins earned four kills in the set and finished the match with nine kills.

Evergreen turned a 10-7 advantage into a 17-10 margin in the second set. The 7-3 run included one kill each by five players. The Geoducks owned a 23-16 lead after a service ace by Calzadillas. The Skylights pulled within 23-20, but a kill by Perez put Evergreen at match point. MSU Northern tallied two points to get within 24-22. An attacking error by the Skylights ended the set, with the Geoducks winning 25-22.

The Geoducks held a 5-2 lead in the third set. MSU Northern went on a 12-1 run to claim a 14-6 advantage after a combo block by Macee Murphy and Maddison Underdal. The Geoducks also rallied, moving as close as 22-20 on a kill from Bright Brubaker (Fr., OPP) and 23-21 with a kill by Perez. The Skylights won 25-21 after a kill by Emily Feller plus an attacking error by Evergreen.

In the fourth set, Evergreen trailed 10-8 but tied the set at 12-12. The Skylights claimed a 16-15 advantage, but the score was later tied at 19-19. The Geoducks took a 21-19 edge two points later when a long rally ended with a combo block by Collins and Ashley Walker (Jr., OPP). Evergreen claimed a 25-20 win.

Egan served for the Skylights to start the fifth set. She provided two service aces as MSU Northern grabbed a 4-0 lead. Evergreen pulled within 5-3 before MSUN won 7 of 10 points to increase its advantage to 12-6. Three rallies later, Evergreen trailed 14-7, but two kills by Perez cut the lead to 14-9. A kill by Jessalyn Chvilicek won the match for the Skylights.

Graves topped MSU Northern with 15 kills. Chvilicek and Josie Hasler each recorded seven kills. Egan had five service aces and 29 digs. Murphy achieved 21 assists.

The Geoducks will host Pacific Lutheran University in an exhibition match at the Costantino Recreation Center on Wednesday, Aug. 28. Match time is scheduled for 5 p.m. (PDT).