BUTTE, Mont. -- Amaialyne Cepeda (Sr., DS/L) registered 14 digs as The Evergreen State College opened the season at the 2025 Big Sky Challenge on the morning of Friday, Aug. 22, but Montana Tech won the match 3-0. The Orediggers prevailed 25-15, 25-9, 25-15 to improve to 2-0 on the season. Montana Tech was ranked #17 in the NAIA Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll. Evergreen ended the match at 0-1.

The Geoducks will play again on Friday at 2 p.m. MDT / 1 p.m. PDT against Taylor University (Ind.). The tournament continues through Saturday, Aug. 23.

Zofia Formella (So., MB) led the Geoducks with five kills. Ashley Walker Campbell (Sr., OPP) added four kills. Ally Ainoa (Fr., OH/DS) provided Evergreen with six digs. Joy Miyazawa (So., S/DS) and Bright Brubaker (So., OPP) each supplied eight assists.

Talan Dodson topped the Orediggers with 10 kills, while Kinnidi Willmore tacked on seven kills. Emmy Green earned 19 digs and Sophie Madsen was credited with five block assists for Montana Tech. Rhys Layton contributed 14 assists and Ellie Reinertson finished with 13 assists.

Montana Tech built a 4-1 lead in the first set, but the Geoducks tied the score three rallies later on an attacking error by Layton. The Orediggers countered with a 10-2 run to grab a 14-6 advantage. Montana Tech outscored Evergreen by a slim 11-9 margin over the final 20 points of the set.

In the second set, the Orediggers held an 8-5 lead following a kill from Abby Clark. The kill by Clark opened an 8-0 run, as Montana Tech increased the lead to 15-5.

Evergreen scored first in the third set on a kill by Sophia Scroggins (Jr., OPP/MB) before Montana Tech tallied five consecutive points. Later the Orediggers led 17-11 on their way to ending the match with a 25-15 win.