BUTTE, Mont. -- The Evergreen College was led by Zofia Formella (So., MB) with 11 kills in a 3-0 loss to Taylor University (Ind.) on Friday, Aug. 22 at the 2025 Big Sky Challenge. Formella earned a .409 hitting percentage during the match. Taylor defeated the Geoducks, 25-17, 25-15, 25-16 to improve to 5-0 on the season. Evergreen fell to 0-2.

Montana Tech is hosting the Big Sky Challenge at the Butte Civic Center. Action will conclude on Saturday, Aug. 23, when the Geoducks will take on University of Providence (Mont.) at 9 a.m. MDT / 8 a.m. PDT and battle Carroll College (Mont.) at 1 p.m. MDT / 12 p.m. PDT. 

Formella was followed on the attacking chart by Ally Ainoa (Fr., OH/DS) with seven kills and a .316 hitting percentage. Amaialyne Cepeda (Sr., DS/L) and Joy Miyazawa (So., S/DS) each accumulated six digs for the Geoducks. Miyazawa led Evergreen with 15 assists. 

Reagan Salzbrenner of Taylor tied Formella with 11 kills. Ellie Frey provided the Trojans with 10 kills, while Daya Vestal tacked on nine kills. Margo Hernandez recorded 19 assists, while Lindsay Springer added 13 assists. McKaylah Flagle led Taylor with 10 digs. The Trojans received votes but were not ranked in the NAIA Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll.

The Geoducks and the Trojans were tied 3-3 after six rallies in the first set. Taylor earned the next three points, but Evergreen pulled within 8-7 on a kill by Walker Campbell. A bit later, the Geoducks trailed by slim margins of 12-11 and 15-13. Taylor responded with a 4-0 run for a 19-13 advantage and went on to win the set.

Evergreen grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second set on a pair of kills by Ainoa. The Geoducks broke a 2-2 tie with a kill by Ainoa and a service ace from Walker Campbell. Eventually, the teams were tied at 5-5. Taylor tallied the next six points. The Trojans remained in the lead and took the set 25-15.

A kill by Formella pulled the Geoducks within 6-5 in the third set. Taylor owned an 11-8 advantage a bit later in the set, before a 6-0 surge put the Trojans in control. Taylor won the set 25-16.