Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information, PC Tessa McNeil
BILLINGS, Mont. – The no. 19 ranked Montana Western women's volleyball team (13-5, 4-3) defeated RV Valley City State (N.D.) this evening in a five-set thriller.

Senior Jazi Smith shattered the Montana Western single game kills record held by Bulldog alumni Mikayla Ness set back in 2015 when she totaled 25 kills against Rocky Mountain College. Smith totaled 31 kills in tonight's match, good for 6.2 kills per set on a .375 hitting percentage.
Kelsey Goddard broke the single game digs record, set by herself back in 2021 with 44 digs against Carroll College. She totaled 47 digs tonight with 9.4 digs per set.
"The team did a great job of overcoming adversity today against a really good team," Head Coach Katie Lovett said. "Jazi and Kelsey being able to both get school records in kills and digs was an amazing accomplishment. All of that was able to happen because of the full team effort."
How It Happened
The Bulldogs came out hot in the first set, playing with a high level of energy to shoot to a 20-11 lead behind four kills from Smith. Despite the hot start, Valley City answered by going on their own 12-3 scoring run to tie the game at 23. A kill from Savana Warburton helped break the tie and the Bulldogs would win the set 25-23.

Set two featured a gritty battle between the two teams. UMW went on a short 3-1 run to take a two-point lead at 17-15, but the Vikings flipped the script and took their own lead at 19-17 after a 4-0 run. After fighting to hang on, the Bulldogs fell in set two 25-23.
Knotted up with a set apiece, Danyel Martin and Smith combined for a pair of kills apiece to give UMW an early 10-6 lead. Valley City continued in similar fashion and fought back to tie the game at 15 all. Smith and Jordan Olson paired for back-to-back kills, giving Western a two-point advantage at 17-15. Western hang tightly to the lead and win the set by the same score as the previous two sets, 25-23.
Valley City forced a deciding fifth set after they won set four 25-22 over the Bulldogs. Though totaling more kills than the Vikings, Montana Western struggled behind a .195 team hitting percentage in the set.
Knotted up at nine apiece, Olivia Rosborough broke UMW into double digits by grabbing a kill from the right side. Western would remain in the mix and fight on to win 16-14.

Notables
Montana Western has played in five five-set games this season, going a perfect 5-0 in all matchups.
Western extends their win streak over the Vikings to six games, with Valley City winless in the series.
Peyton Vogl and Olson each had impressive nights. Vogl totaled 17 kills and four blocks while Olson added 11 kills and a pair of blocks.
Kaylee Fritz and Taylor Petersen combined for a total of 65 assists, good for a combined 13.0 assists per set in the 6-2 offense.
Madisyn Frazier broke her own personal best with 28 digs tonight.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will face a tough opponent tomorrow as they face the undefeated and no. 2 ranked Jamestown (N.D.). The matchup is set for 3 p.m. tomorrow afternoon in the Fortin Center in Billings, Mont.

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