The Montana Western volleyball team opened the Saints Invitational by splitting their matches, winning against OLLU 3-1 but losing to #16 Dakota Wesleyan 3-0. In the first match, Averi Look shone with a career-high 16 kills against OLLU, supporting the Bulldogs' strong team performance. However, they couldn't maintain momentum against Dakota Wesleyan, where they struggled despite a brief lead in the opening set.

By the Numbers
  • Averi Look recorded 16 kills against OLLU and 9 kills against Dakota Wesleyan.
  • Jayda Ward had a career-high of 18 assists against OLLU while contributing 15 assists in the match against DWU.
  • The Bulldogs tied Dakota Wesleyan in blocks (8-4) but were outscored overall (38.0 to 48.0).
Yes, But

While the Bulldogs showcased strong performances against OLLU, their inability to maintain consistency against Dakota Wesleyan raises concerns about their competitive resilience against ranked teams.

State of Play
  • The Bulldogs are currently 1-1 in the tournament.
  • Averi Look and Jayda Ward have emerged as key players, leading in kills and assists respectively.
What's Next

The Bulldogs are scheduled to face Campbellsville and Saint Francis in their next matches, needing to build on their strengths to achieve back-to-back wins.

Bottom Line

The team's performance indicates potential for growth, with standout players needing to consistently deliver as UMW aims for stronger outcomes in upcoming matches.