HONOLULU, Hawaii – A big hitting afternoon by the University of Providence helped the Argos remain unbeaten, as the Montana side topped Oregon Tech in three sets on the opening day of the Magic Island Hawai'i Classic at Hawaii Pacific University.
 
UP (5-0) held a 47-33 edge in total kills and posted a .333 hitting percentage in the 25-21, 25-19, 25-21 victory.
 
"Physical ability is not the problem of our team," said OIT head coach Alexis Garrison. "It's consistency that we need to work on. Our preseason schedule is for learning and that is what we are doing. Tomorrow is a new day and a fresh start."
 
Returners Mady Hoerner and Nina Janjic led the way for the Argos, combining for 25 kills in the victory. Both were key in the first two set wins – each logging two kills in a 10-3 run to open Set 1, with the duo posting two kills apiece in a 7-0 Set 2 run that broke open the frame.
 
The Lady Owls (1-4) had their moments – as Abigail Sorensen recorded back-to-back aces in a 5-0 run in Set 2 that cut the UP lead to 23-20 – but Tech could not get closer.
 
OIT took a 13-11 lead in Set 3, but the Argos rattled off a 13-1 run to grab a 24-14 lead. The Owls staved off seven match-points, including consecutive combo blocks – each involving Aleksen Thayer – but a Zoe Naugle spike ended the match.
 
Willow Jacobson led the Lady Owls with nine kills and Molly Grace added seven. Paige Tevelde recorded 22 aces and Sorensen finished with three aces. Tech lost despite an 8-6 edge in blocks and a 6-4 edge in aces.
 
The Owls return to action tomorrow, meeting Benedictine-Mesa at 9 a.m. (HST) and Truett-McConnell at 6 p.m. (HST)