GREAT FALLS, Mont. — Dickinson State responded to a difficult opening set with two competitive frames Friday night, but Providence held off the Blue Hawks for a 3-0 (25-9, 25-21, 25-22) Frontier Conference victory.
Dickinson State moved to 6-18 overall and 5-12 in Frontier play, while Providence improved to 19-6 and 13-5. The match was a rematch of the Blue Hawks' five-set victory over then-No. 8 Providence on Sept. 19 at Scott Gymnasium.
After Providence controlled the opening set, Dickinson State found its offensive rhythm in the second. The Blue Hawks put down 17 kills and hit .289, their best offensive set of the night.
Providence built a 21-15 advantage before Dickinson State made a late push. The Blue Hawks scored 6 of the next 9 points to pull within 24-21 before Bree MacDonald ended the set with a kill.
Dickinson State showed another response in the third. After Providence built a 15-6 lead, the Blue Hawks steadily worked their way back into the frame.
The strongest push came late. Trailing 22-17, Dickinson State scored 5 straight points behind a Macie Wheeler kill, a Providence setting error, a block from Aubrey Allison and Wheeler and a Rylee Kogolshak ace. The run pulled the Blue Hawks within 23-22 before Providence scored the final 2 points.
Carmen Pallone led Dickinson State with 12 kills on .281 hitting and added 4 block assists. Wheeler finished with 6 kills, while Kogolshak recorded 28 assists, 4 kills, 5 digs, 2 block assists and an ace.
Dickinson State continues its Frontier road trip Saturday with a 2 p.m. match at MSU-Northern in Havre, Montana. The Blue Hawks won the first meeting between the teams 3-1 on Sept. 18 at Scott Gymnasium.
