LIBERTY LAKE, Wash.  –  After nearly collecting their first win in 25 tries, the Evergreen Geoducks concluded action at the Cascade/Frontier Red Lion Challenge at the HUB Sports Center in Liberty Lake, Wash.

Montana Tech 3, Evergreen 2 – Box Score

For the first time since Sept. 17, 2010, the Evergreen Geoducks forced a fifth and deciding set but it was the Montana Tech Orediggers who collected the win.  Evergreen took the first set, 25-23, before the Diggers took the lead with 25-15 and 25-17 wins in sets two and three.  The Geoducks battled tough with their backs against the wall, taking set four by a final of 25-22 before Montana Tech powered ahead with a 15-7 fifth set win to take the match.

Evergreen was led by 13 kills from junior Brittany Covert (Chino Hills, Calif./Northern Michigan).  Cassidy Watkins (Tucson, Ariz./Trevecca Nazarene)  added 11 kills to go with four aces.  As a team, the Geoducks put down 41 kills for a hitting percentage of .107.

Montana Tech was led by a match-high 20 kills from Shersteen Cline.  Sydney Norris added 17 kills for the Diggers.

Montana State-Northern 3, Evergreen 0 – Box Score

After a lengthy break following the exciting five-set match, the Geoducks couldn’t keep up with the Skylights of Montana State-Northern, falling in straight sets, 25-17, 25-13, 25-18.

Evergreen was led by seven kills from senior Sonja Arrasi-Nash (Salt Lake City, Utah/Westminster).  Hapa Patcho (Waipahu, Hawai’i/Ke Kula Kaiapuni ‘O Anuenue) added 12 assists to go with 12 digs.

MSUN was led by nine kills from Kelsey Williams as neither team had a player with double-digit kills.  Shayla Bly was impressive for the Skylights, recording seven service aces with 19 assists on the match.

The Geoducks return to Olympia next week as they will open up Cascade Conference, hosting Eastern Oregon on Friday night.