Butte, Mont. – The Spirit kicked off the 2025 season in dramatic fashion, outlasting Campbellsville (Ky.) in a five-set thriller to earn a 3-2 victory on Friday at the Big Sky Challenge. The back-and-forth battle had fans on the edge of their seats, as the Spirit prevailed to start the year 1-0.
Set 1:
The Spirit came out swinging and stole a nail-biting opener, 28-26. Jenna Sarff made an early statement with five kills, while Lauren Wamsley added four and a service ace. Keira Adrian chipped in with three kills to earn the set one victory.
Set 2:
Campbellsville responded in set two, evening the match with a 25-21 win. Wamsley kept her hot hand with two more kills, while Jessica Pearce and Delaney Wilson added two apiece. Adrian continued her strong day as she recorded two service aces in the set.
Set 3:
The Spirit bounced back, flipping the script with a 25-21 win of their own. Wamsley dominated with five kills, and Charli Cook and Shayla Cotright stepped up with three kills each. Amey Rainaud made her mark with an ace, fueling the Spirit's set three win.
Set 4:
The Tigers refused to go away, clawing back for a 28-26 victory to force a decisive fifth set. Pearce and Cotright powered the Spirit attack with four kills each, while Katie Janzen, Wamsley, Sarff, and Cook kept the offense balanced with three apiece. Cook and Raif both added timely aces in the effort.
Set 5:
With the match on the line, the Spirit pulled out a dramatic 16-14 win in the deciding set. Cook and Wamsley delivered under pressure with three kills each, while Sarff, Pearce, and Cotright combined for six more to seal the victory.
Top Performers:
The Spirit's balanced attack was critical in the Spirit's victory over the Tigers.
Up Next:
The Spirit continue action at the Big Sky Challenge on Saturday with a doubleheader, taking on Carroll (Mont.) at 8:00 AM (MST) followed by MSU Northern at 12:00 PM (MST).
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