November 15, 2025
HELENA, Mont. — The University of Providence (Mont.) claimed the Frontier Conference Championship with a strong and composed 3–1 victory over Bellevue University (Neb.) on Saturday night at the Carroll College PE Center.

The Argos won by set scores of 25–14, 25–19, 23–25, 25–16, closing out a title-winning performance built on offensive balance, serving pressure, and a commanding defensive effort. UP won their second straight conference tournament title, their sixth tournament title in the past eight years.

Providence improved to 31–2, while Bellevue fell to 26–4.  The Argos snapped the Bruins’ 16-match winning streak.  Both teams earned the automatic bid to the NAIA Women’s Volleyball National Tournament Opening Round, which is set for next Saturday.

The NAIA will hold their women’s volleyball selection show Monday morning at 4 p.m. (Central Time)/3 p.m. (Mountain Time) via through NAIA YouTube.

Set 1: Providence Comes Out Firing (25–14)

The Argos wasted no time establishing control, jumping to a quick 3–0 lead behind setter Bella Thompson, who delivered an early ace and assisted kills by Cabry Taylor and Martyna Fiedler.

Providence’s front-line dominance defined the opening frame. Taylor and Bella Green hammered through Bellevue’s block, combining for multiple early kills as the Argos surged ahead 17–7. Bellevue briefly steadied with kills from Eve Fountain and Kealy Kiviniemi, but Providence’s efficiency (.303 hitting) proved overwhelming.

A kill from Sadie Giles closed out the lopsided set, giving the Argos a 1–0 match lead.

Set 2: Bellevue Pushes Back, But Argos Pull Away (25–19)

Bellevue showed new energy in Set 2, taking advantage of service pressure from Fountain and strong swings from Kiviniemi to build a 13–15 lead midway through.

But Providence flipped the switch.

A block by Cabry Taylor and Martyna Fiedler sparked a 5–0 Argo run, aided by Bellevue attack errors and an ace from Giles. Kills from Kiyana Faupula and Green pushed Providence ahead 23–19, and Giles capped the set with a service ace to put the Argos firmly in control at 2–0.

Set 3: Bellevue Survives a Thriller (23–25)

The third set was a tug-of-war from start to finish, featuring 12 ties and five lead changes.

Kiviniemi delivered her best stretch of the match, scoring repeatedly from the right side while Chloe Cloud and Savanna Berger contributed at the net with key blocks. After Providence tied the set 23–23 behind a kill from Green, Bellevue answered with back-to-back defensive plays. Cloud stuffed Green for set point before Berger sealed the frame by blocking Martyna Fiedler to extend the match to a fourth set.

It was Bellevue’s most efficient set (.114 hitting) and their only one above .100.

Set 4: Providence Slams the Door (25–16)

Any momentum Bellevue carried dissolved quickly. Providence opened the fourth with a 7–3 lead fueled by kills from Green, Taylor, and Giles, plus a momentum-swinging ace from Heather Barbee.

Providence’s block continued to control the net—Taylor, Faupula, and Fiedler combined to silence Bellevue’s attackers, forcing eight hitting errors in the set.

Green delivered the final push with a late kill, and Providence closed out the championship as Bellevue committed consecutive errors to end the match.

Stat Leaders
Providence (Mont.)

Bella Green: 17 kills, .242 hitting, 18.5 points

Cabry Taylor: 13 kills, .375 hitting, 7 blocks, 18.5 points

Sadie Giles: 6 kills, 10 digs, 4 aces

Martyna Fiedler: 8 kills, 4 blocks

Kiyana Faupula: 5 kills, 4 blocks

Kyra Saiers: 22 digs, 2 aces

Bella Thompson: 49 assists, 12 digs, 2 aces

Providence hit .207 as a team, notched 9 service aces, and dominated the net with 14 total blocks.

Bellevue (Neb.)

Kealy Kiviniemi: 16 kills, .314 hitting

Eve Fountain: 6 kills, 10 digs

Chloe Cloud: 7 blocks, 9 total points

Savanna Berger: 4 kills, 3 blocks

Team total: 39 kills, .062 hitting percentage

Providence’s defense held Bellevue to under .060 in three of four sets.