BUTTE, Mont. –  Rocky Mountain College opened the 2019 Big Sky Challenge with a pair of wins Friday against opponents from the Cascade Collegiate Conference.

The No. 13 ranked Battlin' Bears (4-2) began their morning with a win over Northwest University (1-3) in 25-19, 25-19, 19-25 and 25-17. 

Daniella Russell led all players in the match with 15 kills. Elsewhere in the scoring efforts was the combo of Morgan Allen and Monique Rodriguez who each provided 8 kills. Natalie Hilderman contributed 36 assists and 11 digs. Ayla Embry had 21 digs.

The Eagles were led by Abigail Broussard who scored 11 kills while Tatiana Ensz knocked down an additional 10. Cristina Hegarty provided 38 digs through the four sets.

The Battlin' Bears earned a 28-26, 25-20, 25-20 win over The Evergreen State College Geoducks (1-6) later in the evening.

A close first set saw the two teams tie a total of 13 times. Tied at 26-26, a block from Hilderman put the Battlin' Bears up by one and allowed Rocky to snatch a 28-26 set victory off an error by the Geoducks. 

Up 19-12 late in the second set, the Battlin' Bears were able to hold off a five point Evergreen scoring surge and take the set 25-20. 

The third set was a similar story. The Battlin' Bears held a commanding 23-13 lead, but the Geoducks found momentum late and scored five in a row. It wouldn't prove enough as the Battlin' Bears completed the sweep at 25-20.

Rodriguez led the Battlin' Bears in the match with 15 kills. Russell had eight kills while Naomi Bad Bear scored six. Natalie Hilderman led the team in digs for the match with 18.

The Geoducks' Lily Stewart had 13 kills while Zoe Shaw had eight kills and 11 digs.

The Battlin' Bears will finish the tournament tomorrow with matches against No. 12 College of Idaho and Bethel University.