August 22, 2025

Butte, Montana – After showing flashes of their Top-25 caliber potential on day one in Montana, the No. 21 Nelson University Lady Lions volleyball team marched forward into day two of the prestigious Big Sky Volleyball Challenge on Friday, August 22, facing the University of Providence (Mont.) in the morning and Carroll College (Mont.) in the afternoon.

Game 1: Providence 3, Nelson 1
The Lady Lions came out strong against the Argos, taking the opening set 25–18 with balanced play at the net and sharp defensive coverage. But momentum swung to Providence, who responded with three straight set wins (25–19, 25–16, 25–22) to claim the match.

• Team Totals: Nelson tallied 44 kills but struggled with efficiency, finishing with a .105 hitting percentage compared to Providence's .188.

• Leaders:

  • Mackenzie Smith (10 kills, 4 blocks) led the attack.

  • Caroline Boone (10 kills) and Samantha Moore (9 kills) provided steady scoring.

  • Cassidy Hargesheimer dished out 19 assists, with Taylor Cavazos adding 16.

  • Hailey Nixon was a defensive anchor with 17 digs, while Ally Jowers chipped in 9.

Game 2: Carroll 3, Nelson 0
In their second match of the day, Nelson ran into a red-hot Carroll College squad. Despite competitive stretches, the Saints controlled the tempo, taking the sweep 25–14, 25–19, 25–15.

• Team Totals: The Lady Lions registered 26 kills on 105 swings but were held to a .057 hitting percentage, while Carroll hit a blistering .348 as a team.

• Leaders:

  • Samantha Moore and Olivia Todd each recorded 5 kills.

  • Caroline Boone also added 5 kills and 6 digs.

  • Taylor Cavazos paced the setters with 9 assists, while Hargesheimer contributed 7.

  • Nixon continued her strong defensive play with 14 digs, joined by Cavazos (10) and Jowers (6).

Key Stats & Noteworthy Highlights

• Hailey Nixon totaled 31 digs across the two matches, proving to be a stabilizing force in the back row.

• Mackenzie Smith's 14 combined kills and 4 blocks showcased her presence at the net, while Boone's consistent scoring kept Nelson competitive in extended rallies.

• Hargesheimer (26 assists) and Cavazos (25 assists) combined to guide the offense, spreading opportunities to multiple hitters.

Up Next - Texas Two Step
The Lady Lions now return home to Waxahachie for the Texas Two Step Tournament inside the Sheaffer Center:

Friday, Aug. 29 – 1:00 PM vs Texas A&M–Texarkana

Friday, Aug. 29 – 7:00 PM vs McPherson College

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Nelson University (formerly SAGU) is a private Christian university, established in 1927 by P.C. Nelson. The University is located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas, and offers more than 70 associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees on campus or online. For more information, visit www.nelson.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-NELSON.