The MCC Pioneer volleyball team kicked off the 2025 season in Helena, MT with a doubleheader against the Carroll College JV team on Saturday. The end result was a split between the 2 teams in which each the Pioneers won match 1 by the score of 3-1 and the Saints reversed the fortune and won match 2 by the same score.

Match 1 - Pioneers 3... Carroll JV 1 (25-23, 22-25, 25-19, 25-17)

The Pioneers got the season off to a great start by rolling past Carroll College JV 3-1 on Saturday morning. 

A balanced Pioneer attack saw Zeason Schaffer (Sophomore - Broadus, MT) continue where she left off last season with 16 kills. The Pioneers duo of setters Holland Stowe (Sophomore - Buffalo, WY) and Taiya Guptill (Freshman - Hardin, MT) each had 15 assists in the match. Mia Mader (Sophomore - Broadus, MT) served up 3 aces as did Johanna Limberhand (Freshman - Hardin, MT).

Defensively, Cameron Blevins (Sophomore - Shelby, MT) had 19 digs while Kayla Jensen (Freshman - Lewistown, MT) and Lily Heiberg (Choteau, MT) each had 3 blocks at the net. 

Match 2 - Pioneers 1... Carroll JV 3 (15-25, 25-21, 22-25, 16-25)

Carroll College JV quickly turned the tides in match #2 to salvage a split of the season opening doubleheader. Carroll took charge with a convincing win in game 1 but the Pioneers rallied to win game 2. Carroll then prevented the doubleheader sweep by winning games 3 and 4. 

Angeline Riener (Freshman - Fort Benton, MT) led MCC with 11 kills in the match and Taiya Guptill had 25 assists. Mackenzie Deford (Freshman - Clyde Park, MT) had the only service ace of the match. Cameron Blevins had 16 digs and Lily Heiberg had 5 blocks at the net. 

The Pioneers will host Dickinson State JV on Monday night at 7:00 PM for the season home opening.