Orediggers hosting Big Sky Volleyball Challenge today and tomorrow

And just like that, fall sports are here and the 15th-ranked Montana Tech volleyball team is wasting no time in getting into its season.

The Orediggers will be hosting the Big Sky Volleyball Challenge with games today at two locations, Kelvin Sampson Court in the HPER Complex and the Maroon Activities Center, and tomorrow at the HPER.  The challenge features two other Frontier Conference teams and six top programs from across the country.  The following is a press release from Montana Tech Associate Athletic Director Nick Bowsher:

BUTTE, Mont. - The 2023 Big Sky Volleyball Challenge gets underway in Butte Thursday and Friday in Helena. The Butte portion of the challenge will be held in the HPER Complex on the campus of Montana Tech, as well as the Maroon Activity Center (MAC). In its eighth year, the Big Sky Volleyball Challenge is in the HPER again this year and will see action all day Thursday starting at 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday begin at 9 a.m.  The MAC will host three matches Friday starting at 9 a.m.

Similar to previous years, the tournament is loaded with talented teams. There will be a total of nine teams playing in the Mining City with three teams from the Frontier Conference: Montana Tech, MSU-Northern, and the University of Providence.  There are six schools from outside of the conference playing this year and four of those programs are ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA preseason Top 25. Those teams include the (RV) College of Idaho, No. 18 College of Saint Mary (Neb.), No. 10 SAGU (Texas), and No. 3 Eastern Oregon University. Montana Tech is the highest ranked Frontier program at No. 15 in the nation.  Also taking part will be Evergreen State College, Arizona Christian University, the University of Providence, and MSU-Northern.

Here is a link to the schedule and team rosters.