Tocci, Carroll spikers rally to beat Montana Tech

BUTTE - The Carroll College volleyball team couldn't have cut it much closer on Thursday night.

The No. 19 Saints dropped the first two games of their road match with Montana Tech before pulling out the victory 22-25, 20-25, 25-17, 25-20, 15-10.

"We started slow. I don't think we got off the bus ready to go," said Carroll assistant coach Cal Boyle. "In the beginning they were winning, they were playing and we were reacting."

Tech's former All-American Katie Daly, meanwhile, was pounding the Saints and finished with a game high of 22 kills.

After warming up over the first two games, the Saints turned their game around and didn't let up.

"It was like two different matches," Boyle said. "Our serving became more aggressive and we began to run our offense.

"Everyone started to get involved."

Saints senior Sammy Priddy led the squad with 15 kills and two aces, while picking up 19 digs for the double-double.

Carroll got a big relief, meanwhile, from sophomore setter Caitlin Tocci who led the squad with 28 assists and picked up 13 digs.

"Caitlin Tocci had a great game and was able to get some digs, which we don't usually get out of our setters," Boyle said.

The conference win puts Carroll at 21-7 overall and 7-2 in the Frontier, back into a tie for first with Lewis-Clark State. Tech drops to 9-14, 3-7.

Carroll heads to Dillon tonight to face the University of Montana Western (4-12, 0-9).

The Saints next home match is next Thursday against MSU-Northern.