VALLEY CITY, ND  (NewsDakota.com)  The Vikings powered to a first-set victory against the second-ranked team in the nation to win their 10th straight set Friday night.

The Argos block, however, reversed the tide.

After grabbing a 25-21 win to start the match, the Vikings were then beaten in three straight to drop a 3-1 (21-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-17) decision to the University of Providence at Graichen Gymnasium.

Valley City State led the entire first set, building a five-point lead at the end of the set, behind six kills from Macy Fridgen.  The Argos then took as much as a 12-point lead in the second at 21-9 before a Viking rally cut the deficit near the finish.

Each of the third and fourth sets saw fairly even play early, with Providence simply stretching their lead bit by bit, with their largest lead of either of the sets at 17-11 in the fourth.  The Argos’ block was the difference, as the Vikings took several good shots to simply have to run offense again after a wall from Providence kept the ball on VCSU’s side of the net.

Fridgen finished with 18 kills to lead the Vikings.  Danielle Hagler added 10 kills, and Morgan Freije finished with nine.

The Vikings face Montana State-Northern Saturday at Graichen Gymnasium.