Saints eliminate Skylights

A season of much-improved volleyball and new milestones by the Montana State University-Northern volleyball team came to an end Friday night in Helena.

In the first round of the Frontier Conference Tournament, the sixth-seeded Skylights were swept by the third-seeded Carroll College Saints by scores of 25-16, 25-15 and 25-22. Northern, which finished sixth in the final Frontier standings at 5-7 in conference play, wound up with a 13-14 overall record, its best season in seven years.

Against the Saints, who beat the Skylights three times this year, Northern got seven kills and 12 assists from Hillary Isleifson. Helena native Sierra Diehl added five kills and two solo blocks. Holly Cartwright had 15 of Northern's 44 digs.

Carroll went on to lose to Rocky Mountain College in the semifinals. The Battlin' Bears captured the Frontier title by beating Lewis-Clark State on Saturday night. RMC, LC State and Carroll all advanced to the NAIA national tournament.

Also on Friday, Isleifson was named Frontier First-Team All-Conference at right side hitter, while Northern senior Ashley Lawson earned an NAIA Champions of Character Award.

Carroll def. MSU-Northern

25-16, 25-15, 25-22

MSU-N — Kills 24 (Hillary Iselfison 7), Assists 25 (Isleifson 12, Nahe Kaenaaina 12); Aces 1; Digs 44 (Holly Cartwright 15); Blocks 7 (Sierra Diehl 2).

CC — Kills 24 (Markki Otteson 13); Assists 36 (Caitlin Tocci 21); Aces 2; Digs 61 (Maureen Frauenholtz 22); Blocks 7 (Elli Graff 2).