2015 Frontier Volleyball Preview

Competitive is always the best word to describe Frontier Conference volleyball. There's no easy wins and there's never a doormat type of team it seems.

Even in 2014, when Rocky Mountain College went a perfect 14-0 in league play, there was no shortage of competitive teams in the Frontier Conference. But this season, which kicks off this weekend, might be the best yet.

Perennial powers Rocky Mountain College and Lewis-Clark State will be very good once again, but from top to bottom, the league looks as good, and as difficult as it has ever been. Heading into the first week of league play, three teams, RMC (No. 7), Montana Tech (No. 23) and UGF (No. 24) are ranked in the NAIA Coaches Poll, while Carroll College and LC State are receiving votes. That's over half of the league, meaning this Frontier season is going to be very difficult.

And it's going to be difficult even without one of its stalwart members. Westminster made the jump to NCAA Division II this past spring, which altered the Frontier schedule. But it doesn't change the league's difficulty one bit, and it's going to be a dogfight between all seven teams, a dogfight that will come right down to the Frontier Conference Tournament Nov. 12-14 in Helena.

"Our league is one of the top three conferencs in the country," said Northern head coach Bill Huebsch. "It is just so tough from top to bottom. It's a league where anybody can beat anybody on a given night, and in order to be successful, you have to play your very best, every match."

Here's a look at each team in the Frontier Conference, in the league predicted order of finish.

Lewis-Clark State

Warriors

2015 Record: 7-6

2014: 19-9, 11-3, 2nd in Frontier

Head Coach: Latoya Harris-Alexander

Outlook: LC State has long been a dominant program in the Frontier Conference. And the Warriors show no signs of slowing down. Young a season ago, there's a reason the Warriors were picked to win the league title this fall. They are loaded with athletic talent and they're experienced. Led by All-American Treneisha Doyle (5-9, OH) and Kennadie Clute (6-1, OH), the LCSC offense will be hard to stop. Add in one of the best defensive players in the Frontier in Russia Robinson (5-2, L) and the Warriors have as much talent on the floor at one time as anyone in the conference. LCSC is also so tough to beat at home, so if the Warriors can find ways to win matches on the road, they're going to be right there competing for yet another Frontier crown come November.

Rocky Mountain College

Battlin' Bears

2015 Record: 10-4

2014: 32-3, 14-0, Frontier Champions, NAIA national tournament Final 16.

Head Coach: Laurie Kelly

Outlook: Consistency has been the legacy at Rocky for some time now. But the 2014 season was utter dominance by the Battlin' Bears, as they ran the table in conference play and went to their second straight national tournament, via back-to-back Frontier tournament titles. And while the Bears are going to be very good again this fall, the loss of two-time NAIA All-American Yang Yang certainly leaves a hole to fill in RMC's lineup. Still, the Bears return a wealth of experience from their last two championship teams, and they are also big and intimidating at the net. Ahlea Billis (6-2, OH) and Mariah Stiffarm (6-3, MB) are Rocky's top two returning players at the net, but they have help in transfer Tess Hellerud (6-0, OH), as well as Sydney Matheny (5-11, MB). And while size is still RMC's weapon, the return of senior setter Tori Bertsch (5-11) gives the Bears the stability to not miss a beat on either side of the net. And while RMC was picked to finish second this season in the league, with the type of talent, and the program head coach Laurie Kelly has built there, don't be shocked of RMC claims its third straight Frontier championship when the dust settles on this season.

Carroll College

Fighting Saints

2015 Record: 5-6

2014: 17-13, 8-6, 3rd in Frontier

Head Coach: Moe Boyle

Outlook: Always the Frontier Conference power, Carroll was picked to be that again this season. The Saints went to the national tournament three years ago, and have finished in the top four in the league standings in each of the last four seasons. But, they're off to a slow start in 2015, though that won't likely last. As always, Carroll is talented in the front row, led by the likes of Crystal Schmidt (6-0, MH), Emily Sullivan (6-0, OH) and Holly Morehouse (6-0, RH), with Schmidt being the catalyst in the middle. Rebecca Sweeney (5-10, OH) and Paige Montgomery (6-0, MH) give the Saints even more size and depth at the net. Defensively, Carroll will also be strong with Madeline Fey (5-7, DS) and setter Jonni Dorr (5-9), and with all that talent, and a veteran team, there's no reason to think that the Saints won't be sitting amongst the top teams in the Frontier at the end of the season.

Montana Tech

Orediggers

2015 Record: 12-5

2014: 12-16, 6-8, 5th in Frontier

Head Coach: Brian Solomon

Outlook: Montana Tech has been a common pick amongst the league coaches to be the team on the rise for a while now. But, that moniker might need to be removed as it appears Tech has arrived. The Orediggers have played well in the non-conference season and enter conference play ranked No. 23 in the NAIA. Always known as a scrappy, defensive-minded program, Tech still is all that, but the Diggers are good in all phases right now. Mackenzie Bauck (5-7) is considered one of the top setters in the Frontier, and she's passing the ball to plenty of weapons. Weapons like Bailee Cortner (6-2, MB), Jordan Danz (6-0, OH), Sydney Norris (5-9, OH) and Haley Druyvestein (6-1, MB), all of whom have a ton of experience in the league. Add in the play of Angie Pancost (6-0, OH) in the back row, and not only is Tech talented and experienced, but, the Diggers look to be complete. And that means there's no reason why they won't be contenders from the Frontier title come November.

University of Great Falls

Argos

2015 Record: 14-4

2014: 16-13, 7-7, 4th in Frontier

Head Coach: Arunas Duda

Outlook: The Argos have been up and down in recent years, and they were picked to finish just fifth this season. But UGF is off to a strong start, losing just four times in four weeks of non-conference play and they're in the NAIA Top 25 at No. 25. They played at some very tough tournaments along the way. UGF is always a tough team, and the Argos always have size, and this year's version is no different. Head coach Arunas Duda has five players on the roster standing 6-2 or taller, so once again, the Argos will be tough at the net. Leading that charge is Tiffany Marks (6-3, MB), but she has help from veteran middle Madison Wilhelm (6-2, OH). The Argos also have strong hitters like Kelsee Montagna (5-10, RS) and Korie Milan (5-8, OH), while Bree Davis (6-0) and Dani Norling (5-8) are both outstanding setters in UGF's 6-2 lineup. UGF also has depth as Duda played 21 different players during the non-conference schedule. So, with all that talent, size and depth, the Argos might likely be the surprise team of the Frontier this season.

MSU-Northern

Skylights

2015 Record: 8-8

2014: 7-21, 3-11, T7th in Frontier

Head Coach: Bill Huebsch

Outlook: In the last two seasons, the Skylights have seen the best of both worlds. Northern had a dream season in 2013, one in which it won the Frontier Conference regular season title, and came so close to going to the national tournament. But, graduation hit the program hard that season and the result was a rough ride last fall. But don't expect the Skylights to stay down, not with the talent level Bill Huebsch has assembled this season. Returning veterans Erin Jensen (5-8) and Jessica Wilcox (6-0), along with an outstanding group of newcomers, led by OH and Montana State transfer Cassie Krueger (6-0), Korrie Stephenson (5-11) and setter Emily Russell (5-8), give MSU-N a strong group lineup that will contend right away. And with the continued improvement of Cydney Auzenne (5-10), as well as more additions like defensive specialist Jacy Vining (5-7), the Skylights not only have already surpassed their win total from last year, and they are not resembling anything like a team that was picked to finish last in the conference this fall. With talent, and one of the best home court advantages in the Frontier, the Skylights are looking more like an instant contender in the league right away.

UM-Western

Bulldogs

2015 Record: 4-7

2014: 11-16, 3-11, T7th in Frontier

Head Coach: Lisa Griffiths

Outlook: Once upon a time, the Bulldogs were one of the top NAIA volleyball programs in the country, let alone the Frontier Conference. But the last decade has been rough in Dillon. The Bulldogs have averaged less than three conference wins per season during that stretch, and they're picked to do no better than that again this season. But optimism continues to be high at Western, as head coach Lisa Griffiths continues to land quality athletes. And, there's no doubt, the Bulldogs are building. Offensively, Bailey Wilson (5-11) is a quality performer, while libero Brianna DeCock (5-6) anchors a strong back row. Add in the improved middles like Cady Siemon (5-10), Brittany Erickson (5-11) and Tessa Miller (6-0), and Western has a strong, athletic lineup that will give every team in the Frontier fits this season.