By Heidi Boyum
The Skylight volleyball team took away every chance for the Lady Argos match control and proved defense wins games as they combined a front row wall with back court digs and dives to dominate their homecoming match three games to none Wednesday night at MSU-Northern.
The Skylights dug more balls in the three games against University of Great Falls than in five against Lewis and Clark.
"We came out ready to play," coach Lisa Handley said. "I was extremely pleased with their defense. Tanja (Bruski) was flying all over the place - it was just fun to watch."
Gabrielle Chambliss started off game one with a run of five serves that included an ace and two kills by Andrea Knox. Big digs from Bruski and Lyndi Hostetter, and kills from Knox and Jasmine Mitchell put the the Skylights up 11-2.
Freshman power hitter Stephanie Lanfear came alive halfway through game one, contributing to the Skylights unrelenting attack for a 30-23 win.
UGF led early in game two but senior Hostetter served a run of five to pull the Skylights into the lead. Hostetter went on to serve nine in the game.
"We need to play to our game, not play down to a different level," Handley said. "In the second game we played down to their level."
With game two tied at 27, the Skylights again took control with attacks from Hostetter, Knox and Bruski for the 30-27 win.
The Skylights took back game three, hustling to defend everything the Argos hit. Lanfear's run of seven serves late in the game included an ace, three kills by Mitchell, one kill by Knox, one block by Knox and a UGF net kill. Knox sealed the match victory with a big-air kill straight down into the Lady Argo court.
"The aura of the team is so different now," Handley said. "I really think their confidence level is so high. They're really playing for each other now instead of just themselves."
Lanfear led the Skylights in kills with 31 followed by Mitchell with 17 and Bruski with 16. Knox, Hostetter and Laura Munson all hit .500 for the night.
Hostetter led in digs with 20. Knox finished with 15 and Lanfear with 12.
Knox led Northern in blocks with six and Mitchell finished with four.
Friday the Skylight volleyball team will play the Montana State University-Northern alumni at 6 p.m. The Lights wrestling team will host Calgary following volleyball at around 8 p.m.
Saturday the Lights football team hosts Montana Tech in their homecoming contest at 1 p.m. The Lights wrestling team take on the MSU-N alumni at 4 p.m., and the Skylights and Lights basketball teams will play the alumni at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively.
