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Skylights aim to protect home court

Northern spikers host Frontier powers Montana Tech and Carroll College

Even in two tough losses, the Montana State University-Northern volleyball team gave their home fans plenty to cheer about and be excited about last weekend. Now, the Skylights, and their fans get to do it all over again.

Northern continues its four-match home stand tonight when the Skylights (0-2, 8-10) host nationally ranked Montana Tech at 7 inside the Armory Gymnasium. MSU-N is also home to face Carroll College Saturday afternoon.

And while the Skylights battle two more daunting Frontier Conference opponents this weekend, head coach Bill Huebsch is excited about the direction his team is headed.

"I couldn't be happier with where this team is at right now," Huebsch said. "We're playing well, the girls work really hard and they give it everything they've got. So that's all a coach can ask for. I think people see how good our league is right now. And we have two more really good teams coming in this weekend. But I think we're right there with them. We're doing a lot of good things right now, and once we can be just a little more consistent, we're going to start to win some of those close sets and matches we've been in this season."

Huebsch is right on both accounts. The Frontier is loaded from top to bottom, and that includes his Skylights. And, already, Northern has been in two very close league matches. Last weekend, the Skylights went four sets with Lewis-Clark State and though they were swept by Rocky Mountain College, the match was much, much closer than the scores indicate.

Now, Northern will look to turn a corner, and the Skylights have the firepower to do it. Sophomore Cassie Krueger is second in the Frontier with 227 kills, while Korrie Stephenson (143), Jessica Wilcox (140) and Erin Jensen (131) are all in the Top 15 in the league in kills. Emily Russell is third in the conference with 617 assists, while, as a team, Northern is second in the Frontier with 100 aces.

But while MSU-N is certainly one of the talents of the Frontier, the schedule just keeps getting tougher, and this weekend is no exception. Montana Tech (1-1, 13-6) is ranked No. 21 in the new NAIA Coaches Poll, while Carroll (2-0, 8-7) is receiving votes. That means, in MSU-N's first 20 matches of the season, it will have played 10 teams that are either in the Top 25, have been in the Top 25, or have received votes in the poll.

And the Orediggers are certainly one of those teams. Tech is a tall, senior-laden team, led by 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. All four are in the Top 20 in the league in kills, while they also aid in Tech being one of the best defensive teams in the league. Tech is second in the Frontier in total blocks and second in total digs this season. The Orediggers also have an outstanding setter in Mackenzie Bauck, who leads the NAIA with 703 assists, while OH Kylee Berridge leads the conference with 44 aces.

"Tech is a veteran team with a lot of talent, and they're very well coached," Huebsch said. "They are off to a great start this year, and like us, they've played a really difficult schedule. They are tall, they have a great presence at the net. And I think what makes them dangerous is, they are still that scrappy, tough defensive team that they've always been, but they create a lot of problems with their offense, too. They have a lot of weapons there."

And things don't get any easier on Saturday, as arch rival Carroll comes to town for MSU-N's fourth straight home match. The Fighting Saints are off to a perfect start in league play, and like Tech, they are a veteran group, with a strong presence at the net. Crystal Schmidt (6-0, MH) is the catalyst, but Emily Sullivan (6-0, OH) and Holly Morehouse (6-0, RH), along with 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) in the back row.

So, both teams Northern faces this weekend in the Armory present tough challenges. But that's nothing new to the Skylights, who have been playing quality teams since the season started back in late August. And once again, Huebsch says his team is looking forward to more of those challenges.

"We are getting better every week," Huebsch said. "The tough preseason schedule we played has prepared us well for these conference matches. And we're excited to play at home again. We're looking forward to trying to protect our home floor."

Tonight's match between Northern and Montana Tech starts at 7 in the Armory Gymnasium. Saturday's match between the Skylights and Fighting Saints will get underway at 2 p.m.

 

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