Montana Tech digs up the Skylights in Butte

The Montana State University-Northern Skylights were hoping to get past their road troubles Thursday night. But, the Montana Tech Orediggers wouldn't allow it.

The Skylights lost their third road match of the young Frontier Conference season when they were defeated by the Orediggers, 3-1 Thursday night in Butte. The loss dropped Northern to 2-3 in conference play.

But, though the loss still stung, Northern showed marked improvement from its previous two road matches, sweeps at the hands of UM-Western and Carroll College.

In Butte, the Skylights battled all the way through, in particular, forcing a fourth set after winning a dramatic third game by the score of 28-26.

Tech had come out strong, trying to avoid losing for a third straight match, and the Orediggers, who are receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches Poll, proved to be a hungry team, as they won the first two sets by scores of 25-17 and 25-17. But, the Skylights showed some resiliency, by fighting off multiple match points in their third-set victory.

However, Northern also ran out of steam in the fourth set, and late in the match, the Diggers were able to gain control, and put the match away with a Bailie Cortner kill.

Offensively, Northern hit a solid .127 and had 40 kills, led by the trio of Cassie Krueger, Jillian Nickens and Timi Severson, who each had eight. Haley Yoder also chipped in with six kills and a block, while Emily Russell had 34 assists and one of MSU-N's three aces.

Defensively, MSU-N was tough, recording seven blocks, but the Skylights couldn't slow down the tandem of Cortner and Jordan Danz, who combined for 26 kills. Tech hit .225 for the match, also had nine blocks and served seven aces.

Now the Skylights, who fell to 3-13 overall, will have to try and find even more strength on the road, as they make the long trip to Lewiston, Idaho, for a bout with No. 25 Lewis-Clark State on Saturday afternoon. The Skylights return home to play UM-Western next Saturday.

Montana Tech def. MSU-Northern

25-17, 25-17, 26-28, 25-16

MSU-N - Kills 40 (Jillian Nickens 8, Cassie Krueger 8, Timi Severson 8), Assists 35 (Emily Russell 34), Aces 3 (Three with one each), Digs 35 (Jacy Vining 7), Blocks 7.

MT - Kills 55 (Jordan Danz 14, Bailie Cortner 12), Assists 50 (Mackenzie Bauck 43), Aces 7 (Danz 3), Digs 45 (Bauck 12), Blocks 9.