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2017 Frontier Conference Volleyball Preview

Frontier as strong as ever on the court

It has taken a while, a month to be exact, but Frontier Conference volleyball is finally upon us.

And as league play begins, it's going to be an interesting season on the court no doubt.

Through non-conference play, there have been some surprises, and some things that fans expected. Carroll College, picked to win the league, is off to a good start, and is hoping to make it back to the NAIA national tournament for a second year in a row.

The season also started with three Frontier teams ranked in the NAIA Preseason Coaches Poll, and, one of them, Montana Tech, also looks very sharp this fall. Meanwhile, teams like Providence (formerly UGF) and MSU-Northern, look vastly improved this year, while perennial powerhouses Lewis-Clark State and Rocky Mountain College have question marks.

However, one thing that is typical of the Frontier Conference is that all of the teams in the league play a challenging preseason schedule, and this year has been no different. So overall records at the start of league play can be misleading.

Now though, all the matches truly matter as the race to the Frontier Conference Tournament, which will be held Nov. 10-12 in Helena, is now on. And like always, it's going to be a battle right to the very end.

"I don't think there's any bottom teams in this conference," new Northern head coach Rose Obunaga said. "There's a lot of top level teams."

Here's a complete breakdown of the Frontier, team-by-team, in their predicted order of finish according to the Frontier Preseason Coaches Poll.

Carroll College

Fighting Saints

2017 Record: 4-3

2016: 9-3, 24-8, Frontier Champion

Head Coach: Moe Boyle (13th Season)

OUTLOOK: The Fighting Saints' 2017 record shouldn't fool anyone. When it comes to the Frontier Conference, they're heavy favorites after making a deep run into the national tournament last winter. Of course, that team graduated a pair of NAIA All-Americans, but the Saints still have plenty of firepower, led by senior Holly Morehouse (6-0, RS) and junior Brielle Bumgarner (6-1, MH). Senior middle Mallory Arbizzani (6-3) is also stepping up this season to give Carroll its usual tall presence at the net, while setter Rayna Pilgeram (6-0) is off to a strong start in her first year running the Carroll attack. And again, the Saints are tall and athletic, which means they'll pose major problems along the front line, and with so much postseason experience returning, Carroll is going to be very tough to beat this fall.

Montana Tech

Orediggers

2017 Record: 7-5

2016: 8-4, 25-11, 2nd in Frontier

Head Coach: Brian Solomon (6th Season)

OUTLOOK: If anyone has the firepower to knock Carroll off as Frontier champions, it's the Orediggers. Tech made a great run at it last season, and returns a loaded squad for another try this fall. So far this season, the Orediggers have been an offensive machine, averaging 13 kills per set. That's thanks in large part to the likes of Angela Molesworth (6-2, OH), Nicole Peacock (5-11, RS) and Masha Korol (6-2, OH), three tall hitters who can really thump the ball. Senior middle Haley Druyvestein (6-1) is also back, while new setters Tori Chelini (5-9) and Kamalie Moody (5-7) are settling in nicely. Tech will once again be a strong defensive team, as it always is, which means the Orediggers present matchup challenges for every kind of offense in the league. And, with so much height and talent, this could be the year Tech ascends all the way to the top of the Frontier Conference.

Rocky Mountain College

Battlin' Bears

2017 Record: 8-4

2016: 7-5, 14-17, 3rd in the Frontier

Head Coach: Laurie Kelly (12th Season)

OUTLOOK: Rocky had an incredible run in the Frontier, a run that final came to an end last season. The Battlin' Bears still finished third in the Frontier but were well off the pace they had set the three previous season. And while Rocky graduated some key players from last year's squad, don't ever count out head coach Laurie Kelly's squad. The Bears are always an aggressive, attacking team with length at the net, and this season is no different. Hailey Copinga (RH/S, 5-10) is back to lead the RMC offense in multiple ways, while Olivia L'Ami (RS, 5-9) and Daniella Russell (OH, 5-9) are strong hitters. Senior Tess Hellerud (OH, 6-0) and middle Sydney Matheny (5-11) also pose a threat on the block, while libero Holland Ferguson (5-8) is one of the best back row players in the league. So with that much talent and a glorious past to draw one, nobody in the league should overlook the Bears this season.

Lewis-Clark State

Warriors

2017 Record: 5-6

2016: 2-9, 8-15, last in Frontier

Head Coach: Latoya Harris-Alexander (6th Season)

OUTLOOK: The Warriors slumped to one of their worst seasons in a long time last fall. And, they graduated their top two scorers from that team as well. But expectations are still high for LCSC this fall, and they have a plethora of talented and athletic players, and, they always have depth. Defensively, Luana Thompson (L, 5-6) is an outstanding libero, while Natalie Batiste (5-11) is also an excellent defender. Offensively, the Warriors are relying on some new faces in their attack this season, with Aubrey King (OH, 6-1) and Rachel Gregg (OH, 6-0) really standing out. Transfer Lauren West (5-7) has taken over the setting duties for LCSC, while the Warriors have a lot of fresh, but tall faces on the block as well. And with so many new players in their rotation, the going might be tough for the Warriors for a while, but with their talent, don't be surprised to see them make a late-season charge.

Providence

Argos

2017 Record: 14-3

2016: 6-6, 14-14, 4th in Frontier

Head Coach: Arunas Duda (12th Season)

OUTLOOK: A new name, new colors, and anew season. After finishing in the middle of the pack a year ago, the Argos, now named the University of Providence, are off to a great start in 2017. Veteran head coach Arunas Duda has a deep roster with plenty of talent in his rotations, even after losing All-American Madison Wilhelm. And that talent starts with the return of All-Conference performer Korie Milan (OH, 5-8). But, she's not alone in the Argo attack. Mariah Diaz (RS, 6-2), Sydney Anderson (OH, 6-3) and Melissa Gonzalez (RS, 6-0) give the Argos a formidable presence up front, while setter Dani Norling (5-8) is one of the best in the league. And up and down the Argo roster, there's height and athleticism, so there's question, Providence could be the surprise team of the league come season's end.

MSU-Northern

Skylights

2017 Record: 6-8

2016: 5-7, 6-16, 5th in Frontier

Head Coach: Rose Obunaga (1st Season)

OUTLOOK: A lot has changed for the Skylights in just one season. Northern made a strong run during conference play last year, but last spring, longtime head coach Bill Huebsch resigned, and now Northern is under the direction of head coach Rose Obunaga. The Skylights do return star hitters Cassie Krueger and Timi Severson, as well as starting middle Haley Yoder and starting libero Hannah Amtmann. But with a new coach and a new system, it may take some time for the Skylights to work their way into the thick of the Frontier race. Still, Northern has shown plenty of promise in the preseason, battling seven different nationally ranked foes, and playing a ton of five setters. And with the emergence of players like Shania Neubauer, Mikayla Virostek, and the steady play of veteran DS Kylie Pasieka, it looks like Northern is adjusting to its new era just fine.

UM-Western

Bulldogs

2017 Record: 8-5

2016: 4-7, 11-16, 6th in Frontier

Head Coach: Brent Lewis (2nd Season)

OUTLOOK: Volleyball has been a struggle at Western for the better part of a decade now. But in Brent Lewis' first year (2016), the Bulldogs made strides, and they're off to a great start this fall, already winning eight times. They return of standout DS Dylan Fowler (5-5) and OH Kylie McCree (6-1) helps. Both are having big seasons thus far. But Western has also built a taller team than in years past, while still having plenty of attacking power on the outside. Tessa Miller (MB, 6-0) and Kelsey Potter (OH, 5-8) are two offensive powerhouses for the Bulldogs, while Kyra Palmer (RS, 5-9) is also a weapon. And in Western's 6-2 rotation, setters Kiarra Johnson (5-6) and McKenna Fink (5-8) are both playing well. So, like Providence and Northern, the Bulldogs aren't going to be an easy out for any team in the Frontier this season.

 

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