Skylights picked sixth in Frontier Coaches Poll

The Montana State University-Northern volleyball team had one of its most successful seasons in nearly a decade a year ago.

And the Skylights, under fourth-year head coach Bill Huebsch are looking to take things even further, but once again, they'll have their hands full according to the 2012 Frontier Conference Preseason Volleyball Coaches Poll, which was released Monday night.

The Skylights are picked to finish sixth in the new nine-team league which now includes Dickinson State University. Northern finished sixth in the Frontier standings a year ago.

The Skylights do return several key players and team leaders, but the top of the Frontier will be tough yet again. Lewis-Clark State is picked to repeat as league champions again, earning 62 points in the poll. Rocky Mountain College, which also went to the NAIA national tournament a year ago, is picked to finish second, earning 54 points, just one ahead of third-place pick Carroll College. The University of Great Falls and Westminster tied for fourth in the poll with 40 points, while Northern was sixth with 29 points. Rounding out the poll is UM-Western with 18 points, Montana Tech with 15 points and Dickinson State was last with 13 points.

First place was worth eight points, second place worth seven points, third place worth six points, fourth place worth five points, fifth place worth four points, sixth place worth three points, seventh place worth two points and eighth place worth one point.

The Skylights open the season with four nonconference matches Aug. 17-18 in Great Falls. Northern makes its home debut Sept. 8 against Carroll College.

Frontier

Conference

Preseason

Volleyball

Coaches Poll

1. Lewis-Clark State 62

2. Rocky Mountain 54

3. Carroll College 53

4. Great Falls 40

4. Westminster 40

6. MSU-Northern 29

7. UM-Western 18

8. Montana Tech 15

9. Dickinson State 13