Northern spikers struggle against top NAIA teams

The Montana State University-Northern volleyball team got off to a tough start to the 2018 season at the opening Big Sky Challenge in Butte. But the young Skylights knew week two was going to be even more difficult.

At the Bellevue College Tournament this past weekend in Bellevue, Nebraska, it was indeed, tough.

Northern went 0-4 at the Bellevue tourney, and faced three teams ranked inside the NAIA Top 25. The first of those matches came right away Friday when the Skylights were swept by nationally ranked Jamestown College, by scores of 25-10, 25-10 and 25-19. Jamestown dominated the match from start to finish, as the Skylights finished with just 20 kills. Jordan O’Connor had five of those kills to lead the way for Northern.

Later Friday, the Skylights got off to a strong start against Peru State, winning the first set 25-22. But that was as far as MSU-N would get, because Peru took the next three games by scores of 25-14, 25-19 and 25-21. Northern did play well offensively, racking up 42 kills, as Abigail Ellison had 11 and Jessica Curl added 10. Curl also had a pair of solo blocks, while Hannah Amtmann had 16 digs and two aces.

Saturday, MSU-N had to battle two more teams in the Top 25, starting with Doane College. The Skylights were swept by scores of 25-16, 25-12 and 25-16. Ellison and Curl combined for 12 kills, while Hailey Warren had 15 assists. In the final match of the tourney Saturday, Northern was swept by host Bellevue College, by scores of 25-12, 25-19 and 25-18. MSU-N battled but couldn’t get over the hump in any of the three sets. Ellison finished with six kills, while McKaylie Tanner had eight assists and an ace.

Northern (0-8), will now return to Montana searching for its first win of the season this weekend in Great Falls. The Skylights will wrap up non-conference play with four matches at the University of Providence Tournament. MSU-N will then get set to open Frontier Conference play with a pair of home matches on homecoming weekend, against Lewis-Clark State and Montana Tech.

Jamestown def. MSU-Northern

25-10, 25-10, 25-19

MSU-N - Kills 20 (Jordan O'Connor 5), Assists 17 (Hailey Warren 9), Aces 2 (Shan ia Neubauer 1, Jessica Curl 1), Digs 24 (Hannah Amtmann 6), Blocks 4.

Peru State def. MSU-Northern

22-25, 25-14, 25-19, 25-21

MSU-N - Kills 42 (Abigail Ellison 11, Jessica Curl 10), Assists 36 (Hailey Warren 17, Shania Neubauer 15), Aces 7 (Hannah Amtmann 2, Emily Guiterrz 2, Curl 2), Digs 65 (Amtmann 16, Warren 12), Blocks 6.

Doane def. MSU-Northern

25-16, 25-12, 25-16

MSU-N - Kills 23 (Abigail Ellison 6, Jessica Curl 6), Assists 20 (Hailey Warren 15), Aces 0, Digs 23 (Hannah Amtmann 10), Blocks 4.

Bellevue def. MSU-Northern

25-13, 25-19, 25-18

MSU-N - Kills 25 (Abigail Ellison 8), Assists 24 (McKaylie Tanner 8), Aces 3 (Tanner 1, Jessica Curl 1, Shay Waldbillig 1), Digs 33 (Hannah Amtmann 16), Blocks 3.