Skylights win first match of 2018

The Montana State University-Northern volleyball team will be excited to finally play a home match when homecoming weekend rolls around. But, before Northern gets to homecoming, the Skylights were still searching for their first win of 2018.

And MSU-N finally got that win with their final match of the two-day University of Providence Tournament in Great Falls. Saturday afternoon, MSU-N beat Providence Christian College in a five-set thriller in what was its final non-conference match of the fall.

Northern opened the tournament with three losses, but against the Pirates the Skylights prevailed by scores of 25-18, 17-25, 25-22, 21-25 and 15-8. The seesaw affair was a big confidence boost for the Skylights, who showed a lot of fight and toughness in the victory. Jessica Curl had a big match for Northern with 11 kills and three blocks, while Abigail Ellison had 10 kills and Hannah Amtmann had 26 digs. Northern also had 14 team blocks in the win.

The win was big for Northern, but all weekend, the Skylights showed improvement. Friday, Northern lost two five-set marathons, but battled in both. MSU-N fell to Benedictine Mesa by scores of 25-12, 23-25, 22-25, 25-23 and 15-7, and then dropped a heartbreaker to Medicine Hat College, by scores of 25-21, 19-25, 25-23, 20-25 and 15-6.

Northern opened Saturday play with a three-set loss to Mayville State, by scores of 25-12, 25-12 and 25-8, before pulling off the big win against Providence Christian.

Now, the Skylights (1-11) not only get to play at home for the first time this season, but they also begin Frontier Conference play. Friday night, Northern hosts Lewis-Clark State, followed by a visit from Montana Tech Saturday night. Both matches are part of Northern’s homecoming weekend, and both start at 7 p.m. in the Armory Gymnasium.

Medicine Hat def. MSU-Northern

25-21, 19-25, 25-23, 20-25, 15-6

Medicine Hat College - (kills-aces-blocks) Janessa Oelke 0-0-0; Brooks Christie 16-0-1; Janelle Neyron 15-2-0; Shaya Suchy 1-0-0; Mckenzie Griffith 8-2-3; Amber Stigter 17-1-1; Dryden Gris 0-0-0; Megan Hoeber 3-0-4; Jennifer Saj 2-1-2; Grace Porter 3-1-0. Totals 65-7-7.0

Montana State-Northern - (kills-aces-blocks) Hailey Warren 0-0-0; Hannah Amtmann 0-1-0; Katia Michelotti 4-0-1; Ashley Ponce 0-0-0; Shania Neubauer 8-0-3; Emily Gutierrez 7-1-0; Jessica Curl 5-3-2; Jordan O'Connor 10-1-4; Abigail Ellison 12-1-2; Mckaylie Tanner 0-0-0. Totals 46-7-6.0.

Benedictine Mesa def. MSU-Northern

25-12, 23-25, 22-25, 25-23, 15-7

MSU-N - Not Stats Provided

Mayville State def. MSU-Northern

25-12, 25-12, 25-8

MSU-N - Kills 27 (Jordan O'Connor 7), Assists 23 (Hailey Warren 7), Aces 1 (Emily Guiterrez 1), Digs 43 (Hannah Amtmann 15), Blocks 3.

MSU-Northern def. Providence Christian

25-18, 17-25, 25-22, 21-25, 15-8

MSU-N - Kills 43 (Jessica Curl 11, Abigail Ellison 10), Assists 36 (Shania Neubauer 16), Aces 9 (Neubauer 4, Gutierrez 4), Digs 74 (Hannah Amtmann 26), Blocks 14 (Curl 3).