Skylights give Argos a battle

The Montana State University-Northern volleyball team will play its final home match of the season tonight, and the Skylights are bringing some good vibes with them.

Not only is tonight's match against Carroll College senior night for Northern, but MSU-N played a strong match at nationally ranked Providence Thursday night in Great Falls.

In the Frontier Conference showdown in the McLaughlin Center, Northern came out swing and won the first set from the No. 18 Argos, 25-21. And though the Skylights lost the next three sets, by scores of 25-17, 25-19 and 25-12, Northern showed just how far its come this season.

The Skylights finished Thursday night's match with 31 kills, while hitting .024. Rylee Burmester led the Northern offense with 13 kills, while Shania Neubauer added seven and Elissa Lind had six.

Defensively, Northern also had 84 digs, as well as four blocks, while matching the Argos with five service aces.

Burmester had a team-high 20 digs to go with two aces, while Neubauer, Lind and libero Katie Murdock each had 16 digs. Of course, as well as Northern did play, the Skylights just couldn't slow down the UP juggernaut. The Argos hit .193 and had 55 kills, while also digging up 98 balls and six blocks on defense. Tyna William led three Argos in double figures with 18 kills, as UP swept Northern in the season series.

Still, the Skylights (0-9, 6-16) should be fired up for tonight's match against Carroll. Before the match, seniors Hailey Warren and Katia Michelotti will be honored, and Northern will look for its first conference win in what will be the last volleyball match in the Armory this season.

The Skylights and Fighting Saints meet at 7 tonight.

Providence def. MSU-Northern

21-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-12

MSU-N - Kills (31 (Burmester 13), Assists 30 (Warren 30), Aces 5 (Burmester 2), Digs 84 (Burmester 20, Lind 16, Murdock 16, Neubauer 16), Blocks 5 (Michelotti 1).

UP - Kills 55 (Williams 18), Assists 47 (Finberg-Roberts 45), Aces 5 (Finberg-Roberts 2), Digs 98 (Legros 42), Blocks 6.