By Tiffany L. Rehbein
The MSU-Northern Skylights volleyball team looks for an opening-round Frontier Conference win against the Westminster Griffins Friday.
Westminster, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, is in its first year as a full member of the Frontier Conference, hence, the new volleyball programs roster is comprised of many sophomores and freshmen.
I look for us opening with a conference win, first-year head coach Lisa Handley said.
The Skylights, 1-6 overall, travel to Salt Lake City to play one match against the Griffins, 0-9 overall. No team in the Frontier Conference has played a conference match yet.
The Skylights look to continue learning in each match they play.
I want to get better and better each match, Handley said. Were going into the match with a positive attitude.
The Skylights were knocked out of power pool play last weekend at the Frontier Conference Tournament in Dillon.
Senior co-captain Melanie Baack had a team-high eight digs against Western Montana College last weekend and 10 digs and nine kills against Rocky Mountain College. The Skylights fell to both teams.
Sophomore Adrienne Poplawski, who played hard from her middle blocker position, looks to strengthen her hitting against Westminster. Poplawski tallied seven hits against Rocky.
Heather Hammonds has been tough on the net, notching three solo blocks against Rocky.
In the Frontier Conference, sophomore Jessica Gerenz is ranked No. 7 is individual assists with 115 total assists at an average of 4.42 per game. Gerenz tallied a team-high 15 against Western, 20 against Rocky and 15 against Sheridan College.
Sophomore setter Gabrielle Chambliss stands in the ninth spot with an individual serving percentage of 94.5. Chambliss has served seven aces thus far and notched two against the University of Mary last weekend.
Lyndi Hostetter leads the Skylights in the Frontier Conference at individual serving, aces and passing.
Hostetter is No. 2 in individual serving with a 98 percent. She has tallied nine aces and stands at No. 10 in the Frontier Conference. Hostetter also has a 92.7 passing percentage which is good for an eighth place conference standing.
As a team, Northern has notched 229 kills in 26 games and the Skylights have a .117 attack percentage.
The Skylights have tallied 211 assists so far this season. The have a .90 team passing percentage. Westminster leads the team average with a .92.
Northern stands in the No. 3 position with a 93.6 percent team serving percentage.
We need to quit playing to hang on and start playing to pound, Handley said. I have high expectations for them and I want them to believe in themselves as much as I believe in them.
The Skylights will play their first home match Saturday, Sept. 24, against Western Montana College.
