Skylights swept in opener

If the Montana State University-Northern Skylights want to be challenged during their non-conference volleyball season, they certainly got that and more in their season opener.

Friday afternoon, at the McLaughlin Center in Great Falls, the Skylights were swept by Midland University of Nebraska. The Skylights lost their 2013 debut by scores of 25-19, 25-15 and 25-23. Midland, which is picked to win its conference this season, went on to sweep UGF as well Friday.

In all, Midlands beat four Frontier Conference teams over the weekend, and while Northern was a part of that four-match sweep, MSU-N head coach Bill Huebsch saw some bright spots from his veteran team Friday.

“We told the kids after the match, there was some bright spots, at times I saw us do some really good things,” Huebsch said. “And Midlands was a very good first opponent. They are going to be a ranked team this year and win a lot of matches in their conference. So it wasn’t all bad.

“But I also told them I just felt like we didn’t put our best foot forward,” he continued. “There were some mistakes we made that are just unacceptable for a veteran team, and they really hurt us. But it’s early, and we can get better from this match.”

Huebsch said the Skylights started strong in the first two sets, and stayed with Midlands point for point. However, late in each set, some mental breakdowns cost MSU-N a chance to pull ahead. Then, in the third set, the Skylights fell behind 7-1, before rallying to gain a late lead. But the lead didn’t hold, and MSU-N had to leave Great Falls with a season-opening loss against a very good opponent.

“I really liked the way we started the first two sets,” Huebsch said. “We showed we were ready to play. But, mentally, we just seemed to go to sleep at times, and by the time we kind of got over that, and started to play more consistently, it was too late.

“I think the biggest thing that stands out was, we just didn’t defend well enough at the net,” he continued. “Our blocking wasn’t good enough. I thought our serve-receive was pretty good, and we hit OK. But we just didn’t defend like we’re capable of and we learned that we need to get a lot better at the net.”

The Skylights did out-hit Midlands 35-33, with Abby Nicholas totaling 14 kills. She also had a pair of blocks, but two total blocks was all the Skylights could muster. Kelsey Williams added six kills for MSU-N, while Joni Nagy had 26 assists, Holly Cartwright had 10 digs, and Williams and Dayna Jensen each had an ace.

With one match under their belt, the 0-1 Skylights will be very busy this week. Northern heads to the Cascade/Frontier Challenge Friday-Sunday in Spokane, where the Skylights will play six matches in three days. And improving in Spokane will be the main goal.

“It’s early,” Huebsch said, “and I think those six matches in Spokane is exactly what we need. We need to just play a lot and iron out some of things that aren’t working right now.

“The kids are disappointed with how we played on Friday,” he added, “because they know we can play better. But I told them, if we learn from this match and we’re better for it come November, then I can accept this match. And this is a veteran group, and I believe they will learn from this and be better down the road.

Midland def Skylights

25-19, 25-15, 25-23

Midland, Neb. — Kills: 33 (Heather Pribyl 8). Assists: 33 (Megan Farley 30). Aces: 5 (Becca Gradoville 2). Digs: 33 (Megan Farley 11). Blocks: 6 (Pribyl 3).

MSU-N — Kills: 35 (Abby Nicholas 14). Assists: 35 (Joni Nagy 26). Aces: 2 (Dayna Jensen, Kelsey Williams). Digs: 27 (Holly Cartwright 10). Blocks: 4 (Erin Jensen, Nicholas 2).