MSU-N's Abby Nicholas earns Frontier honor

It’s been a strong start to the 2013 volleyball season for the Montana State University-Northern Skylights and a particularly strong start for Northern senior hitter Abby Nicholas.

Tuesday, Nicholas was named Frontier Conference Player of the Week after performing at a high level over the weekend in Daytona Beach Florida.

Nicholas is a 6-0 senior right side hitter from Sandy, Utah. Northern went 3-1 for the weekend at the Embry-Riddle Labor Day Weekend Tournament. The Skylight beat Mobile (Ala.) 3-1, Ashford (Iowa) 3-1, Northwestern Ohio (RV) 3-1 and lost to No. 10 Madonna (Mich.) 0-3.

Nicholas averaged 4.88 kills per set with a hitting percentage of .316 for the weekend. She also averaged three digs per set. Nicholas had an astounding 28 kills against Mobile and another 20 against Ashford on Friday.

Also nominated were Alexis Aalona of Westminster College, Emily Erickson of Montana Western, Korey Krumm of Montana Tech, Chelsea Strong of Lewis-Clark State, Maddie Wilhelm of the University of Great Falls and Yang Yang of Rocky Mountain.

Bryce Baker of Rocky Mountain College was named the Frontier’s Football Player of the Week. Baker is a 6-3, 215-pound junior quarterback from Fernley, Nev. In addition to his conference honors, he was also named the NAIA National Offensive Player of the Week. In then Rocky’s 35-30 road win over No. 14 Southern Oregon, Baker was 34 of 51 passing for 517 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. Also nominated was Derek Lear of Montana State-Northern, as well as Dakota Stonehouse of Carroll College and Dylan Young of Southern Oregon.

Senior linebacker Josh Johnson of Rocky Mountain College was named Defensive Player of the Week. Johnson had seven solo tackles, six assisted tackles, half a tackle for loss and one pass deflection in Rocky’s 35-30 road win over Southern Oregon. James Dowgin of Carroll College was among the other nominees.