Skylights ink standout setter from Kalispell

The 2014 volleyball season has been over for more than month. Now, Montana State University-Northern head coach Bill Huebsch is looking to the future.

Earlier this week, Huebsch announced the signing of setter Emily Russell. Russell, a 5-8, setter comes to Northern from Spokane Falls Community College. She is a 2013 graduate of Flathead High School in Kalispell, who will have two years of eligibility at MSU-N.

"Emily is a great leader with a high volleyball I.Q.," Huebsch said. "She is a very good player who brings a lot of maturity to our program. We are excited about her future in a Skylight uniform."

At Spokane Falls, she earned Second-Team All-Eastern Region honors and was a member of the All-NWAACC Academic Team with a cumulative grade point average of 3.44. She was selected to play in the NWAACC All-Star Game, and was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Spokane Crossover Tournament. Three times throughout the year she was the Eastern Region Setter of the Week. Russell was also named the Setter of the Week for the entire NWAACC for her performance in week eight of the season.

At Flathead High School, Russell was an Class AA All-Conference and All-State setter. She helped lead Flathead to a second-place finish at the AA volleyball state tournament. She was also a key member of the Bravette basketball team, where she earned Honorable Mention All-Conference honors and helped them to their first state AA tournament appearance since 2008.

Russell is the daughter of Danny and Kristy Johnson.  She plans on majoring in elementary education at MSU-Northern.