Skylights split at Big Sky Challenge

It's still summer, but for the Montana State University-Northern volleyball team, it's already the grind of a new season. And in the second tournament of the 2015 season, the Skylights took some more important steps forward.

Playing at the Big Sky Challenge Friday and Saturday in Helena, Northern went 2-2, with wins over The Master's University and Dickinson State, while the Skylights also dropped tough four-set matches to nationally-ranked Vanguard University and to Corban College.

At the start of the week, MSU-N head coach Bill Huebsch was looking for improvement after Northern opened the season with a 2-2 record at last weekend's Eastern Oregon Tournament. And Friday, Huebsch saw plenty he liked.

The Skylights opened the tourney in Helena with a well-played match against Vanguard, which is ranked No. 8 in the NAIA Preseason Coaches Poll. Despite the loss, by scores of 25-21, 21-25, 25-22 and 25-19. With how strong the Lions are, the Skylights played admirably, they just came up short in a couple of key points in each of the three sets they lost.

The Skylights tallied 42 kills, led by Cassie Krueger's 17. Jessica Wilcox added 11 kills and 10 digs. Jacy Vining led the MSU-N defense, while Kruger had two service aces.

But just as Northern did last week, the Skylights managed to bounce back from a tough loss with a solid win. Playing another ranked team, The Master's, Northern beat the Mustangs in four sets Friday night. MSU-N won by scores of 25-23, 25-17, 25-27 and 25-19. The win was a big one for the Skylights, as they played a strong match on both sides of the net. Offensively, Northern totaled 50 kills, led by 15 from Wilcox and 13 by Krueger. Emily Russell added 37 assists, while defensively, the Skylights had an astounding 10 blocks, including three by Krueger and a match-high four from Korrie Stephenson. Vining had 14 digs as well.

Northern would also win its final match of the weekend, a sweep of Dickinson State, but the Skylights suffered a setback Saturday morning when they lost in four sets to Corban College, by scores of 25-14, 25-22, 18-25 and 29-27. After struggling in the first two sets, the Skylights, who swept Corban last week in Oregon, fought hard, but couldn't finish the fourth set, which would have extended the match.

In the loss, Kruger led MSU-N with 13 kills, while Erin Jensen and Wilcox each had 12. Wilcox had a big match for Northern with 16 digs and two aces as well.

And while the loss to Corban was a hard one to take, the Skylights again showed heart and resilience. On Saturday afternoon, Northern blasted former Frontier Conference rival Dickinson State by scores of 25-18, 25-17 and 25-16. The Skylights hit a tournament best .263 and had 34 kills in just three sets. Krueger led the way with eight kills, while Cydney Auzenne and Korrie Stephenson each had seven. Stephenson and Wilcox each had three aces as well, as the Skylights are proving to be a tough serving team early in the season.

Now, with two more wins under their belt, Northern enters the third week of its season with a 4-4 record.

MSU-N will travel to Bellevue, Nebraska Friday and Saturday for the Bellevue University Tournament. The Skylights make their home debut Sept. 17 against Lewis-Clark State.

Vanguard def. MSU-Northern

25-21, 21-25, 25-22, 25-19

MSU-N – Kills 42 (Cassie Krueger 17, Jessica Wilcox 11), Assists 40 (Emily Russell 37), Aces 4 (Krueger 2), Digs 58 (Jacy Vining 14), Blocks 5 (Krueger 1).

MSU-Northern def. The Master's

25-23, 25-17, 25-27, 25-19

MSU-N – Kills 50 (Jessica Wilcox 15, Cassie Krueger 13), Assists 46 (Emily Russell 37), Aces 13 (Krueger 4), Digs 51 (Jacy Vining 14), Blocks 10 (Korrie Stephenson 4, Krueger 3).

Corban def. MSU-Northern

25-14, 25-22, 18-25, 29-27

MSU-N – Kills 54 (Cassie Krueger 13, Erin Jensen 12, Jessica Wilcox 12), Assists 49 (Emily Russell 45), Aces 3 (Wilcox 2), Digs 71 (Wilcox 16), Blocks 9 (Krueger 1).

MSU-Northern def. Dickinson St.

25-18, 25-17, 25-16

MSU-N – Kills 34 (Cassie Krueger 8, Cydney Auzenne 7, Korrie Stephenson 7), Assists 32 (Emily Russell 28), Aces 8 (Stephenson 3, Jessica Wilcox 3), Digs 36 (Emily Russell 10), Blocks 1 (Erin Jensen 1, Auzenne 1).