Skylights play well in loss at rival UGF

Life on the road in the Frontier Conference is never easy. And it was especially tough on the Montana State University-Northern volleyball team Saturday night.

In a big rivalry match against the University of Great Falls Argos Saturday night in Great Falls, the Skylights played well, but couldn’t overtake the Argos in a four-set loss. UGF prevailed in a tight match by scores of 23-25, 25-23, 25-21 and 25-17. The loss dropped the Skylights to 1-6 in the Frontier, as MSU-N also lost to Rocky Mountain College on Thursday night.

Still, the Skylights showed some great things early in a hostile environment at the McLaughlin Center.

"You look at the scores, it was very close those first three sets," said MSU-N head coach Bill Huebsch. "We were able to kind of get over the hump mentally in that first set and that was good to see. As for the next two sets, we were right there, we had our chances. I just think, we continue to get close and we make some mental mistakes that really keep us from finishing those close sets off, and that's what happened in the second and third sets against UGF.

"I thought we fought hard, our effort was great again," Huebsch said. "So we just need to get back in the gym and figure out to add a little more focus, so when we get those opportunities to put sets away, we can do it in these close matches."

Northern battled hard and found itself leading 1-0 after a hard-fought first set. MSU-N trailed 23-21 in the set, but won four straight points to take the lead on the Argos.

The next two sets were just as close. In the second, the Skylights rallied, and trailed just 24-23 before the Argos closed it out. MSU-N came back again from an early deficit in the third set, but couldn’t quite overtake the UGF lead. And from there, the Argos had their best hitting set of the match in the fourth, and they were able to put the Skylights away.

"Our effort was really good again," Huebsch said. "I couldn't be happier with how hard the kids work and how hard they play. The always fight.

"And I think, both at Rocky and in Great Falls, they played really well in the first two sets of both of those matches," he continued. "Those two teams are very good and we were right there with both of them. The girls gave it everything they had in both of those matches and that's all I can ask for."

Northern finished the match with 39 kills, led by eight each from Erin Jensen and Cassie Krueger. Jacy Vining and Emily Russel combined for 35 digs, while Jessica Wilcox had two solo blocks to go along with six kills and an ace. On the other side, UGF hit an excellent .208 and had 63 kills, including 19 by Madison Wilhelm and 17 from Kelsee Montagna. UGF also out-blocked the Skylights 16-6.

Northern (9-14) will now get set for one of its last two home matches of the season. On Saturday night, the Skylights will host UM-Western at the Armory Gymnasium. The Skylights only other home match this season will be a rematch with the Argos on Nov. 7.

UGF def. MSU-Northern

23-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-17

MSU-N - (kills-aces-blocks) Erin Jensen 8-0-3; Cydney Auzenne 6-1-1; Jessica Wilcox 6-1-3; Kylie Pasieka 0-0-0; Mikayla Virostek 3-0-1; Cassie Krueger 8-0-1; Jacy Vining 0-1-0; Korrie Stephenson 5-1-0; Emily Russell 3-0-0; Samantha Martinez 0-0-0; Taylor Woolman 0-0-0. Totals 39-4-6.0

UGF - (kills-aces-blocks) Kennedy Chadwick 0-1-0; Dani Norling 4-1-1; Jacey Habets 0-0-0; Kelsee Montagna 17-0-7; Tiffany Marks 7-0-7; Madison Wilhelm 19-0-3; Devon Bogart 9-1-8; Gabby Bienkowski 0-0-0; Kateri Blodgette-Baker 7-0-3; Korie Milan 0-0-0. Totals 63-3-16.0.