Warriors bring young Skylight's season to a close

The Montana State University-Northern volleyball team played all of the top teams in the Frontier Conference very tough this season. But, in the end, the young Skylights couldn't find a way to get past those tough teams.

And that was the case in Northern's last match of 2015, a 3-0 loss to Lewis-Clark State in the first round of the Frontier Conference Tournament Friday night in Helena. The Warriors beat the Skylights by scores of 25-15, 25-18 and 25-22.

After a slow start, Northern did what it has done all season, which is rally late, and the Skylights had some good looks to extend the match in both the second and third sets. But, the Warriors, who have been on a serious hot streak of late, had enough firepower to end any hopes of a Skylights' comeback.

In their final match of the season, MSU-N had 30 kills, led by Korrie Stephenson's eight. Cassie Krueger added six kills, and Erin Jensen and Jessica Wilcox each had five. Wilcox also tallied 10 digs, while Jensen and Krueger each had a block. Kennadie Clute led the Warriors, who advanced to the championship match before losing to Rocky Mountain College Saturday night, with 16 kills.

While MSU-N's season came to an end Friday, the Skylights were proud that junior setter Emily Russell was named to the Frontier All-Conference Team Thursday. Russell was named Second-Team All-Conference in her first season at Northern. She finished second in the conference in total assists and third in assists per set. Fellow Skylight Taylor Woolman was also given the Frontier Champions of Character Award.

LC State def. MSU-Northern

25-15, 25-18, 25-22

MSU-N – (kills-aces-blocks) Erin Jensen 5-0-3; Cydney Auzenne 1-0-0; Jessica Wilcox 5-0-1; Kylie Pasieka 0-0-0; Mikayla Virostek 2-0-1; Cassie Krueger 6-0-1; Jacy Vining 0-0-0; Korrie Stephenson 8-1-0; Emily Russell 3-1-0. Totals 30-2-4.0

LCSC - (kills-aces-blocks) Treneisha Doyle 16-2-0; Darby Santos 2-1-0; Robyn Schirmer 0-0-0; Maya Williamson 4-0-1; Aly Sauer 0-0-0; JaLisa Jose 3-0-1; Rylee Hickman 0-0-0; Russia Robinson 0-0-0; Stephanie Ovitz 1-0-1; Kennadie Clute 16-2-1; Kiendra Chester 6-0-0. Totals 48-5-2.0.

2015 Frontier All-Conference Volleyball

First Team

Crystal Schmidt, MH, Carroll College; Rebecca Sweeney, L, Carroll College; Kennadie Clute, OH, Lewis-Clark State; Treneisha Doyle, OH, Lewis-Clark State; Bailie Cortner, MB, Montana Tech; Sydney Norris, OH, Montana Tech; Tori Bertsch, S, RMC; Ahlea Billis, OH, RMCl Brooke Myers, L, RMCl Mariah Stiffarm, MB, RMC; Kelsee Montagna, RS, UGF; Madison Wilhelm, OH, UGF.

Second Team

Paige Montgomery, OH, Carroll College; Holly Morehouse, RS, Carroll College; Russia Robinson, L, Lewis-Clark State; Emily Russell, S, MSU-Northern; Mackenzie Bauck, S, Montana Tech; Devon Bogart, MB, UGF.