Skylights start the stretch run with big rivalry matches

The Montana State University-Northern Skylights are searching for a strong finish to the 2016 volleyball regular season. And three straight home matches is something that should aid in that finish.

However, before Northern (3-5, 4-13) can get to those home matches, the Skylights will have to play one more time on the road. That match comes tonight when MSU-N visits UGF in a Frontier Conference rivalry match.

The Skylights then start their three-game home stand with a match against nationally ranked Carroll College Friday night inside the Armory Gymnasium.

Both matches this weekend will be tough, but Northern head coach Bill Huebsch said the goal is the same - he wants to see his Skylights keep getting better, so they're peaking when the Frontier tournament rolls around next month.

"We're right in the thick of things still," Huebsch said. "And with our last three matches at home, we have a really good opportunity to move up. But at the same time, we need to just keep improving. I feel like we have improved every week, and if we continue to do that, we'll be right where we need to be when the tournament comes."

The Skylights certainly showed plenty of good things last Friday night when they lost at Rocky Mountain College in a five-set battle. Northern was strong offensively throughout the match, getting for players in double figures in kills. MSU-N was also good on the defensive end, with 72 digs, and in the back row, the likes of Hannah Amtmann, Jacy Vining and Kylie Pasieka continue to play tough defense.

But there's one area which Huebsch said hurt his team last week, and it's one he says will need to be much better against both UGF and Carroll this week.

"We missed 13 serves at Rocky," Huebsch said. "That's 13 points we just gave to our opponent, and in such a close match, that's tough to overcome. We want to serve aggressively. We've done that all year. But we can't give those free points away. We've got to get more of those in."

Northern has been an aggressive serving team this season, and they have been aggressive at the net, too, as Cassie Krueger and Timi Severson are both in the Top 10 in the Frontier in kills, while Emily Russell is third in the league in assists.

And this week, MSU-N is going up against two very big blocking teams, so the Skylights hitters will need to be extra sharp.

UGF (4-4, 11-11), which Northern swept last month in the Armory, is one of the tallest teams in the conference, and 6-2 Madison Wilhelm, who has 272 kills and 33 blocks is the catalyst up front. The Argos also have big threats in 6-3 Tiffany Marks and 6-2 Mariah Diaz up front, so, their heighth will certainly be a challenge for the Skylights in tonight's rematch.

Carroll, ranked No. 17 in the NAIA then comes to Havre with plenty of threats of its own. The Fighting Saints (6-2, 18-5) have been dominant for much of this season, and they swept Northern in Helena last month.

The Saints are deep and talented at every position, and they too have a strong presence at the net, including Holly Morehouse (6-0) and Paige Montgomery (6-0), who have combined for over 500 kills this season. Brielle Bumgarner (6-1) and Alya Carpenter (5-9) have another 300-plus kills between them, while setter Johnni Door (5-9) has been outstanding. Carroll is also efficient on both ends of the floor, as the Saints are second in hitting and second in blocking in the Frontier.

"Two very good teams," Huebsch said of the Argos and Saints. "Both teams have a very strong presence at the net, and are very good blocking the ball. That means we have to be good in serve-receiver, like always, and be smart with the ball. We have to make good decisions.

"Both matches will be challenging," he continued. "But I also think we have shown that when we are consistent and playing up to our capabilities, we can play with anybody. So that's what we need to keep striving for, just to keep that level of consistency throughout each match. If we can do that, we'll be in good shape."

Tonight's match between the Skylights and Argos starts at 7 in Great Falls. Friday night's match between Northern and Carroll will start at 7 p.m. in the Armory Gymnasium. Friday is also Dig Pink Night at MSU-N.