Skylights sink Argos

The Montana State University-Northern Skylights and UGF Argos have a big rivalry on the volleyball court. And the series is so intense that it’s rare that one team sweeps the season.

The Skylights, however, pulled off that exact feat Thursday night in Great Falls.

Northern thumped the Argos last month in Havre, then went to UGF’s McLaughlin Center on Thursday night and beat the Argos yet again, this time by scores of 25-22, 15-25, 25-23 and 25-19.

The victory upped Northern’s Frontier Conference record to 4-5, and was big considering MSU-N captured its second road win of the season and will play its final three matches of the regular season in the Armory Gymnasium, starting with tonight’s Dig Pink Match against Carroll College.

The victory was also big because it showed just how good the Skylights can be when facing adversity. Northern came into the match fresh off a heartbreaking, five-set loss at Rocky Mountain College a week ago. But the Skylights showed no ill-effects from that match, as they got off to a great start by taking the first set from the Argos.

Then, however, adversity struck again, when UGF dominated the second set 25-15, evening things up at 1-1. From there, however, Northern was spectacular, and the Skylights really had little difficult closing the Argos out. The third-set win was especially big as the Skylights hit a match-high .441.

Offensively, MSU-N was very good too, finishing with 47 kills, while hitting an efficient .270 for the match. Cassie Krueger tallied 17 kills, while Timi Severson added 11, and Jillian Nickens added eight. Emily Russell garnered 39 assists to go with 10 digs, while MSU-N attacked well with its serve too, as five different Skylights had aces in the match.

UGF was also good offensively, with 24 kills from Madison Wilhelm. But, the Skylights had 40 digs, including 10 from Hannah Amtmann, while Northern also had seven team blocks.

The Skylights (5-13) will now look to make another big move when they host No. 17 Carroll College tonight at 7 inside the Armory Gymnasium. Northern is also home to wrap up the regular season next weekend against Montana Tech and Lewis-Clark State.

Skylights def. UGF

25-22, 15-25, 25-23, 25-19

MSU-N – Kills 47 (Cassie Krueger 17, Timi Severson 11), Assists 44 (Emily Russell 39), Aces 5 (5 with 1 each), Digs 40 (Hannah Amtmann 10, Kylie Pasieka 8), Blocks 7.

UGF – Kills 65 (Madison Wilhelm 24, Korie Milan 11), Assists 58 (Bree Davis 52), Aces 6 (Wilhelm 4), Digs 52 (Kennedy Chadwick 13), Blocks 11 (Tiffany Marks 2).