Skylights look to make a run at Frontier tourney

One of the most important goals Montana State University-Northern head volleyball coach Bill Huebsch set for his team this season was also a simple one. Huebsch simply wanted to see his team get better each week, so that, when the Frontier Conference tournament rolled around, the Skylights were playing their best.

Mission accomplished.

Northern captured key wins down the stretch of the season, twice beating Lewis-Clark State, as well as a pivotal road win at UGF. The Skylights also pushed top Frontier teams Rocky Mountain College and regular season champion Carroll College to the brink in five-set matches.

“I think we have gotten better and better throughout the season,” Huebsch said. “We’ve needed to continue to find consistency, but overall, this team has worked hard to get better. They come to practice every day with a great attitude and a desire to keep getting better.”

So, with a 5-7 Frontier Conference season now behind the Skylights, and plenty of confidence, they will put it all on the line Friday when they take on the University of Great Falls in the opening round of the 2016 Frontier Conference Tournament.

The match against UGF, which went 6-6 in league play, finishing in fourth place, won’t be an easy one. That’s because for one, the tournament will be played out on the Argos’ home floor, in the McLaughlin Center. But perhaps even more difficult is the fact that the Skylights will be trying to beat UGF for the third time in two months.

The Skylights and Argos have a big rivalry, and this season, MSU-N got the better of the Argos, winning in Havre in three sets in September, then beating the Argos in four sets on their home floor at the end of October.

And for Northern to win for a third time, and advance to Saturday morning semifinal round, the Skylights will have to play one of their best matches of the season. Offensively, they’ll need to continue to utilize the firepower of hitters Cassie Krueger (267 kills), Timi Severson (220 kills) and Jillian Nickens (127 kills). Northern will also have to continue to serve consistently tough, and defensively the middle play of Haley Yoder, the added blocking of setter Emily Russell and the fine back row play from the likes of Hannah Amtmann, Cydney Auzenne, Jacy Vining and Kylie Pasieka will be key.

On the other side, Northern will also have to try and neutralize UGF’s big guns. Madison Wilhelm has been outstanding this season, with 353 kills and 38 blocks, but she gets plenty of help Korie Milan, Tiffany Marks and the rest of UGF’s tall front line. Of course, Northern will also have to beat the odds against them beating their arch rival for a third time.

And yet, the Skylights are a confident bunch, and there’s no doubt, they’ll be excited to face the Argos yet again, with a chance to extend their season, and end UGF’s. And that’s because Northern is indeed doing what Huebsch has been pushing them to do all along, and that’s play their best volleyball when November rolls around.

“These kids have done exactly what we’ve asked of them,” Huebsch said recently. “They’ve worked hard, and they’ve stuck to the process. They’ve really come a long way from where they were at the start of the season. The maturity and growth of this team has been a lot of fun to watch, and I’m really proud of this group.”

The Skylights and Argos will meet in the first round of the Frontier Tournament at 2 p.m. Friday in Great Falls. The winner advances to play in the semifinals at either 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. Saturday. The Frontier championship match is slated for 7 p.m. Saturday.