Skylights face tough foes in California

It's right back on the court for the Montana State University-Northern volleyball team. And after a grueling four matches at last weekend's Big Sky Challenge in Butte, the Skylights will once again venture outside of Montana.

Friday and Saturday, new head coach Rose Obunaga's Skylights will be in Menlo, California, for the Menlo College Tournament, an event that will feature many of the schools from the tough, Golden State Athletic Conference.

And while Northern (3-5) will have its hands full in California, the Skylights should really be starting to feel like an experienced squad - especially after their trip to Butte.

At the Big Sky Challenge, Northern played a pair of nationally ranked opponents, and went to five sets three times in just over 24 hours. That kind of experience, especially against quality opponents, should really pay off, in California, and in Frontier Conference play, which is now a mere three weeks away.

Experience is also something the Skylights have on their side, especially senior Cassie Krueger, who averaged 14 kills in four matches last week in Butte. Sophomore Timi Severson and junior Mikayla Virostek also came up big for the Skylights, while sophomore libero Hannah Amtmann is racking up the digs rather quickly this season.

As for the competition this week, it won't get any easier for MSU-N. Friday, Northern opens the tournament with Westmont, the No. 7 team in the NAIA. MSU-N finishes up the first day with a match against San Diego Christian. Saturday, Northern will face tournament host Menlo College in the morning, before wrapping up the trip with a battle against GSAC member William Jessup Saturday afternoon.

Following the trip to California, the Skylights will travel to Great Falls for the University of Providence Tournament Sept. 7-9, which concludes non-conference play. Northern opens Frontier play Sept. 14 at Rocky Mountain College, before coming home to open its home schedule against UM-Western Sept. 16.