Skylights one week away from Frontier play

One week and three matches are now all that stand between the Montana State University-Northern volleyball team and the start of Frontier Conference play.

Northern begins its final week of non-conference play with an exhibition match tonight in Great Falls against NJCAA North Idaho College. The Skylights will remain in Great Falls for a pair of matches at the University of Providence Tournament Friday and Saturday. MSU-N takes on Benedictine University at Mesa Friday morning and Dickinson State University Saturday morning.

And the Skylights certainly come into the final weekend of non-league play battled-tested. Northern is 4-8 on the season, but MSU-N, over the last two weeks, has played five five-set matches, so, a few points go their way, and the Skylights' record is even better.

Still, Northern has really shown the potential to be strong this season, and that was evident in its come-from-behind win over San Diego Christian at last weekend's Menlo Tournament in California. It's also clear that senior Cassie Krueger has come out firing on all cylinders, as she leads the Skylights in kills and kills per set. Krueger already has 139 kills, which is third in the Frontier thus far. Teammate Timi Severson also has 92 kills and is hitting .253 for the season so far.

Defensively, Northern is led by libero Hannah Amtmann with 143 digs, but Krueger has been strong there, too, with 114 digs. Severson is tops on the team in blocks, while Haley Yoder and Mikayla Virostek have been good up front, too. Northern sophomore Hailey Warren is third in the Frontier in assists with 300, while freshman Shania Neubauer also saw time at setter last weekend in California.

So the Skylights, under new head coach Rose Obunaga, are off to a strong start no doubt. The Skylights have played top-flight competition every weekend since the season started and will again this week in Great Falls. Dickinson State will be a particularly big challenge for Northern.

And it's all been preparation for what lies ahead. A week from tonight, the Skylights open Frontier play with a road trip to Rocky Mountain College, before returning home to make their long-awaited Armory Gymnasium debut next Saturday against UM-Western.

Tonight, Northern will face North Idaho at 5 p.m. The Skylights face Benedictine at 10 a.m. Friday and DSU at 11 a.m. Saturday. All three matches will take place at the McLaughlin Center in Great Falls.