Skylights closing in on the start of Frontier Conference play

The Montana State University-Northern volleyball team has played eight matches so far in 2018, and the young Skylights are still searching for their first win.

The Skylights (0-8) will look for that win this weekend in Great Falls. Northern closes out the non-conference season with four matches at the University of Providence Tournament, which runs Friday and Saturday at the McLaughlin Center.

And while Northern has yet to find the win column, it doesn't mean the Skylights haven't been competitive. No, Northern has played well in stretches this fall, but they have faced five teams ranked inside the NAIA Preseason Coaches Poll, and two more just outside of it. So to say the least, MSU-N's schedule has been a tough one, including last weekend in Bellevue, Nebraska, where the Skylights played three nationally ranked teams.

Northern's road thus far has also been difficult because of youth and inexperience. MSU-N returned just three full-time starters this season in Hannah Amtmann, Katia Michelotti and Shania Neubauer. Veterans Hailey Warren and Ashley Ponce have also stepped up, but overall, head coach Rose Obunaga has been relying on a young team, with a lot of new faces.

Now into the third week of the regular season, Obunaga is hoping to see her team gel as Frontier Conference play nears, and the Skylights will get four more chances to work on gelling in Great Falls.

MSU-N kicks off the Providence Tournament with a match against Benedictine University at Mesa, a squad from Arizona, Friday at 1 p.m. Northern then battles Medicine Hat College Friday night at 7 p.m. The Skylights scrimmaged Medicine Hat earlier this fall. Northern will then face Mayville State Saturday at noon before wrapping up the tourney against Providence Christian College at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Of course, the end of the non-conference schedule will be exciting for Northern because that means the Skylights will finally be ready to make their home debut. Next weekend, Northern will open Frontier Conference play with two matches inside the Armory Gymnasium. Next Friday night, the Skylights make their home debut against Lewis-Clark State and the following night, MSU-N hosts defending Frontier champion Montana Tech. Those matches will also be a part of Northern's big homecoming weekend.

The Skylights also play three of their first four conference matches on their home floor. After playing at Providence Sept. 19, Northern will return home to face Carroll College Sept. 22. Following that match against the Fighting Saints, the Skylights won't play at home again until Oct. 24.