Skylights hope to avoid a Bear attack

The Montana State University-Northern volleyball team has played three of its first four Frontier Conference matches inside the Armory Gymnasium. Now however, the Skylights are going to find out what life on the road is truly all about.

Northern (0-4, 1-15) plays its next four conference matches on the road, starting with a Saturday afternoon match against nationally ranked Rocky Mountain College in Billings.

And make no mistake, the Skylights are truly walking into the Bear's den. Despite not even being picked to win the Frontier title this season, Rocky (3-0, 15-1) has risen to No. 6 in the latest NAIA Coaches Poll.

The Bears are once again loaded with talent, and height, and are looking to get back to the national tournament with it. Returning All-Conference stars Olivia Li'Ami (MB 5-9) and Daniella Russell (OH 5-9) fuel Rocky's attack offensively, while Hailey Copinga is a standout in the middle. Natalie Hilderman (S 6-0) is the catalyst offensively at the setter position, while Natalie Bad Bear (MB 6-0) and Maranda Koch (5-11 OH) only add to Rocky's outstanding size and blocking at the net.

No question, Rocky is on a roll, and it's going to be tough for the young Skylights to get going against such a formidable foe. Northern is struggling on the offensive side of the ball as the Skylights are last in kills, hitting percentage and kills per set, and that's something head coach Rose Obunaga hopes to see her team start to turn around.

"We definitely need to hit the ball better," Obunga said. "We need to score more points and have fewer errors."

The Skyights will continue to look to Katia Michelotti and Jessica Curl to lead an experienced group of hitters, while junior Hannah Amtmann is having another strong season in the back row, as is junior Ashley Ponce, who is second to Amtmann in total digs for the Skyights this season.

And while Northern is struggling to find its footing in the Frontier, especially with such a young team, Obunaga said, the struggles are not for a lack of effort.

"I think that my players are playing really hard," Obunaga said. "We just have to keep working to try to get there."

The Skylights will face Rocky Mountain College Saturday at 2 p.m. in Billings. Northern will then be off again until Oct. 6 when it travels to UM-Western. The Skylights aren't back in the Armory until Oct. 24 when they host the University of Providence Argos.