2019 MSU-N Volleyball Preview: Skylights ready for new start

Jerry Wagner has had a lot of season-openers in what has been a storied volleyball coaching career. But the one he's about to go into might be a season-opener unlike any other.

That's because, tonight inside the Armory, things will come full circle for Wagner, who got his college coaching career started in that very same gym over 30 years ago.

In other words, tonight, the Jerry Wagner era of Montana State University-Northern volleyball part two begins when the Skylights host Medicine Hat College in their first official match of 2019.

"I'm on pins and needles, honestly," Wagner, who was hired back in the spring to replace Rose Obunaga said. "For myself, and for our team, you only get one chance to make a first impression. But I'm really excited."

Wagner, who has more experience at coaching a high level of volleyball than anyone in the Frontier Conference, also said that, after 12 practices and last night's Maroon/Gold Scrimmage, he's very happy with the position his team is in heading into what will be a fascinating regular season to watch. The Skylights went winless in the Frontier a year ago, and won just two sets in league play.

"Right now, I think we're ahead of where I thought we'd be," Wagner, who was the longtime head coach of the University of Montana Grizzlies, said. "Our training camp went really well. Two-a-days were great. I love our effort, and our enthusiasm. It's been nothing but positive, so I'm really happy with where we're at."

One of the biggest positives heading into Wagner's first season at the helm is, Northern is no longer a young team. The Skylights have been very youthful in recent years, but with a strong group of returners, and the addition of three veteran junior college transfers, Wagner said the experience is showing in practice in multiple ways.

"We have really good leadership on this team, especially from our setters, and that's important because it all starts with them," Wagner noted. "I think all of the girls who are back from last year's team, they've improved tremendously, and they have a lot of experience under their belts now. So, when you add in the three junior college players we recruited, who bring a veteran feel for the game, a lot of energy and prowess at the positions they play, it has really built our team into a very strong group."

Setter will be key for the Skylights, and they have three with plenty of match experience in senior Hailey Warren (5-8), junior Shania Neubauer (5-9) and sophomore Shay Waldbillig (5-7). All three saw significant time in the lineup last season, behind the graduated McKaylie Tanner with Neubauer tallying 118 assists.

"The setters are all doing a great job," Wagner said. "They're good at what they do, and that's setting the tone for our team, and our offense."

Offense is an area the Skylights will look to improve dramatically after hitting just .026 last season. And they have a host of hitters who will be getting in on the action.

Sophomores Emily Gutierrez (5-10) and Abigail Ellison (5-8) are Northern's returning leaders in kills, but junior transfers Rylee Burmeister (5-10) and Elissa Lind (5-10 will certainly be focal points in Northern's attack. Wagner also brought in middle hitter Tammy Maddock from the juco ranks, and she should provide a powerful offensive spark up the middle, while junior Breanna Brickey could see action both on the outside, and as a defensive specialist/libero.

"Two big areas we need to improve on is first serving, and also our offensive efficiency," Wagner said. "In terms of serving, I think we have the players to serve the ball better this year, and that will get teams off balance more often. Also, we have much more experienced ball handlers now, and that's going to allow us to run a much better offense.

"We've been working really hard to get to a higher hitting percentage this season," he continued. "So if we can do those two things, serve tough and hit with more consistency, we're going to be in a position to win a lot more sets, and matches. Those two things will put us in a much better position to be successful."

Defense will be key as well for the Skylights if they want to rise in the ranks of a loaded Frontier Conference.

Northern returns senior Katia Michelotti (6-2), who can play in the middle or on the right side, while sophomore Jada Sudbrack (6-0) will also be one to watch on the block for the Skylights. In the back row, Neubauer has been a stalwart for Northern, while Brickey will be tough in the back as well, as MSU-N looks to up its dig total from a season ago.

But whether it's serve-receive, the offensive attack, blocking or the back row, the Skylights are looking to improve in every area, and with Wagner at the helm, and a much-more veteran and experienced lineup than they've had in some time, improving is something they are already doing.

"The first goal is simply to come together, as a team," Wagner said. "And this group has done that quickly. I'm really happy with our chemistry on the court. In our scrimmages and practices, it hasn't mattered what rotation we go with, it's all worked really well. So the girls have done a great job of bonding and coming together.

"The next goal is just to keep working hard, to just keep getting better," he continued, "and they're doing that every single day. I couldn't be happier with the effort level and enthusiasm the team has. They've bought in, they're all in, and it's exciting."

Exciting is the key word, too.

Northern will have essentially four weeks to get ready for the Frontier Conference slate, with tournaments in Butte, Phoenix and Great Falls. MSU-N also has a non-conference road match at Dickinson State to close out non-conference play, before opening its Frontier schedule at Lewis-Clark State Sept. 19 and Montana Tech Sept. 21. MSU-N plays its first home conference match Sept. 25 against Providence, and closes out the month at Carroll College Sept. 28.

October begins with a home match against Rocky Mountain College Oct. 4, then the Frontier bye week comes, followed by three more home matches: Montana Western (Oct. 19), Montana Tech (Oct. 24) and LC State (Oct. 25). The Skylights close out October with a Halloween match at Providence, then come home to play their final home match Nov. 1 against Carroll. The regular season ends with road trips to Rocky Nov. 7 and Western Nov. 9. The Frontier tourney is set for Nov. 15-16 in Great Falls.

Before the Skylights get to any of that, Wagner reiterated that, he's just excited, and even a little nervous, to get the season going. But, mostly, he's excited to just start rebuilding Northern volleyball into a strong brand again.

"I haven't done this part in a while, I haven't been a head coach in a while, so the other day, I had to go find my lineup sheets," Wagner joked. "It's going to be exciting, though. I know the kids are really excited.

"The main thing is, I'm going to have a really good time coaching this team," he added. "I'm going to give them my all, put myself in a position to give them my best, coach them up the best way I know how. And I know this team will play hard every single night. So if we can continue to improve, and we play hard every night, we're going to put ourselves in a position to be successful. This team has already exceeded my expectations for where I thought we'd be at this point, so I really believe the sky is the limit for them. And I'm just really excited to get going. I think Northern fans are really going to like watching this team play this season."

Northern gets going tonight when the Skylights host Medicine Hat College at 5 inside the Armory Gymnasium. MSU-N will also hold its Alumni Match at 2 p.m. Saturday, before heading out on the road for the Big Sky Challenge Aug. 23-24 in Butte.