Skylights looking for some senior night magic

The Montana State University-Northern Skylights are nearing the end of their first season under veteran head coach Jerry Wagner. And, as the final two weeks of the Frontier Conference' regular season arrives, the Skylights are still searching for that elusive first league win.

Northern (0-8, 6-15) will get two cracks at that first win this week, starting with a road match tonight in Great Falls. The Skylights then come home to host Carroll College in their final home match of the season Friday night.

And while both matches will be daunting, Wagner said, he's proud of how his team has progressed over the course of a very difficult Frontier season.

"These kids are scratching and clawing to get to the top," Wagner said. "No one wants it more than these girls. We are on the right track. We are going to keep battling through."

No doubt Northern is on the right track. The Skylights have been ultra-competitive throughout conference play, and they are seeing strong offensive numbers from Rylee Burmester (189 kills) and Elissa Lind (159 kills). Shania Neubauer has been all over the floor for Northern with 80 kills, 132 digs and 11 aces, while also tallying over 200 assists as a setter. Add to that good defensive play from Tammy Maddock and freshman Katie Murdock, and the Skylights have plenty of pieces in place to keep improving.

They also have two seniors who have had a bold impact on this season, and who will be honored before Friday night's home finale.

Senior setter Hailey Warren has had a comeback year after being injured for much of the past two seasons. However, in 2019, Warren has led Northern's offense from start to finish, racking up over 600 assists to go along with 158 digs.

Fellow senior middle hitter Katia Michelotti is also coming to the end of her Northern career, and like Warren, Michelotti is making the most of her senior season. Michelotti, a native of Great Falls, has 32 blocks, which leads the Skylights, while also tallying 40 kills this season.

And while Wagner hasn't known the senior duo long, he's been nothing but impressed with them in his time with the Skylights.

"First of all, I wish I would have had the honor to be Hailey and Katia's coach for their entire careers," Wagner said. "Without question, they both have put the needs of the team and their teammates ahead of their own.

"These two are undefeated when it comes to thoughtfulness and kindness, just ask anyone on this campus, professors, students, staff members and the community of Havre will say the same thing," he added. "They've got great personalities, they're driven and they give 100 percent in everything they do."

Indeed, both players have been extremely unselfish, in their time at Northern, and that will continue through the end of 2019.

Their senior-night match will be a tough one, too, with Carroll (4-4, 13-9) coming to town. The Saints swept the Skylights last month in Helena and have a star offensive weapon in Lexi Mikkelson, as well as standouts around her like Alya Carpenter, Taelyr Krantz and former Carroll star basketball Hannah Dean.

And the Carroll match isn't the only tough one for the Skylights this week. Tonight's visit to the University of Providence (5-3, 17-6) won't be a picnic either. The Argos are ranked 18th in the NAIA and are still fighting for the Frontier title. Providence also swept Northern in Havre last month, so, they're not going to make the Skylight's Halloween visit to Great Falls a fun one.

Tonight's match between the Skylights and Argos starts at 7 at the McLaughlin Center in Great Falls. Northern's senior night match against Carroll College starts at 7 p.m. Friday night inside the Armory Gymnasium.