Skylights face two more tough challenges at Carroll College

The first two weeks of the spring volleyball season have been a tale of two different experiences for the Montana State University-Northern volleyball team.

The Skylights, of veteran head coach Jerry Wagner, opened the special spring season with a win over Montana Western in the Armory Gymnasium. The victory snapped a nearly four-year frontier Conference winless drought for the program, and also served notice that the Skylights are on the right track.

"Very excited," an emotional Wagner said back on Jan. 29. "The enthusiasm and energy was there from beginning to end."

The Skylights were also short-handed that night due to COVID-19 protocols, and they were again last weekend when they traveled to Montana Tech, where things were very different as Northern was swept by the Orediggers not once, but twice.

Now the Skylights (1-3) have reached week three of the new season, and though they should be at full strength, they will likely face their biggest challenge yet when they travel to Carroll College (3-1) for matches tonight and Saturday afternoon.

As usual, the Fighting Saints have a tall presence at the net, and on both sides, their attack is led by Lexi Mikkelsen and Taelyr Krantz, who each have 45 kills so far. The Saints also have an outstanding setter in Ali Williams, and an excellent blocking defense.

Of course, Northern is no slouch either. And this weekend should be the first time the Skylights are at least very close to full strength. Senior Rylee Burmester had been on a tear to start, with 52 kills and 74 digs, while true freshman Alana Graves has stepped right into college volleyball with 45 kills and six blocks. Freshmen Jessa Chvilicek and Emily Feller have also stepped into important roles for Northern so far, while Tammy Maddock and Shania Neubauer will continue to be veteran leaders for Northern, which will need to hit better this weekend at Carroll if the Skylights want to get out of Helena victorious.

Northern is also hoping to build some momentum because they get to come back home next weekend and play rival Providence before heading back on the road to finish out the month of February.

Tonight's match between Northern and Carroll starts at 7 and Saturday's match tips at 1 p.m. Both matches can be streamed at http://www.golightsgo.com.