Bounce Back: Skylights knock off Saints

The Montana State University-Northern volleyball team had not won a match since their season opener back on Jan. 29. They had lost 13 straight heading into their doubleheader against Carroll College at the Armory Gymnasium Friday and Saturday. That skid continued with a 3-0 loss Friday, but the Skylights bounced back Saturday to defeat the Saints, 3-1, to snap their losing streak.

"I couldn't feel prouder of them and better for them for breaking through," MSU-N head coach Jerry Wagner said. "Close isn't good enough and they weren't going to accept that."

In their victory Saturday, MSU-N won the first set, 25-23. The Skylights took momentum early as they raced out to a 9-4 lead. However, Carroll stayed in and even took a 19-18 lead. Unlike many of their sets this season, the Skylights kept their composure. With the set tied at 24-24, MSU-N got a kill from Elissa Lind to take the lead and then Rylee Burmester recorded a kill for the set point.

The second set was also close, but MSU-N pulled out the 25-21 win. The teams had battled out to a 19-19 tie when the Skylights went on a run to win the set. Alana Graves recorded the kill that gave the Skylights the set point.

Wagner was proud of his team for winning the close sets that they had struggled to win so far this season.

"We haven't been coming through and we were knocking on the door pretty heavily (Friday night), and it takes a lot to get right back out there and put yourself in the same situation and risk it all," Wagner said. "The kids really played not to be denied today."

However, the Skylights' tendency to struggle in close sets reared its head in the third set as Carroll won it, 25-23, to extend the match. MSU-N had the lead several times throughout the set but could not hold on. When Carroll took the lead, the Skylights battled back. However, they could not make up for their mistakes as a kill from Ali Williams gave the Saints the set point.

"Any time you're in a closeout set, their backs are against the wall, people are going to be really tough to take down," Wagner said.

The Skylights responded to win the fourth set, 25-15, and win the match, 3-1. Carroll scored the first point of the set, but the Skylights took the lead and never looked back. Tammy Maddock scored the match point with a kill to finally put an end to their losing streak. Wagner credits his team's efficiency for taking control of the set.

"There weren't any errors in that set by us," Wagner said. "We got out there, we got the ball right back and when we did give it up, we got it right back."

Abigail Elliison led MSU-N with 15 kills in the match. She also recorded 15 digs and a block assist. Burmester also made an impact with 12 kills and 13 digs. Emily Feller led the team with 43 assists and she recorded six kills and 23 digs.

The win served as quite the bounce back for MSU-N as they had lost to Carroll, 3-0, the previous night. In that match, there were several sets in which the Skylights had a chance to win but could not claim victory.

Carroll won the first set, 28-26. MSU-N initially took the lead but gave it up. Yet, they battled as they came back from a 23-19 deficit and took a 26-25 lead. However, the Saints scored three straight points to win the set. Carroll had complete control of the second set as they won 25-14. Wagner believes that his team was too focused on losing the close first set to focus on the second.

"You can't be carrying what happened in the other set into the first few points," Wagner said. "Nobody's capable of doing that and expecting to be competitive in any set."

The Skylights were more competitive in the third set but lost it, 26-24, to lose the match, 3-0. Lind led the Skylights with 10 kills Friday night. Burmester led the team with 24 assists while also recording eight kills.

The Skylights improved to 2-14 but are still in last place in the Frontier Conference. However, they are now just a game back of Montana Western for fifth place. The Saints are now 10-6 and hold third in the conference.

The Skylights will next play in a doubleheader this Friday and Saturday when they head on the road to play the University of Providence. The Argonauts are 14-2 this season, good for first in the Frontier Conference. They are riding a 12-match winning streak, so the Skylights will need to carry the momentum they got from their win into their match against Providence.

"That will be a new challenge, and I think we're up to the challenge now," Wagner said.

MSU-N and Providence begin their doubleheader Friday at 7 p.m. at the McLaughlin Center Gymnasium in Great Falls.

Carroll College def. MSU-Northern

28-26, 25-14, 26-24

CC - (kills-aces-blocks) Lexi Gleasman 5-0-0; Mara Lynch 1-1-0; Ali Williams 8-0-1; Taelyr Krantz 15-0-3; Katherine Mceuen 4-2-1; Madde Boles 1-0-1; Ellie Sievertson 0-0-0; Kylie Kackman 0-0-0; Lexi Mikkelson 9-0-0; Laurel Kassa 0-0-0; Maddie Quick 0-0-0; Julia Carr 0-0-0.

Totals 43-3-5.0

MSU-N - (kills-aces-blocks) Tammy Maddock 2-0-0; Elissa Lind 10-0-1; Jessalyn Chvilicek 4-0-1; Alana Graves 8-0-0; Rylee Burmester 8-1-0; Emily Feller 2-0-0; Hailie George 0-0-0; Abigail Elliison 6-0-0; Shay Waldbillig 0-0-0; Shania Neubauer 0-0-0; Jada Sudbrack 1-0-0; Kaitlin Murdock 0-0-0; Marlee Bender 0-0-0.

Totals 41-1-2.0.

MSU-Northern def. Carroll College

25-23, 25-21, 23-25, 25-12

MSU-N - (kills-aces-blocks) Abigail Elliison 15-1-1; Tammy Maddock 9-0-6; Elissa Lind 11-0-0; Alana Graves 5-0-1; Rylee Burmester 12-1-1; Emily Feller 6-0-3; Hailie George 0-0-0; Shania Neubauer 0-0-0.

Totals 58-2-7.0

CC - (kills-aces-blocks) Lexie Gleasman 10-0-0; Mara Lynch 0-0-0; Ali Williams 4-0-4; Taelyr Krantz 15-0-5; Katherine Mceuen 4-0-1; Madde Boles 4-0-2; Ellie Sievertson 0-0-0; Kylie Kackman 0-0-0; Lexi Mikkelson 10-0-0; Laurel Kassa 0-0-0; Lauren Sehenuk 0-0-0; Maddie Quick 0-0-0; Julia Carr 0-1-0.

Totals 47-1-7.0.