Argos too much for Skylights in a pair of sweeps

Montana State University-Northern volleyball had finally gotten a monkey off its back when the Skylights snapped a 14-match losing streak against Carroll College last weekend. Unfortunately for the Skylights, they could not carry that positive momentum into their matches in McLaughlin Center in Great Falls Friday and Saturday.

In both of their two matches against the University of Providence over the weekend, MSU-N lost 3-0.

"I don't think we followed up on a great opportunity," said MSU-N head coach Jerry Wagner. "I'm disappointed that we didn't do as much as I had hoped and as much as I feel we could have."

Friday night, the Argos struck first in the first set and never looked back. They built themselves a 9-4 lead before the Skylights were able to battle back into it. MSU-N was able to cut the deficit to three but Providence took control and went on a 14-5 run to close the set. The set point came in the form of a kill from Cydney Finberg-Roberts that gave them the 25-15 win and 1-0 lead in the match.

The Skylights showed some promise to start the second set. They led 6-4 before Providence scored five straight points to take the lead. However, the Skylights kept battling and eventually took a 12-10 lead. Providence again stayed in the set and took a 13-12 lead that they would never relinquish.

MSU-N cut the deficit to 20-17 but Providence responded with a 5-1 run to win the set. Renae Davis scored the set point for the Argonauts with a kill that earned them a 25-18 win and 2-0 lead over MSU-N.

"Just much too sporadic with our emotions," Wagner said. "Just unfortunate that we couldn't follow up a few weeks of pretty high-level, competitive and somewhat rewarding efforts."

Looking to finish off the Skylights, Providence opened the third set hot to take a sizable lead. Unlike the other sets, the Skylights were not able to cut into the deficit and lost the set, 25-13, and the match, 3-0. Ember Schwindt recorded a kill to give the Argonauts the match point.

Rylee Burmester led the Skylights with 18 kills Friday night. Emily Feller led the Lights with 26 assists in their opening match of the weekend. As a team, the Lights' hitting percentage was 10.9 percent. Sadie Lott and Davis both led the Argonauts with 12 kills each. Providence's hitting percentage was 34.1 percent.

Providence got the better of MSU-N again Saturday afternoon when they defeated the Skylights, 3-0. The Argonauts took control of the first set early on and went on to win it, 25-18. The Skylights struck first in the second set but Providence took the lead away from them and blew it open to win the second set, 25-11, and give themselves a 2-0 lead in the match.

The third set was the Skylights' best of the weekend as they had the lead for most of the set. However, when they had a 19-18 lead, the Argonauts scored three straight points to take control. MSU-N then scored two straight to retake and the teams would go back and forth. The Skylights took a 25-24 lead and only needed one more point to win the set and extend the match. But they could not hold on as Providence scored three straight points to win the set and match.

"When we had an opportunity to win the set, nobody took the big swing or nobody executed the serve to the correct person," Wagner said.

Burmester led MSU-N Saturday with seven kills. Other team leaders for the Skylights included Feller with 24 assists and Shania Neubauer with 25 digs. Providence's statistical leaders include Lott with 11 kills, Finberg-Roberts with 34 assists and Sacha Legros with 26 digs. Providence's hitting percentage was limited to 13.4 percent, but MSU-N's hitting percentage was 0.7 percent.

The losses dropped MSU-N to 2-16 on the season, good for last in the Frontier Conference. Providence remains atop the conference as they improved their record to 16-2.

Despite the losses, Wagner noticed some positives. This was the second weekend doubleheader between the two schools this season, as Providence defeated MSU-N, 3-0, in matches Feb. 19 and 20. While the results remained the same, Wagner noticed that his team had improved since those matches.

"We played better than we did at home," Wagner said. "As disappointed as we all are, and myself included, that we didn't do more, we played better than the last time."

The Skylights now head into the final two matches of their season this Thursday and Friday where they will play against Rocky Mountain College. As they near the season's end, Wagner hopes that his team will continue improving as they learn from their losses.

"These kids don't feel good about it at all and they're capable of more," Wagner said. "We're going to get better in leaps and bounds and I think that's really in front of us."

MSU-N and Rocky Mountain College will play on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Armory Gymnasium in Havre. They will then end the regular season with a match Friday at 7 p.m.

Providence def. MSU-Northern

25-15, 25-18, 25-13

Providence - (kills-aces-blocks) Sadie Lott 12-0-0; Taylor Christensen 0-1-0; Renae Davis 12-0-1; Ember Schwindt 6-0-2; Cydney Finberg-Roberts 4-0-3; Adysen Burns 9-0-0; Sacha Legros 0-1-0; Isaura Santos 0-0-0; Jensyn Turner 8-0-1; Caleigh Cookson 0-0-0; Cassi Kopsa 0-0-0. Totals 51-2-5.0

MSU-N - (kils-aces-blocks) Abigail Elliison 3-0-0; Shania Neubauer 0-0-0; Elissa Lind 7-0-0; Alana Graves 4-0-1; Rylee Burmester 9-0-0; Emily Feller 1-0-2; Hailie George 0-1-0; Tammy Maddock 4-0-0; Jada Sudbrack 1-0-1. Totals 29-1-2.0

Providence def. MSU-Northern

25-18, 25-11, 27-25

Providence - (kills-aces-blocks) Sadie Lott 11-0-5; Taylor Christensen 0-1-0; Renae Davis 10-1-3; Ember Schwindt 5-0-3; Cydney Finberg-Roberts 1-0-2; Adysen Burns 4-0-0; Sacha Legros 0-3-0; Isaura Santos 4-0-0; Bailey Christensen 1-0-1; Jensyn Turner 2-0-4; Allex Boyd 0-0-0; Caleigh Cookson 0-0-0; Kylee Altmiller 0-0-0; Cassi Kopsa 0-0-0. Totals 38-5-11.0

MSU-N - (kills-aces-blocks) Abigail Ellison 2-1-1; Tammy Maddock 2-0-1; Elissa Lind 3-0-0; Alana Graves 3-0-3; Rylee Burmester 7-0-1; Emily Feller 1-0-1; Hailie George 0-0-0; Shania Neubauer 0-1-0; Kaitlin Murdock 0-0-0; Jessalyn Chvilicek 6-0-1; Marlee Bender 1-0-0. Totals 25-2-4.0.