Skylight spikers open with four tough, close matches in Arizona

It was time for the Montana State University-Northern volleyball team top open their second season of 2021. And Northern did just that this past weekend in Arizona.

The Skylights played four matches this past weekend in both Prescott and Surprise, Arizona, where they went 1-3 top start the 2021 fall campaign.

Northern opened the weekend against Embry-Riddle losing a 3-2 heartbreaker by scores of 27-25, 22-25, 26-24, 13-25 and 14-16. The matches couldn't have been any closer as Rylee Burmester had 19 kills and two aces, while Shania Neubauer had 18 digs.

Later on Friday, the Skylights fell to Wayland Baptist in four sets by scores of 25-23, 25-22, 22-25 and 25-21. Every set was close, while Burmester tallied 20 kills and ace and 16 digs. Alana Graves also had 11 kills and four blocks, while Abi Ellison had six blocks.

Saturday saw Northern fall in another five-setter, this time to Ottawa University./ The Skylights dropped the tough match by scores of 19-25, 17-25, 26-24, 25-23 and 11-15, as they nearly came back from two sets down. Burmester had kills, Alyssa Pretty Weasel and Alana Graves had 14 each and Emily Feller had 43 assists and three blocks.

Northern did finish the first weekend of the regular season on a high note as the Skylights beat Benedictine-Mesa by scores of 25-13, 25-10, 17-25 and 26-24 to wrap up the tourney, Graves had nine kills and Marlee Bender finished with two blocks for the Skylights, who are now 1-3 on the young season.

Northern returns to Arizona this weekend for the ACU Tournament.