Skylights end volleyball season at Frontier tourney

For the Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team, it's only the beginning. For the MSU-N volleyball team, it was the end of the season.

Last Friday in Butte, the MSU-N Skylights lost to Providence in the first round of the Frontier Conference Tournament. Skylights fell in three sets (17-25, 17-25, and 24-26).

The Skylights were led by Alana Graves, who tallied seven kills with a hitting percentage of .294. Alyssa Pretty Weasel added six kills. Kaitlin Murdock led the team in digs with 23. Emily Feller led the team in assists with 21.

The Argo's were led by Jenna Turner, who had 10 kills hitting a percentage of .292. Bailey Christensen added seven kills and 14 digs. Bella Thompson led the team with 34 assists in the match. Adysen Burns also led the team in digs with 21.

MSU-Northern had a hitting percentage of .014 on the day, while Providence hit .113. The Skylights had 25 assists, as the Argo's had 36. Northern also had 81 digs to Providence 79.

The loss ended Northern's season at 11-13 overall. Rocky Mountain College would end winning the Frontier championship.

Back at home Friday night, the MSU-Northern women's basketball team beat Campbellsville University-Harrodsburg in a tough game in the Armory Gymnasium. The Skylights won 59-53 to improve to 3-1 on the season.

The Skylights struggled in the first quarter shooting 23 percent from the field, tying it at 11-11 in the first quarter. Northern shot 7-13 in the second quarter going into half time up by three points (26-23). Harrodsburg came back late in the third quarter taking the lead by two. The score went back and forth, until McCullough hit a three to take the lead by three going into fourth quarter. The Skylights pulled away with 10 points and kept a stead lead until the end.

The Skylights were led by Ryley Kehr, who had 24 points going 8-10 from the field. Briaunna McCullough and Shyan Krass each added eight points. McCullough led the team in rebounds with 10. The Pioneers were led by Oriona Woods with a double-double 17 points and 11 bounds. Bianca Cunningham had 16 points and added eight rebounds. Makala Smith added nine points and rebounds.

Northern will travel to Helena for a matchup against Willamette University Sunday at 2 p.m.