Northern to host 2024 Frontier Conference Volleyball Tournament

Summer may have just arrived, but soon, fall sports will return, and with it, Montana State University-Northern volleyball.

And recently, the Skylights announced their 2024 full schedule.

Head coach Jerry Wagner's team will open the season with the Big Sky Challenge Aug. 15-16 in Butte. There, Northern will face Embry-Riddle, Dakota Wesleyan, Our Lady of the Lake and Loyola University.

MSU-N will remain at home for more of the preseason when the Skylights play at the Providence Tournament Aug. 24. In Great Galls, Northern will face Evergreen State and Ottawa of Arizona.

Speaking of Arizona, Northern will travel to Surprise, Arizona for a tournament Aug. 29, where they'll face Ottawa again, as well as Bendictine, Arizona Christian and Embry-Riddle.

Also in non-conference play, the Skylights will scrimmage Medicine Hat College for Kids Day on Sept. 5.

Frontier Conference play begins Sept. 13 at Montana Western, but, it's the end of league play that will be exciting as it's Northern's turn to host the Frontier Conference Tournament. The league championship will take place Nov. 15-16 at the Armory Gymnasium.

In conference play, the Skylights will make their real home debut Sept. 19 against Montana Tech. Northern then travels to Rocky Mountain College Sept. 21, and Carroll College Sept. 26. MSU-N closes out September at home against Providence. The Skylights begin October on the road at Montana Tech, then play Western at home Oct. 5.

The annual bye week will come with a tournament as the Frontier-North Star Challenge was moved to October this season. The Skylights will play four matches Oct. 11-12 in Billings against North Star teams.

League play resumes Oct. 17 in Great Falls, followed by four straight home matches. Northern hosts RMC Oct. 19 for Pink Night, Tewch Oct. 24, Carroll Oct. 26 for Senior Day and RMC again Oct. 30. The Skylights then wrap up the season with road matches at Western Nov. 2, Providence Nov. 7 and Carroll Nov. 9.

The Skylights went 12-14 a year ago, but reached the Frontier semis. This will be the final season of Frontier volleyball before league expansion takes hold next year.

Northern's season will start with annual Alumni Matches Aug. 2 and 9 at the Armory Gymnasium.