Skylight volleyball aiming high in 2024

A long, hot summer isn 't over yet. But, the wait for college volleyball is over as the Montana State University-Northern Skylights kick off their 2024 season this weekend in Butte.

Northern, of head coach Jerry Wagner, is coming off a tough campaign last fall where the Skylights were 12-14 overall and fifth in the Frontier Conference.

This fall however, Northern has its sights set much higher as the Skylights return a veteran team, including seniors Alana Graves, a three-time All-Conference performer, and Jessa Chvilicek of Havre. Add to that senior OH Alyssa Pretty Weasel and setter Emily Feller and the Skylights have a veteran nucleus and a lot of leadership.

Northern also death this season, too.Libero Baily Eagan, setter Macee Murphy, OH Lexa Stock, OH Josie Hasler, MB Maddison Underdal and MH Greta Peterson give Northern experience and a deep rotation.

The talent and leadership the Skylights have should help them compete in the always-tough Frontier Conference. League play doesn't start until the mid-September, but, Northern will get plenty of chances to see their league foes in the preseason schedule.

MSU-N is in Butte this weekend for the Big Sky Challenge where Frontier teams will play non-conference matches. MSU-N then travels to the Providence Tournament next weekend in Great Falls, followed by a tournament in Phoenix Aug,. 28-30.

The conference slate opens Sept. 13 at Montana Western, and this year, the bye week will include the mid-season Frontier-North Star Challenge oct. 11-12 in Billings.

MSU-N also has the honor of hosting the Frontier Conference Tournament Nov. 15-16 in the Armory Gymnasium. So with that looming, and a great team assembled for the fall, Wagner and the Skylights are Moore than excited to get the season underway.

And that season starts this weekend Northern playing matches against Embry-Riddle, Our Lady of Lake, Bushnell University and Loyola University in Butte. Northern's first home match isn't until Sept. 19 when the Skylights host Montana Tech.