Skylights fall in Frontier opener

It was finally time for the Montana State University-Northern volleyball team to begin Frontier Conference play.

But after a strong preseason, the Skylights came up short in the conference opener last Friday night in Dillon as Northern lost to Montana Western 3-1.

The Skylights fell to the Bulldogs in four sets (23-25, 26-24, 25-21, and 25-12). The Skylights took the first set, taking the lead early. The Bulldogs tied the set 20-20, but Northern went on a 5-3 run to take the set.

Western started the second set ahead 8-2. The Skylights battled back and took the lead 18-15. The Bulldogs finished strong with a 9-4 run to take the set. Western took the lead in the third set 20-10. The Skylights battled back again, but it wasn't enough to take the set. In the fourth set the Bulldogs controlled the game to take the match.

The Skylights were led by Alana Graves with 10 kills and a hitting percentage of .222.

Alyssa Pretty Weasel and Macee Murphy each had eight kills. Baily Egan led the team in digs with 27 each. Macee Murphy led the Skylights with 21 assists.

The Bulldogs were led by Peyton Vogl with 22 kills hitting a percent of .312. Jazi Smith led the team in digs with 24, as Megan Hardman led in assists with 27.

The Skylights (5-4, 0-1) will play at home on Thursday Sept. 19 against Montana Tech.