Skylights out to complete season sweeps of Lewis-Clark, Montana Tech

Skylights out to complete season sweeps of Lewis-Clark, Montana Tech
By Ryan Divish/Havre Daily News Sports Editor/rdivish@havredailynews.com

The Montana State University-Northern volleyball team will try and accomplish one of the more difficult things to do in the Frontier Conference volleyball season

The Skylights will be looking to complete season sweeps of two teams with a pair of road matches this weekend.
Northern will be in Lewiston, ID tonight to face the Lewis-Clark St. Warriors at 8 p.m. at the Warrior Gymnasium. The Skylights will be in Butte on Saturday to face the Montana Tech Orediggers at 7 p.m. at the HPER Complex.

The Skylights put themselves in position for a sweep of the Warriors with a 30-19, 30-25, 30-24 win in Havre on 0ct. 4. Northern capitalized off some soft serving and several mistakes in the easy win. It was the first win over LC in over 10 years. Although the Warriors are down a little this season (5-13 overall, 1-7 in conference), a sweep still won't be easy, according to Skylights head coach Lisa Handley

"They're always tough at home," she said. "They are one of those team that is getting better with every match. I know they won't make as many mistakes as they did when they came to Havre."

LC has been playing better, picking up a no conference win over Walla Walla College a week ago. The Warriors are led by senior Addy Hines, who is ninth in the conference in hitting percentage. Joining Hines as contributors are freshman Jenna Kirk, sophomore Ashli Bever are solid hitter along with true freshman Molly Hornfeldt LC has been using two setters this season with freshman Stephanie Wayt and sophomore Megan Dolny.

"I think they are going to set their seniors a little more," Handley said. "We have to come out and play well early and not give them confidence"

After getting roughed up by Carroll hitters, Northern has gone from a 5-1 offense to a 6-2 offense with two setters. The 6-2 look will make the Skylights a better blocking team. Northern will unveil the look against LC to help prepare to use it against Tech.

"We'll use the 6-2 some against LC because we need to play it against Tech," Handley said. "Tech has too good of hitters no to play a 6-2."

Indeed, statistically the Diggers have the top two hitters in the conference in Collette Phillips and Janalee Stokken-Holmes, who average 3.85 and 3.76 kills per game. The duo racked up 37 kills against the Skylights earlier this season.

However, the duo might not even be the best hitters on the team. Former University of Montana transfer Marrin Audet finally looks to be 100 percent after a shoulder injury held her out of the majority of no conference games. Audet is one of the most intimidating hitters in the conference.

"We have to do a better job of slowing down Colette and Janalee," Handley said. "As if they need more weapons, now they get Marrin back."

Audet played only backrow in Tech's 23-30, 22-30, 30-19, 30-27, 16-14 loss in Havre. With or without her, the Diggers have been looking forward to the rematch against Northern. Tech absolutely fell apart after taking a 2-0 lead in the first match. Handley expects a very focused Digger squad to take the floor.

"They are going to be out for blood," she said. "I know they were disappointed with the way they played in Havre and I'm sure (head coach) Marilyn (Tobin) will have them ready to play."

The key for Handley is making sure her team is ready to play, which isn't easy on long road trips.

"The girls have been really focused this week," Handley said. "Even coming of the loss to Carroll, they've really worked hard and seemed to have put it past them. We just need to go out and play