Skylights host final home matches with third place on the line
By Ryan Divish/Havre Daily News Sports Editor/rdivish@havredailynews.com
Superstitions aside, Montana State University-Northern volleyball head coach
Particularly, "The toughest thing to do in sports is beat the same team
three times in one season."
"Don't even say it," Handley said when the adage was about to be
brought up. "We're not thinking about things like that. Don't jinx
us."
Handley's state of denial is because Northern will try and turn the trifecta against the UM-Western Bulldogs on Friday night at
It will be the first match in over a week for the Skylights, who defeated the
University of Great Falls 27-30, 30-22, 25-30, 30-25, 15-12 last Wednesday.
With the extended break, Handley gave her girls some time off this week.
"We gave them four days off to get rested and healed up," she said.
"I really think the break reenergized them. We had some girls banged up
and they were able to get healed up some. We're already seeing the results in
practice."
Northern will need to be recharged to defeat a
Western squad that is building momentum, heading into the conference
tournament. The Bulldogs are 5-7 in the conference and coming off a 3-2 win
over
"Western is a dangerous team right now," Handley said.
"Katherine Sunwall is playing very well right
now."
Sunwall isn't the whole Bulldog team, but she's a big
part. The junior from
"She knows how to place her shots," said sophomore captain Katy Engstrom "She's their one leader, and if we can shut
her down, it's big."
Western also has solid players in outside hitter Jenny Finlay,
setter Lindsay Scott and libero Kendall Bradley.
"We know they are going to want to come in here and beat us after beating
them twice," Engstrom said. "They're out to
get us that's for sure."
Perhaps it's a good thing to get the Western match out of the way before facing
The Griffins come into Havre with a 3-9 conference record, having already been
defeated by the Skylights 27-30, 30-24, 30-23, 30-28
in
"
The Griffins are led by sophomore outside hitter Maxi Miller, who ranks fourth
in the conference in kills at 3.36 per game. Senior setter Brittany Enniss is seventh in the Frontier in assists at 7.65 per
game.
Even with the Griffins record, the Skylights are taking nothing for granted.
"We can't overlook anybody," Engstrom said.
"Volleyball is an up and down sport and any team is capable of winning on
any night in this league."
The Skylights (6-6) have plenty to play for this weekend, specifically third
place in the conference and a winning conference record for the first time in
10 years.
With the win over UGF, Northern has already racked up more conference wins that
it has in 10 years.
"We're playing for a little bit of program history," Handley said.
Northern will have the added incentive of senior night festivities on Saturday.
However, the Skylights technically don't have a senior on their roster.
Instead, Handley will honor junior Lindsay Garcia, who will leave the program after
this year, since she is graduating and getting married.
"She's been an asset to this team by pushing the other players in
practices, and she's answered the call when we've needed her in games,"
Handley said. "She's a team leader without being on the court all the
time. She is one of the hardest working players I've ever coached. It's hard to
see her go."