Skylights meet UGF in crucial conference match
Havre Daily News Sports Editor
rdivish@havredailynews.com
This time it's more than just respect. In the past, when the Montana State
University-Northern and University of Great Falls volleyball teams met on the
court, it always seemed that both teams were trying to fight for the respect of
the rest of the conference.
However, with both teams sitting 1-2 in the Frontier Conference standings,
there is more on the line tonight at UGF's McLaughlin Center than just respect.
The Argos are the unlikely leaders of the Frontier with a perfect 4-0 record.
Northern is tied for second with a 2-2 record. But as it was in the past,
records mean little when these two teams meet.
"It seems like Northern and UGF have
always been in the same situation in terms of trying to earn other teams'
respect," said Skylights head coach
That may be the big difference. The rivalry that developed between the two
schools wasn't always the friendliest. Neither team felt like it should lose to
the other. Consequently, there were hard matches, hard words and sometimes hard
feelings.
That has changed since UGF coach Arunas Duda took over the program a few years
back. The affable Duda has changed the whole attitude of the Argo program.
"He has such a positive, upbeat attitude," Handley said. "He
really cares about those girls and they have responded. Arunas is doing a
fantastic job."
Duda's work is evidenced by his team's 13-5 overall record. The Argos have been
a mild surprise this season with a host of new faces that have gelled quickly
to become the conference leaders. Northern got a chance to watch the new-look
Argos last weekend in Lewiston, Idaho.
"They really play with a lot of intensity for the whole match," said
junior middle blocker Jeanna McPherson. "They seem to all have a love for
the game and enjoy playing together, which is different than last year."
Leading the way is junior outside hitter Claudia Jacobs, who ranks among the
league leaders in kills, points and hitting percentage. Fellow outside hitter
Brittany Prater is also having a solid season.
"I think 80 percent of their sets go their outside hitters,"
McPherson said. "(Jacobs) really hits the ball hard. We have to put up a
big block and try to take away her sharp angle shot."
But putting up a big block might not be enough.
"They do a very good job of hitting around blocks and making good
decisions," Handley said. "Our defense has to do a better job of
reading where they are going to hit. That's what hurt us in our losses to Rocky
and Tech."
Besides the big hitters, UGF also has a solid setter in Jen Peterson providing
them very hittable balls.
"She's very smart," Handley said. "She knows how to run an
offense and makes good decisions."
UGF also gets contributions from middle blockers Jodi Miller of Billings and
Lesly Richter of Lewistown, along with outside hitter Jennifer Wright and
libero Kari Schiller of Great Falls.
Even with all of the Argos' talent and recent success, they are far from
invincible.
"You get beat by teams, but I don't think you can get beat by one or two
players," McPherson said. "I think we're very comparable to them in
terms of talent and things we do on the floor."
Handley hopes the play of McPherson and fellow middles Tera O'Haire and Ashley
Roth will be a difference.
"I think we can exploit their middles some," Handley said. "But
we have to have a good serve-receive to run that quick offense."
The Skylights have also worked on some communication issues that have hampered
as of late. Yet, much of what Northern needs to change and improve isn't on the
court, but in the players' heads.
They have sometimes been their own worst opponent in matches with bad habits
such as playing to their opponents' level, allowing teams back into games and
matches and making mental mistakes at crucial moments in the match.
"Sometimes we're other team's best players," McPherson said. "We
just haven't quite developed that killer instinct yet. We let teams back into
matches. We get comfortable playing right with teams, instead of putting them
away."
Handley has tried everything short of animal sacrifice and team hypnotism to
change that attitude. It's a process that she is trying to be patient with.
"I really think the girls put too much pressure on themselves," she
said. "There were a lot of expectations for this team this season and I
think it has affected us. It seems like the bigger the match, the worse we've
played. But we're the underdog in this match and we have nothing to lose. I'm
hoping we come out relaxed."
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