Northern spikers suffer a pair of sweeps on the road

George Ferguson

Havre Daily News sports editor

gferguson@havredailynews.com

Road trips in the Frontier Conference are never easy. But this weekend’s trip to Helena and Billings turned out to be more than the Montana State University-Northern volleyball team bargained for.

The Skylights, who were 1-1 in conference play coming in, got swept by Carroll College in Helena Friday night, and were dealt the same result against Rocky Mountain College on Saturday.

On Friday night, the Skylights were dismantled in Helena by a Carroll College team that is looking more and more like a serious player in the Frontier Conference.

The Saints toll the first game of the match by a commanding score of 30-11. Northern rallied some in game two, but the Saints’ offense proved to be too much for the Skylights, and they captured the second game, 30-25. Northern again fought in the third game, but Carroll was able to stay in front enough to win 30-21 and earn the quick three-game sweep.

Carlee Hoof paced the Skylights on offense with 10 kills, and Tera O’Haire had two of Northern’s three service aces. The Saints, who improved to 3-1 in conference with the win, got eight kills apiece from Tiffany Rochelle and Nicole Rowan.

Saturday’s trip to Billings didn’t go any better for MSU-N. The RMC Bears welcomed the Skylights by sweeping them in three games. The Bears defeated MSU-N by scores of 30-18, 31-29 and 30-23.

The first game of the match was MSU-N’s undoing once again, but the Skylights did play much better in games two and three.

Northern got a good all-around effort from Jeanna McPherson. The senior middle blocker had eight kills and a pair of solo blocks. Hoff added eight kills, and setter Brittany Sesler had 25 assists and two aces.

The Bears were potent offensively against MSU-N. Rocky racked up 44 kills and 15 blocks in just three games. Sara Schuepbach led the way with 14 kills and Courtney Arthun had three solo blocks.

With the two losses the Skylights are now 1-3 in conference play and 3-9 overall.

Northern will be back at home Friday night when the Skylights host Lewis-Clark State. Northern will also host Montana Tech on Saturday night.

Friday

at Helena

Carroll def. MSU-Northern

30-11, 30-25, 30-21

MSU-N — Kills 28 (Carlee Hoff 10); Assists 26 (Brittany Sesler 21); Aces 3 (Tera O’Haire 2); Digs 21 (Kelly Thorpe 10); Blocks 5 (Jeanna McPherson 1).

CC — Kills 33 (Tiffany Rochelle 8, Nicole Rowan 8); Assists 31 (Katie Polette 16); Aces 6 (Six with one); Digs 38 (Vanessa Sneck 10); Blocks 2 (Rochelle 1, Laurie Chambers 1).

Saturday

at Billings

Rocky Mountain def. MSU-Northern

30-18, 31-29, 30-23

MSU-N — Kills 29 (Jeanna McPherson 8, Carlee Hoff 8); Aces 3 (Brittany Sesler 2); Assists 29 (Sesler 25); Digs 37 (Kelly Thorpe 11); Blocks 7 (McPherson 2).

RMC — Kills 44 (Sara Schuepbach 14); Aces 6 Shanda Veldhulsen 2, Melissa St. John 2); Assists 41 (St. John 22); Digs 51 (Veldhulsen 13, Sarah Madinger 13); Blocks 15 (Courtney Arthun 3, Erin Pehl 2).