The Montana State University-Northern volleyball team has added two new recruits to an already outstanding recruiting class.

This week, second-year MSU-N head coach Bill Huebsch announced the signing of two high school and outstanding club players from Canada. Joining the Skylights will be Samantha Hutcheson of Brandon, Manitoba and Aneta Fabianova of Calgary, Alberta.

Hutcheson attended high school at Crocus Plains Secondary School where her varsity team won back-to-back provincial championships the past two seasons. Hutcheson is an honor roll student who plans on pursuing a degree in environmental engineering. Not only was Hutcheson an outstanding high school player, but she has a wealth of club volleyball experience. She played for Team Manitoba in 2009, started playing club ball in eighth grade, and has played for the prestigious club team STORM since 2006, where she was part of medal winning U16, U17 and U18 teams. Her club team recently competed in NORCECAS volleyball tournament in Tijuana, Mexico. Heavily recruited by all of the major volleyball programs in Canada, Hutcheson is more than excited about bringing her volleyball skills to the Skylight program. “The STORM team is like a family to me and I hope to continue that feeling in my university experience," she said. "Not only is Montana State Northern able to offer me a high quality education, but also an opportunity to play with a group of girls that get along with each other on and off the court. I have heard many positive things about both the school and the team. I was also drawn in by the enthusiasm and the obvious care coach Huebsch has for his players. It sounds like the team has a' lot of fun together and I will be able to learn a lot from them. Montana Northern was really great fit for both my educational interests and my athletic pursuits and I am excited to meet everyone in August."

The Skylights also inked Fabianova, a 5-6 setter/back row specialist out of Calgary. Fabianova has played club volleyball for 7 years and is a member of the Canuck Stuff Volleyball Club. She currently attends William Aberhart High School where her teams have won two city championships and one runner-up finish, as well as one Provincial Championship and one Provincial runner-up. She has led her team in several statistical categories, been team captain twice and was named MVP at several tournaments.

MSU-N begins its season in August with a combined tournament hosted by University of Great Falls and Carroll College.

Holly was a 3 year starter for the Blue Ponies and received All-Conference recognition in 2008 (2nd Team All-Conf.) and 2009 (1st Team All-Conf.) She was also named 2009 Libero of the Year in the Class “A” Central Division. 

Holly maintains a 3.8 GPA and has been named to the Academic All-State team all four years in high school.

A fine softball player as well, Holly has started for 4 years at 3rd base for the Blue Ponies, receiving a 2nd Team All-Conference award in 2008. She is also a 3 time Academic All-State in softball.

Holly Cartwright