MSU-Northern Skylights volleyball won its first match against a ranked conference opponent, taking down then-No. 20 Montana Tech last Thursday in Butte by a count of three sets to one. While that momentum carried over into Saturday’s home fixture as the team took the first two sets off No. 19 Montana Western, the Bulldogs ultimately prevailed in a five-setter.
New Media Broadcasters spoke with head coach Jerry Wagner about last week’s contests and he said the team is moving in the right direction despite the split and that consistency is on the horizon.
“It helped us indicate that we are getting better each week,” Wagner said. “That things are culminating in the right direction for us to maybe win on a more regular basis.”
“It carried over well to our next opportunity to play another ranked opponent in the University of Montana Western right after that,” Wagner continued. “We set ourselves up for a chance at an extremely good weekend.”
The Skylights will hit the road once again this week, setting out to Billings to play in the final rendition of the Frontier-North Star Conference Challenge before the latter’s teams move into regular matchups. Wagner shouted out one of the upcoming opponents in Valley City for its run in the national tournament last year, but said that this edition is ultimately a way to improve out of conference.
“Being somebody that has played those teams pretty much the last four years either (in Havre), there, or wherever we’ve met,” Wagner said. “You’ve got a Valley City team that was in the national tournament last year and fared very well in the North Star (Athletic Conference).”
“Those are three great opponents,” Wagner continued. “I’m excited about the level of competition with three opportunities to better that.”
Northern (7-9) will go into matches against Mayville State, Valley City State, and Dickinson State on Friday and Saturday. New Media Broadcasters will have results from each contest one the day’s play is over.
