BILLINGS, MONT. – The Valley City State volleyball team dropped a pair of games to its opponents from the Frontier Conference Friday afternoon. The Vikings fell in straight sets to Montana State University Northern and was later defeated by tournament-host Rocky Mountain College.
 
Senior setter Sadie Hansen reached 4,000 career set assists Friday, joining Vikings Hall-of-Famer Megan Floerke as the only players to reach the milestone in VCSU volleyball history.
 
The Vikings leave Billings with an 0-3 record at the NSAA/Frontier Crossover along with a glimpse of what's to come as VCSU joins the Frontier Conference next season. VCSU is now 10-10 on the season and remain 2-3 in conference play.
 
UP NEXT: VCSU travels to Dakota Wesleyan on Tuesday, Oct. 15 for a 7 p.m. game.
 
Montana State Northern 3, (RV) VCSU 0
Valley City State dropped its first game of the day in straight sets to Montana State University Northern 25-23, 28-26 and 25-15.
 
The Skylights held onto its momentum throughout the match, leading the Vikings in total kills 55-39, total blocks 8-2, and total digs 59-48.
 
VCSU made a late comeback in the first set, turning a 19-14 deficit into a 23-23 tie. VCSU's rally ended with a kill by Alana Graves and Alyssa Pretty Weasel put away the set 25-23 in favor of MSU Northern.
 
The second set started in short spurts from each team. Northern took a 4-point rally to build an 18-16 lead when VCSU took a timeout. From there, the teams went back and forth all the way to hold a 26-26 tie on a Macy Fridgen kill. Northern earned one more kill and a final block by Pretty Weasel and Alana Graves finished the set 28-26.
 
The Skylights then pulled away with nine straight points midway through the third set, securing the sweep with a 25-15 win.
 
Morgan Freije totaled 12 kills to lead the Viking offense while Morgan Nelson added 10 kills. Sadie Hansen posted 34 set assists, and JayCee Richter totaled 12 digs for VCSU's defense.
 
Rocky Mountain College 3, (RV) VCSU 1
The Vikings then fell 3-1 to Rocky Mountain College by final set scores of 21-25, 25-19, 25-21 and 25-17. Rocky recorded nine service aces in the match to help the Battlin' Bears to its home victory.
 
VCSU took the first set, pounding 19 kills to open the match. The Vikings started out strong with an early 10-4 lead including three kills from Emma Lucas. VCSU held onto its momentum to build a 20-13 lead on a kill from Hansen. Rocky Mountain inched closer but the Vikings closed the first set 25-21 on a Rosie Anderson kill.
 
Rocky Mountain answered with the next three straight sets. The Battlin' Bears pulled away with a 7-1 run in the second set to build a lead they wouldn't give up en route to a 25-19 win. Then in set three, RMC started strong with a 15-11 lead. A Morgan Nelson kill helped spark the Vikings to a six-point rally to take over with a 17-15 advantage. With the game tied at 20, Rocky Mountain took five of the next six points including a pair of blocks by Blythe Sealey and Gabriella Panzetta to take the set 25-21. RMC sealed the match with 19 kills to take a 25-17 win in the fourth set.
 
Morgan Nelson totaled 13 kills on the night while Rosie Anderson recorded 11 and Macy Fridgen added 10. Hansen recorded 41 set assists, 21 digs and nine kills on the night. JayCee Richter totaled a team-high 23 digs for VCSU while Delani Clarke tallied 19, Reagan Bogenreif posted 12 and Gracie Schumacher added 11.