BUTTE, Mont.  – A pair of sweeps on Saturday, one in each direction, allowed the Bushnell volleyball team to split their pair of games in the Big Sky Challenge, closing out the weekend with a 1-3 record.
 
MONTANA STATE NORTHERN 3, BUSHNELL 0
 
The Beacons were swept by Montana State Northern in an early morning session, 25-22, 25-19, 25-23. The Skylights hit .236 in the game and held Bushnell to a .150 offensive clip.
 
Head Coach Jason Corwin said, "We got some more consistency from our offense this morning, but we couldn't sustain our early set performance. We are establishing, but still figuring out how to finish sets."
 
For the first time this season, Bushnell was out-dug (73-64), but was able to get their strong service game going as they collected seven aces, including three from sophomore Amyah Semau.
 
For the third straight match, senior Bella Parque led all players in digs, collecting 21 while Hailey Heider (pictured) posted her first double-double of the year with ten kills and 12 digs. Ariana Guerra posted nine kills while Leah Agost scored eight. Elijah Sanders led the Beacons with 18 assists.
 
BUSHNELL 3, CARROLL 0
 
The Beacons rebounded quickly for their second game, and rebounded strong, pulling out a dominant 3-0 win over Carroll College. Bushnell used another dominant game at the service line with eight more aces and held the Saints to a .090 attack while hitting a season-high .211 of their own.
 
"This match was a microcosm of our weekend," said Corwin. "We had some very good volleyball but couldn't find a way to finish what we started. This match we found a way to get over the finish line, despite slow starts in the first two sets. We stayed together, found a way to get some pressure on Carroll, and maintained it to the finish."
 
Heider posted another double-double, hitting .256 with 16 kills and 20 digs while Ariana Guerra added 12 kills and had just one error for a .478 attack. Leah Agost scored eight kills and three blocks while Makenna Mosher added seven kills an no errors in the middle.
 
"I think the team really came together and things started to click after fighting all weekend," said Heider. "Our passing and smart offense allows us to get the upper hand on Carroll."
 
Mosher added, "We battled all weekend and worked hard to pull it together in the last match. The setters moved the ball around really well and our passing was on-point. I am super excited for the upcoming season and to prove what we are capable of."
 
Guerra said, "It was great to finally play teams other than ourselves this weekend. We had a lot of highs and lows, but our passing has been consistent, allowing us to have successful connections between the setters and hitters which is great to watch and to be a part of."
 
Katie Belitz and Sanders posted 19 assists and eight digs apiece while Bella Parque produced 14 digs.
 
Bushnell will return to Oregon for their next 13 matches, all within a three-hour drive of home. The next time they leave the state will be in October. Corwin said, "I am looking forward to the next few weeks to process what we have learned and get better as we get closer to conference."
 
Up next for the Beacons will be a four-game spin through the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference in the Oregon Trail Classic on August 30-31.