GREAT FALLS, Mont. – A new starting lineup didn't change the results as Lady Argo volleyball continues to be in a funk since the start of conference play. UP's offense struggled out of the gate and then the defense broke down on the way to a 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-23) loss to Montana State University-Northern.
 
After a disappointing performance in a 3-0 loss to Rocky Mountain College in the team's previous match, UP Head Coach Arunas Duda went with a lineup of five freshman and junior transfer Melissa Gonzalez.
 
The new faces didn't bring a new result, and the team's hitting was more of a detriment than a help. Two hitting errors in the first three points game the Skylights a 3-0 lead to start the match, and MSUN maintained the lead or bettered it throughout the first set. UP made it easy on them, hitting for -.032 with 8 kills and 9 errors.
 
Junior outside hitter Korie Milan started to get hot at the beginning of the second set, getting 4 kills in the first 10 points. Halfway through the game, she had 7 total kills while no other Argo had more than 2 at that point. At about that same time, UP held a 12-8 lead but after that, Milan had just 1 more kill in the set and 3 attacking errors.
 
Still, the Lady Argos were on pace to tie the match at 1-1 with a 22-19 lead in the set. Northern then rallied off 5 straight points to hold set point at 24-22. UP earned 1 point back, but then let up the set winner to fall behind 2-0.
 
The Lady Argo's offense was at its best in the third set, but so was Northern's. UP hit for .267 with 14 kills and 6 errors, but MSUN and 14 kills and 5 errors in fewer attempts for a percentage of .346. That slight difference proved to be significant in a close set which the Lights won 25-23.
 
While UP's hitting got better throughout the match, the most consistent part of the team's game all season, blocking, went completely absent. The Lady Argos managed just 4 total blocks, a season low.
 
One bright spot was the play for freshman middle blocker Ember Schwindt. Before the match, Schwindt had played in just four matches all season with just 8 total attacks. She started the match against MSUN and more the doubled her total attacks with 9 swings, 5 kills, and just 2 errors. She also added 2 block assists, the first blocks of her collegiate career.
 
Freshman setter Ava Larkin also had a good match, posting 31 assists, a career high for a three-set match, and adding 6 digs. Sophomore libero Brooke Foth led UP with 12 digs, her fourth straight match with double-digit digs.
 
UP is now on a four-game losing streak and the team's record falls to 13-7 (0-3) with the loss. Next will be a home match against Carroll College on Saturday, September 23 at 2 p.m.