BILLINGS, Mont. – Playing its first match in nearly two weeks, the Rocky Mountain College volleyball team opened Frontier Conference play with a 3-0 sweep of Montana State Northern on Thursday night in the Fortin Center.
 
Rocky Mountain (9-4, 1-0 Frontier) had it working on both sides of the net in the 25-10, 25-12, 25-16 win. The Battlin' Bears recorded 41 kills and hit .272 in the match while holding MSU Northern (6-9, 0-1 Frontier) to 22 kills and .055 hitting.  
 
Olivia L'Ami led the offensive attack with 13 kills and .321 hitting. Daniella Russell added 10 kills and Hailey Copinga had seven in the win.
 
Natalie Hilderman set the offense with 38 assists. Rocky had at least 12 kills in every set, including 17 on .424 hitting in the second.
 
Hailey Copinga led three players in double figures in digs with 15. She also notched four blocks to tie with Sydney Matheny for the team lead. Ruby Kallenbach had 13 digs and three service aces and Holland Fergurson also had 13 digs.
 
Hilderman and Jalyn Anderle had two aces apiece as the Bears recorded seven aces as a team.
 
Rocky finished the match with 62 digs and six blocks. Northern had 42 digs and four blocks.
 
Cassie Krueger led the Skylights with eight kills.
 
The Battlin' Bears will be back on the Fortin Center court on Friday night when they step out of conference to host Alaska Anchorage at 7 p.m.