Four seniors on the Carroll College volleyball team will get their moment in the spotlight tonight when the Saints host MSU-Northern for Senior Night in the Carroll P.E. Center.

Though usually taking place as the final home match of the regular season, the Saints (22-7 overall, 8-2 Frontier Conference) will celebrate it a few days early, when more of their peers will be available.

Saturday's home game against the University of Great Falls will take place with both the men's basketball and football teams on the road and with many fans likely preparing for Halloween.

"I think having it on Halloween and in the afternoon kind of diminishes the purpose," said Saints head coach Moe Boyle. "I think these girls deserve prime time."

Making up the group of soon-to-be graduates are Christina Smetana, Mary Mahoney, Katie St. John and Ashley Lupfer.

For the group, the final game is sure to be bittersweet.

"I don't think it's hit me yet that this is the end of it," Mahoney said.

The outside hitter who graduated from Billings Skyview before coming to Carroll has spent four years with the team, through its ups and downs.

But, she said, the big wins and bad losses won't be what sticks out in her mind, but the teammates that she's made this journey with.

"It's been challenging, busy with school and trying to juggle both of them, but it's been a good experience," she said. "It's more about the people and the fun you have than the games and whether you win or lose.

"They understand what you're going through."

When she looks back, she knows she'll remember the long road trips she made with her teammates, and the time they spent hanging out together.

St. John also graduated from Skyview, but took a different route to Carroll, transferring from Central Community College in Wyoming.

"It was a total change from where I was at in Wyoming," St. John said. "It's a different group of girls, and I think I love it differently.

"The girls here are really welcoming. It's close to home and I've really enjoyed being at Carroll."

She said she benefitted from living with Mahoney and junior Sammy Priddy, and also loves the chemistry that the team has developed.

"This group of girls, I think we're all really close," she said. "We're always joking around with each other.

"We have a lot of different personalities and some strong ones and quieter ones that tend to balance out."

Boyle will also have to say goodbye to her seniors, who have have stuck with her from a losing season in 2007 to the team's first national ranking this season. She appreciates the hard work her student-athletes have put in to get the team where it is today.

"Smet and Mary having been here for all four, have seen the good, the bad and the ugly. And they really have persevered to get the program in the direction that they would like to take it," the coach said. "Along with Nicole Rowan last year, I think they pushed us above the level we were playing."

Tonight's game with Northern (5-11, 2-8) is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. while Saturday's with UGF (13-9, 8-2) kicks off at 2 p.m.

Jeff Windmueller: 447-4065 or jeff.windmueller@helenair.com