We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Cortney Gunderson serves the ball in the 'Beeters opening match against Manhattan Christian Thursday afternoon. Above right, the 'Beeter offense on the attack in opening round action at the state tournament.
The team gathers around head coach Mollie Rose as she gives her team instructions during a timeout Thursday afternoon.
Senior Lauren Harshman (9) and sophomore Abby Ellison (4) form a block at the state tournament.
Senior Brooke Nicholson lays out popping the ball up with a nice 'pancake' to save the possession for the 'Beeters.
The Chinook Sugarbeeters completed another fine season on the volleyball court this past weekend when they headed to Bozeman to compete at the state tournament.
Chinook did not win a match Thursday or Friday but they didn't go down without a fight either.
The 'Beeters fought back from early deficits in the opening round match with Manhattan Christian before falling.
Chinook fell to the Eagles 20-25, 18-25 and 19-25. Sophomore Abby Ellison led the 'Beeter attack with 10 kills. Senior Brooke Nicholson dug up 23 balls and sophomore Sierra Swank set up the hitters with 11 assists.
The loss sent the 'Beeters into loser out action Friday morning against the Absarokee Huskies.
Chinook started slow dropping the first set 25-14 before showing the Huskies they weren't ready to go home.
The 'Beeters played much better in the second set but were still defeated 25-17.
The third set however saw Chinook be the aggressor as they took a 25-21 set win to force a fourth set.
The girls battled hard and kept within reach of the Huskies for much of the set but in the end would fall 25-19 to drop the match 3-1 and end their season.
Ellison again led the attack as she pounded home 10 kills. Swank contributed 12 assists and a pair of aces while senior Lauren Harshman and junior Taylor Neibauer each added five blocks.
"We had a great season and I'm very proud of my girls. We accomplished so much," stated head coach Mollie Rose.
"It's always sad to see it end but it was a great season and one everyone should be proud of. We won a lot of matches and gave it everything we had every time we stepped on the court,"concluded Rose.
The 'Beeters certainly did accomplish a lot. They began the season by winning the Malta Invitational defeating Tri-Cities in the championship.
A few weeks later the team turned the trick again at the Fort Benton Mid-Season Tournament defeating the Geraldine/Highwood Rivals in the first place match.
The girls defended both their Conference and District 6C-East titles, winning each for the third consecutive time.
They finished the season with a second place finish at the Northern C Divisional and earned a trip to state for the second time in three seasons.
The team will graduate Nicholson, Gunderson, Harshman and Kleinjan but return a very strong group that will be ready to go again next fall.
Manhattan Christian 3
Chinook 0
Man./Christ. – 25 25 24
Chinook – 20 18 19
Chinook - Kills 21 (Abby Ellison 10); Assists 19 (Sierra Swank 11); Blocks 6 (Sierra Swank 2, Abby Ellison 2, Lauren Harshman 2); Digs 79 (Brooke Nicholson 23); Aces 2 (Sierra Swank 2).
Man./Christ. - Kills 33 (Megan Kamps 16, Gina Potts 8, Alex Veltkamp 3); Assists 32 (Hailey Kassity 32); Blocks 3 (Alex Veltkamp 3); Digs 63 (Gina Potts 15, Cassi Visser 14); Aces 7 (Gina Potts 6, Megan Kamps 1).
Absarokee 3
Chinook 1
Absarokee – 25 17 21 25
Chinook – 14 25 25 19
Chinook - Kills 30 (Abby Ellison 10); Assists 21 (Sierra Swank 12); Blocks 10 (Lauren Harshman 5, Taylor Neibauer 5); Digs 79 (Brooke Nicholson 23); Aces 2 (Sierra Swank 2).
Absarokee - Kills 39 (Emma Chandler 13, Maisey Sheppard 9); Assists 34 (Colleen Culbertson 18, Emma Chandler 15); Blocks 6 (Emma Chandler 4, Erin Campbell 2); Digs 63 (Gina Potts 15, Cassi Visser 14); Aces 10 (Emma LaMoure 5, Emma Chandler 3, Colleen Culbertson 2).
