Homecoming: 'Beeters blast North Star, Top Centerville

The Chinook Sugarbeeters were looking to build on a strong showing at home last Thursday in a win over Box Elder as they turned to the second half of the conference schedule.

In meetings earlier this season with the North star Knights and Centerville Miners the 'Beeters were very successful in picking up a couple of road wins. This week the Sugarbeeters were at home against the Knights for Homecoming on Thursday and the Miners on Saturday.

With the Conference schedule flipping to the home stretch the battle for post season tournament seeding ramps up and their Homecoming contest with the rival Knights was a big one.

Chinook went the distance in Gildford earlier this season, winning a five set thriller to gain the early season advantage. In a back and forth opening set Thursday night both teams matched the others effort step for step. In the end the Knights got that final point to take a 25-23 first set win over the 'Beeters.

Chinook was focused and the coaching staff had the girls prepared for a tough battle. In set number two the 'Beeters wasted little time in jumping out to a early lead.

The Knights did all they could to slow down the 'Beeter attack but following a North Star timeout the momentum stayed with the 'Beeters.

The Chinook offensive attack led by senior Bree Swanson and sophomore Hallie Neibauer began to find plenty of holes in the North Star defense. Chinook slammed home nine Kills in a 25-12 second set win to even the match 1-1.

Chinook continued to pound away at the North Star defense, racking up 15 Kills in set number three. The Knights however ramped up their attack as well and were able to stay close to Chinook throughout.

The 'Beeters used the hometown crowd support to find a way to secure a tough 25-22 third set win to go up 2-1 in the match.

Whenever the Sugarbeeters and the Knights get together on the volleyball court the fans are always in for a treat and often time find themselves sitting on pins and needles for five sets.

The Sugarbeeters were at home and it was Homecoming and the crowd was loud. The 'Beeters started strong and played with a ton of energy and it was clear they were looking to close out the Knights in set number four.

Chinook continued to be efficient at the net and senior Setter Tylie Richman, along with sophomore Setter Mya Berreth continued to turn good passes into scoring opportunities for the hitters.

The 'Beeters slowly built a lead and maintained control throughout the set and were able to finish off the Homecoming win with a 25-19 fourth set win to take the match 3-1.

Swanson led the 'Beeter attack with a team high 18 Kills in the win. Neibauer added 10 more as Chinook slammed home 44 Kills as a team. Berreth and Richman each tallied 12 Assists.

Head Coach Paula Molyneaux was pleased with her teams performance, "It was a good night. North Star is a quality team, so it was a great win. I was pleased with the improvements that we have made. I felt that they did a great job of taking the skills and strategies that we have been working on in practice and using them to their advantage in the matches."

Saturday the girls were back on the court and set to take on the Centerville Miners. The 'Beeters swept Centerville in their first meeting but the Miners started fast Saturday taking the opening set 25-21.

The Sugarbeeters however wasted little time in regaining control of the match winning the second set 25-12, powering down 15 Kills.

The 'Beeters continued to swing hard in set number three with 13 more Kills in a 25-19 set win. Chinook blitzed the Miners once again in set number four winning 25-12 to win the match 3-1.

Neibauer and Swanson each had 11 Kills. Sophomore Britton Elliot added eight more and Berreth recorded 17 assists in the win.