The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Big Sandy vs. Highwood

The Highwood match went surprisingly well, considering the Pioneer ladies are a very young team and were missing a key player Amiya Griffith. But the team united and picked up their game in the second set, then pushed Highland into a fourth-round by winning their third set.

Coach Brittany McKenny was pleased with her team. "I was extremely proud of my team! We didn't have Amiya due to sickness, but the girls really rose to the occasion. It's pretty thrilling to take an undefeated team to four sets. This match proved that we can play the game well when we play with nothing to lose."

SCORES

Game 1: 10-25 Highwood

Game 2: 23-25 Highwood

Game 3: 25-22 Big Sandy

Game 4: 14-25 Highwood

Individual Leaders:

Kills: Team 19 Keira Gallbavy 10

Aces: Team 0 -----

Digs: Team 46 Eva Yeadon 11

Block: Team 2 Keira Gallbavy/Angie Sant 1

Assists: Team 17 Jai Baumann 19

Big Sandy vs. Fort Benton

Our Pioneer Ladies played tough all three sets but stepped up in the second game losing by only four points. With our Lady Pioneers taking the lead in the third set, it was touch and go all the way to the end when Fort Benton took the lead and won the last set 22-25. Coach Brittany McKenny felt that "We played way better against Fort Benton this time around. However, we still need to work on our mental toughness. We have the skills and ability to win but still need to get out of our own heads. Sometimes it's about making a choice to 'just play' and enjoy it. When we do that, we have a lot more success! I am proud of the progress we are making. If we can tighten up a few loose ends, then great things will happen."

I had an opportunity to chat with Hailey Schwenke about her thoughts on the Highwood and Fort Benton games. Her feeling on the Highwood game was, " Our Highwood game, I was pretty stoked that we got to take it to four. The crowd was stoked, and it was a pretty good feeling. I love that feeling when we work so hard, and we actually earn it."

As for Fort Benton, Schwenke felt that "Every team is beatable. I know we could beat every team we play."

Schwenke thought they could have beaten Fort Benton and taken it to four if they hadn't let their nerves get to them. "We were nervous and scared because Fort Benton's always had a tough volleyball team." As they talked about it, "Mental thoughts in our heads were getting to us in that game." However, she felt they played close sets despite the nerves. "It was great with the crowds roaring, and we had our team section behind us all roaring a lot, and we could have won. We could have taken them to four."

And what does she see with her team going forward? "I think we're going to do pretty well as long as we keep thinking positive and going into every single game with force and confidence and just giving it our all. I feel that we'll do pretty good because every team is beatable, and there is always going to be that situation where we just got to take a breath and visualize it, and it's going to be a good one. I feel it -something good coming." And, so it was as you will see in our report on the North Star game.

I would like to give a shout-out to our football team that has been showing up after their practices to support the Lady Pioneers and recommend that we all do the same for them. Let's get out and to their games and let them hear our voices with the same unity and enthusiasm they have shown at the Ladies Volleyball games.

SCORES

Game 1: 18-25 Fort Benton

Game 2: 21-25 Fort Benton

Game 3: 22-25 Fort Benton

Individual Leaders:

Kills: Team 21 Jai Baumann 6

Aces: Team 6 Amiya Griffith/Haley Schwenke

Digs: Team 73 Amiya Griffith/ Jai Baumann 16

Block: Team 1 Amiya Griffith 1

Assists: Team 14 Jai Baumann 10

Big Sandy vs. North Star Volleyball

The Big Sandy vs. North Star game was a nail-biter all the way through, with the Lady Pioneers taking North Star to a fourth set for a win. The coach had high praise for her team. "I was really happy with our performance. Coming out on top was a great feeling. I think it made the girls hungry for more."

"We are looking forward to our upcoming matches. We are going to continue

working hard every single day. By the time Districts roll around, we will be ready."

"I was also very pleased with my JV. They won in three and made an amazing comeback in the second set. I was proud of their determination and was thrilled to see them finish!"

Eva Wagoner said, "I think we worked well together on Saturday. We were able to dig the ball against them and make smart decisions. After hearing that they lost their starting setter, we still played our hardest and didn't hold back."

SCORES

Game 1: 26-16 Big Sandy

Game 2: 22-25 North Star

Game 3: 25-13 Big Sandy

Game 4: 25-22 Big Sandy

Individual Leaders:

Kills: Team 28 Amiya Griffith 10

Aces: Team 11 Eva Wagoner 5

Digs: Team 67 Amiya Griffith 19

Block: Team 4 Keira Gallbavy 2

Assists: Team 24 Jai Baumann 22