The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

"Gratitude and Grit: We Don't Quit" is on the back of the team's practice shirts. They definitely lived up to that motto this past weekend. The regular season is coming to an end; but these ladies are just getting started with improvement throughout the season showing in their hard work and composure as a team. The Lady Pioneers hosted the Centerville Miners for Friday night's game, which featured Parent/Senior Night and Pack the House Pink! There was an impressive home crowd of pink-clad Pioneers; and the BSHS band and choir helped make the evening more festive. It was nice to see a great turnout for such an eventful night to honor the team, coach and senior players with proceeds going to Chouteau County Cancer Support and Maryetta Engle, Big Sandy High School alumna and employee, to support her fight against cancer.

The Lady Pioneers JV squad played a great game with several strong offensive plays by Tosha Allderdice and Teagen Simpson as well as stellar serves by Jenny Sant. In the end the Pioneers came up a bit short each set with the Miners winning in three (18-25; 23-25; 15-17). After Parent/Senior Night celebrations and warmups, the Lady Pioneers Varsity squad took to the court, starting with Senior Haley Schwenke serving. The Pioneers fought hard to find their momentum in the first set, starting a bit sluggish with a 16-25 score in the end.

The team proved, once again, that it does not quit as they came back in the second set matching point for point, ending in an ace serve by Jaihven Baumann with a score of 25-23. The Lady Pioneers proceeded to dominate after that with a final score of 25-17 in the third set to take a 2-1 lead. Set four started off with a quick five points off stellar serves by Senior Amiya Griffith; and the Pioneers led all the way to a 25-15 win to end the night! Team leaders included: Amiya Griffith with 16 of the 34 team kills; Jai Baumann, Haley Schwenke, and Eva Yeadon with 2 aces each; Jai Baumann and Eva Yeadon with 22 digs; Keira Galbavy had 3 of the 5 team blocks; and Jai Baumann 22 assists. Way to work, Ladies!

Saturday night in Chester against the CJI Hawks tested the entire team's grit in a very loud gym on CJI's home court. The Lady Pioneer JV squad played their final season game with a loss after three sets (17-25; 20-25; 13-15). The Pioneers maintained their composure throughout and never quit even when CJI came out the first set with a 16-6 run and ended with a Hawks' win (11-25). The second set was a different story with the Lady Pioneers coming out swinging from the start. Angie Sant impressed with a huge series of blocks while Kiera Galbavy dominated at the net.

Senior, Haley Schwenke, with her parents, Miranda Schweke, Chris and Annie Schwenke.

The Pioneers and Hawks matched point for point; both teams digging up hits and tips, rarely missing a ball. The second set was a nail-biter with Jai Baumann and Amiya Griffith working together for several awesome offensive plays. It ended 24-26 with CJI ahead 2-0 on a questionable call by the refs when the ball hit the floor on the Hawks' side but they played it anyway; they got the point. Despite that, the Lady Pioneers came out in the third set composed with the same tenacity, pushing for each point. The night ended with Hawks taking the third set 20-25. Team leaders included: Kiera Galbavy with 9 kills; Amiya Griffith with 22 digs; Amiya Griffith and Angie Sant had 1 each of the 5 team blocks; and Jai Baumann 19 assists.

The Lady Pioneers will end their regular season play hosting Box Elder and Hays on Monday and Tuesday nights. They then have a weekend off before the district tournament begins in Chinook on Thursday, October 28th. Pioneer parents are making plans to show support for the team on their way to Districts so be on the lookout for ways the community can contribute to that next week. Good luck, Coach Brittany and Team!