Trotters assert selves - win 3

Until, and if, some other team eventually supplants them, the Plains Trotters are still the defending District 14C champions, and should be treated that way.

Coach Jesse Butcher’s Trotters proved they can still play in 2019 with a revamped lineup from last year, outlasting fellow 14C power Hot Springs 25-12, 13-25, 25-20, 26-24 in 14C conference action at Hot Springs Thursday.

“Our girls showed up to play and we were able to attack with good, aggressive serving,” Butcher said. “We are playing well together right now and look forward to the rest of the season.”

Returning All-State C hitter Kylee Altmiller led the Trotters to the win with 14 kills, Emma Morgan had three blocks and four service aces, Audrey Brown hit 34 of Plains’ 57 digs and Izzy Butcher passed out 13 assists.

Savannah Roosma and Katelyn Christensen each smacked six kills to lead coach Alisha Pablo’s Savage Heat, Sydney Jackson passed off 19 set assists, Lily Winn hit three aces and blocked five shots , and Sage Jackson had 14 digs.

Both Plains and Hot Springs are scheduled to compete in the one-day Arlee Tournament Saturday, along with most of the other District 14C net squads. The Trotters will host Clark Fork Tuesday, and the Savage Heat will entertain Lincoln that night.

The Trotters were to have played the Lady Hawks in Thompson Falls Tuesday evening, but results of that match were not available at press time.

“I like this tournament,” Butcher said of the Arlee tourney. “We get to play a lot of volleyball in a pretty short time, and it is not too far from home.”

Butcher thinks the Trotters have even better volleyball within them.

“This team has a pretty good chemistry, they all seem to get along very well,” she said. “I see them as a work in progress, they are still working to get better every time out.”

In other action last week, the Trotters tripped up Troy 25-11, 25-12, 21-25, 25-27, 15-6 in Plains last Tuesday (Sept. 10) and dropped Clark Fork 25-13, 25-18, 25-10 in Superior Saturday.

Against Troy, Altmiller teed off on 12 kills, Butcher put up 13 assists, Morgan hit six aces and blocked three shots, and Brown hit four digs.

Ella Pierce hit five kills and three blocks for Troy, Katelynn Talmadge added 10 assists and four aces and Mazzy Hermes 11 digs.

At Superior, Altmiller ripped eight service aces and executed seven kills, Morgan had two blocks, Brown 17 digs and Butcher nine set assists.

No details on Clark Fork’s efforts in the match were available.