District 14C net wars heating up

It's time to play with heart and grit, and never quit. At least that is the way Hot Springs coach Alisha Pablo sees it, and wants to see her team playing volleyball.

The District 14C race took several interesting turns last week and Pablo and her talented Savage Heat netters were part of the topsy turvy action as the Spa City girls turned back the surging Noxon Red Devils in three sets in Hot Springs Oct. 8, before going to Charlo and being upset by the Lady Vikings in three sets.

In another interesting 14C net development last week, coach Teri Wilkinson's Lady Red Devils threw their hats into the contenders' ring by taking down coach Jesse Butcher's Plains Trotters 25-21, 18-25, 25-12, 20-25, 15-6 in Noxon Saturday.

In other relevant 14C net action last week, the Trotters defeated the Lady Tigers 22-25, 25-10, 26-24, 25-17 in St. Regis Thursday.

With the District 14C tournament in Noxon only a few short weeks away, coaches are starting to take things a little more seriously. "It's tourney time in 14C and it always gets exciting this time of year," Pablo said. "It's time to play with heart and grit and never quit."

Pablo liked the way her Savage Heat girls played against Noxon in turning back the Lady Devils 25-11, 25-15, 25-18 in Hot Springs Oct. 8. Katelyn Christensen and McKennzie Cannon clobbered six kills and four service aces each, Cannon also had eight blocks, Sydney Jackson hit 14 set assists, and Sage Jackson 14 digs in that match to lead the Savage Heat.

Avery Brugess and Alivia Hill each hit four kills for Noxon, Hill and Emily Brown had a block apiece, Riley Richter put up 11 set assists and Arianna Wood hit 14 digs.

The loss to Charlo is one Pablo thinks the Savage Heat can learn from. "I think we over-strategized. We planned and worked hard on things that we wouldn't use against any other team and it ruined the heart of our game. We froze and overthought it too much, but it's okay, bumps in the road make for a good lesson."

Cannon blasted seven kills, blocked 10 shots and hit two aces to lead Hot Springs, Christensen was good for five Ks, eight blocks and seven digs, Sydney Jackson had seven assists, Sage Jackson 10 digs and Lily Winn two aces.

Carlee Fryberger hit 10 kills and a pair of blocks for Charlo, Liev Smith added eight kills and Connor Fryberger hit 16 assists.

Noxon's victory over Plains Saturday was perhaps the Devils' biggest win of the season.

Burgess hit eight kills and blocked two shots to lead the Lady Devils, Richter added eight blocks, 17 set assists and 16 digs, and Jenna Freeman served up an ace.

Kylee Altmiller crushed seven kills and four blocks to pace Plains, Izzy Butcher hit 13 assists, Emma Morgan Miera Loberg and Dakota Butcher three aces each and Audrey Brown 27 digs.

Things went much better for the Trotters in their win over St. Regis.

Altmiller struck down nine kills and a block to lead Plains at the net, Izzy Butcher hit 12 assists, Cree Lulack sliced in six service aces and Brown bumped up 14 digs.

Kylie Thompson hit six kills, six blocks and three aces to pace St. Regis and Bailey Pruitt finished with 25 set assists for St. Regis.