Noxon to host 14C net tourney

Charlo and Hot Springs largely held serve during the regular season, now it’s time to see if form holds true in 14C volleyball.

The two-day District 14C tourney will be held in Noxon beginning Thursday.

The hosting Noxon Lady Red Devils will play St. Regis at 4 p.m. to open the tournament, No. 2 seeded Hot Springs will then play No. 3 Plains at 5:30, followed by No. 1 Charlo taking on the Noxon-St. Regis winner at 7.

The double-elimination tourney will continue Friday until the top two teams are determined, with those two squads moving on to the Western C divisional tournament in Manhattan Nov. 7-9.

Charlo finished the 14C regular season undefeated in conference play to earn the No. 1 seed in the tournament. Coach Alisha Pablo’s Savage Heat suffered through somewhat of a lull mid-season, but seem to have righted their volleyball ship lately, and finished a strong second in league standings.

“I think we are definitely capable of being the best, this weekend will be a battle,” Pablo said. “I really think, that if we play our best volleyball, we can give any team a problem.”

The defending 14C tournament champions from a year ago, coach Jesse Butcher and her Trotters are hoping for a repeat of the 2018 tourney, when the Trotters swept to the title after a so-so finish to the regular season last fall.

Coach Teri Wilkinson’s Lady Red Devils may be the wild card in the tourney. The Lady Devils are young and athletic, and showed marked improvement as the season wore on.

District 14C teams completed regular season play last week.

Hot Springs spiked Clark Fork 25-23, 25-9, 25-12 in Superior Tuesday and got the best of Victor 25-15, 25-7, 25-14 in Hot Springs Saturday.

The Trotters edged Seeley-Swan 25-21, 25-23, 26-28, 27-25, 15-13 in Seeley Lake, and the Devils downed St. Regis 25-17, 25-12, 25-19 in St. Regis Saturday.

McKennzie Cannon led Hot Springs to the win over Clark Fork with 10 kills and three service aces, Sydney Jackson dished out 21 assists, Sage Jackson had 16 digs and Savannah Roosma six blocks.

Lily Winn and Katelyn Christensen hit six kills each in the match with Victor, Sydney Jackson had 16 assists and Winn two blocks.

Kylee Altmiller led Plains to the win over Seeley-Swan with 12 kills and two blocks, Izzy Butcher hit 12 assists, Emma Morgan five aces and Audrey Brown 25 digs.

Riley Richter hit seven kills and three aces in Noxon’s win over St. Regis, Emily Brown hit 12 assists, Jenna Freeman 22 digs and Avery Burgess blocked a shot.