Trotters stay competitive

Heading into last Tuesday's matchup against Anaconda, Coach Jesse Butcher's Plains Trotters were facing an uphill battle due to four missing varsity players, an issue that has been an unfortunate theme this season. While the Trotters battled admirably, they fell in three sets (10-25, 9-25, 18-25). Coach Butcher was proud of the way her team fought despite the loss. "They definitely didn't disappoint. I expected it to be glitchy but we were able to get our feet on the ground as the game went on."

The first set began on a positive note as Plains junior Lillian McDonald delivered an ace followed by an unforced error by Anaconda to give the Trotters a 3-1 lead. Anaconda was able to rebound from the slow start, however, and went on a 12-1 run, prompting coach Butcher to take a timeout with Anaconda leading 13-4. After the timeout, Plains fought to reel in the Copperheads and were able to put together a three point run powered by a highlight kill from junior Piper Bergstrom. Anaconda was able to weather the storm and closed out the first set 25-10.

The second set was all Anaconda as the Copperheads jumped out to a 7-1 lead and maintained their advantage to win the set 25-9. While Plains wasn't able to win the set, they did provide a few noteworthy highlights for the home fans as senior Lexa Craft tallied an emphatic block and juniors Ocean Hyde and McDonald each recorded kills. Also noteworthy was senior Izzy Butcher's uncanny ability to keep the ball from hitting the floor as she recorded multiple logic-defying digs. Whether it was saving the ball from going out of bounds with an over the head volley or sacrificing her body to get a knuckle under the ball millimeters before it hit the floor, Izzy refused to relent points to the Copperheads. Izzy's head coach and mother put it best when asked about her the senior's relentlessness. "That's called scrappy." Coach Butcher was then asked if that scrappiness was genetic. "We'll say that it is," laughed Butcher, who went on to jokingly say "you're welcome" to Izzy, who stood nearby.

The third and final set displayed the Trotter's team scrappiness as the Plains squad mounted their last stand. No team could gain more than two points of separation as the scoring went back and forth late into the set. Plains' scoring was highlighted by a thunderous kill from McDonald, back to back aces from Bergstrom, and a collective block by Bergstrom and junior Kallen Burrows that sent the Plains student section into a frenzy. With the score tied at 18, Anaconda found their footing behind a big block and a kill from sophomore Ashley Mitchell and three aces from senior Malia Harris to win the set and seal the victory 25-18.

Plains will look to carry over the competitiveness they displayed in the third set this week as they welcome in three opponents. The Trotters were set to face off against Bigfork on Tuesday (results were unavailable at press time), Troy on Wednesday and Thompson Falls on Thursday in what will be Plains' senior night.