Trotters trounce Bobcats at home

The Plains Trotters took their second consecutive win Saturday when they showed Superior who was superior, claiming victory in four games at home.

The Superior Lady Bobcats defeated the Trotters the first game 25-23, but head coach Kim Lakko said she wasn't concerned. "The girls are competitors, one set is not the end of a match. The girls played to win and to climb back on top through a fourth set," said Lakko, who was the team's assistant coach last year, but she and Jesse Butcher switched roles this year and Butcher took over the junior varsity squad, which defeated Superior in three straight games.

In game two, the varsity girls came back with a vengeance and claimed a 25-8 victory. Superior had started the second game in the lead, but Plains immediately took command of the court and soon had a 16-point lead before Superior could score. The large lead was partially due to five consecutive aces by sophomore Claire Lakko, the coach's daughter and the team's ace leader with seven Saturday. It was an ace by junior Kalli Tuma that secured the winning point in game two for Plains.

The Lady Cats started out ahead in the third game, but a spike by Lakko gave Plains the lead. Superior tied things up 6-6 and then regained the lead, but two kill shots by senior Lexi Deming put the Trotters ahead again, followed quickly by a Tuma ace. Superior came within one point at 20-19, but two consecutive aces by Tuma spread the gap and a spike by junior Katelyn Subatch sealed the deal for a 25-19 Plains win.

Plains began the final confrontation with a slight lead. The Bobcats pulled ahead with six points in a row and an 11-5 lead over Plains. But the Trotters battled back, slowly inching their way back when sophomore Aubree Butcher leaped at the net for a block and a 12-12 game. The Plains girls then took over the lead with a Teagan Saner kill and the Trotters slipped away. A gentle tip over the net by Lakko secured the victory.

"Superior has some tough serving and consistent passing," said coach Lakko. "They did well and we were grateful for the opportunity to play them today. We look forward to competing with them again," she added.

Deming led the team in kills with eight, followed by Saner with seven and Lakko with six. Lakko led with seven aces. Tuma had six, followed by Saner with four. Butcher led the Trotters with five blocks. Saner had four and Subatch had two. Tuma led with a dozen digs, followed by Taylor Saner with eight and Lakko with six. She also had the high in set assists with 25.

"I think very highly of each of the players on the team and I value each of their contributions," said Lakko, who added that they will continue to work on all facets of the game. "Passing is fundamental to all components and Kalli Tuma and Lexi Deming led the way on that front today. However, it will always be the skill that is a focus no matter how strong or weak a team is with it," she said.

The Trotters junior varsity team pulled a clean sweep winning 25-15, 25-15 and 15-13. The Trotters triumphed over the Bulldogs at Mission on Thursday in three games - 26-24, 25-16, and 25-20. Teagan Saner led in kills with 11, followed by Butcher with seven and Deming with six. Lakko led in aces with four, followed by Trystan Larsen and Teagan Saner at three apiece. Saner and Butcher led in blocks with four apiece, followed by Subatch with two. Taylor Saner led against Superior in digs with 11, with Tuma at 10. Lakko had 25 set assists.

The Trotters will take on Thompson Falls at Plains on Thursday, Sept. 19, and travel to St. Regis to face the Lady Tigers on Tuesday, Sept. 24.