Noxon, Hot Springs finish at district

Noxon and Hot Springs traveled to Pablo last week for the district 13C tournament. Both teams had play-in games on Wednesday at Salish Kootenai College. Noxon would win and advance to Thursday's competition, but district would be the end of the road for both the Red Devils and the Savage Heat.

Hot Springs fell to St. Regis in four sets during their play-in game. The Heat started out in the lead over the Tigers, but St. Regis was quick to bring the score to a tie at 12 points. From there the Tigers would take the lead, putting the score swiftly to 20-15 the Heat kept a level head and were able to lessen the point gap but wouldn't be able to take the first set win.

St. Regis came out to gain the first points in the second set, putting six points between the teams. Hot Springs was able to make a slight comeback and put the score 17-12, and Brooke Jackson hammered down several aces to make the score 17-16. While the Heat were swift to bring the scores closer together, they would only gain three points before the Tigers took the second set 25-19.

Coming off their two set wins the Tigers were quick to take the lead in the third set, but the Heat never faltered and were able to bring the score close together. Kara Christensen's serves helped tie the game at 13 points, from there the teams would go point for point until tying up at 17 again. Hot Springs would take the lead, with St. Regis close on their tails, and the teams would tie up again at 21 points, before the Heat would gain the four points needed to take their first set win.

Hot Springs took that win and ran with it taking the lead in the fourth set, but the Tigers were able to bring the score 9-7. From there the Heat took off and would house a massive lead over St. Regis, the teams would have volley after volley with Hot Springs in the lead, until the game tied up at 20 points. From there St. Regis was able to break down the Heat to take the match win.

The Noxon Lady Devils also had a play-in game, facing the Victor Lady Pirates taking the win in three sets.

Victor came out and started with the lead, but Noxon was quick to tie the game up at 10 points. The teams would go point for point tying the game up at 15 again. From there the Devils would take back their lead and would hold the Pirates to just 19 points while taking the set win.

Noxon was swift like lightning in the second set and took the lead, putting the score 10-5 within a blink of an eye. They would have a large lead over the Pirates for most of the set, with the score 17-12 the Devils would only allow Victor to gain one more point before the well rounded Noxon team took the second set win 25-13.

Set three was like deja vu with the Devils taking a massive lead early in the set. Serving up aces and hammering down spikes the young Noxon team made the score 13-6 before the crowds' eyes. The Devils would once again take the set win 25-13 putting them in the 2024 13C district tournament.

Where their first matchup was with the Drummond Trojans, who took the win in three sets.

The Trojans came out on fire and were quick to take a 5-0 lead over the Devils. They would hold onto their lead for much of the set, making Noxon work together for their points. Drummond would hold their lead, and make it larger as they would hold the Devils to just 13 points while taking the set win.

In the second set the Devils came out going point for point with the Trojans until Drummond took the lead. They would make their lead even larger and the Devils couldn't find their groove. Keeping Noxon to just 12 points the Trojans would take the second set.

Set three the Devils came out to take a slight lead, but it was short lived as the Trojans came back swinging, taking the lead back. Noxon would try to band together but wouldn't be able to take the lead back, and soon the score was 15-5. The Devils would gain only eight points before being held by the Trojans who would take the match win.

The Devils then saw their final match up against the Lincoln Lady Lynx falling in four action packed sets.

Noxon and Lincoln would start point for point until the Lynx were able to take the lead 8-6. They would hold onto their lead and capitalize off the Devils mistakes to make it larger. Soon the score was 18-12, but the Devils found their groove and were able to bring the scores closer together. Working together, holding the Lynx to just 23 points while gaining their own, but it wouldn't be enough to take the set win.

The teams would once again go point for point until tying the game up at seven points. From there Lincoln was able to take a brief lead over Noxon, the Devils kept a level head and were able to keep the points close together. The teams would go volley for volley with Lincoln never letting the Lynx get more than two points ahead. With the score 22-20, Lincoln would be able to tie the game at 24 and from there gain the last two points needed for the set win.

Lincoln took that win and would come out in the third set to gain the first points, and they would keep their lead for much of the set. Until the Devils were able to tie the game at 22, from there Noxon would hold Lincoln while taking the set win.

Noxon would come out to gain the first points, but the Lynx were quick on their trail and would take back the lead. The Devils would stay close behind until the game was tied at 12 points, from there Lincoln would hold Noxon while keeping the serve. After several intense volleys the Lynx would take the fourth set win and end the Devil's season.