M-ettes host Northern B

The season ended for the Malta M-ettes as the team fell 0-3 to the Choteau Lady Dogs, who eventually took third place in the 2017 Northern B Divisional Volleyball Tournament in Malta.

The three day event was held at the Malta Gymnasium from Thursday, November 2, through Saturday, November 4.

The Shelby Coyotes won four straight games including the Northern B title 3-1 over the runner up Fairfield Eagles who played in the championship game after outlasting Choteau in five sets. Fairfield had lost the 1B Championship to Choteau on Saturday, October 28. Both Shelby and Fairfield will advance to the 2017 State B Volleyball Championship this week in Billings.

Malta lost their opening match to the Fairfield Eagles 3-1 on Thursday, November 2; the scores were 22-25, 25-18, 19-25 and 25-27.

"We just fell a little bit short," Malta Co-Coach Tasha Hines said. "We weren't transitioning in defense as well... and we were hesitating. You only have a split second to make a decision, so if there is a hesitation there it slows down our whole defense."

The M-ettes were led by senior Ella Schye who had 14 kills and five blocks. Senior Sam Mitchell had twenty of the team's 99 digs and 18 of Malta's 32 assists. Junior Kloie Marks had eight of 15 aces.

Coach Hines has mentioned that after the game, the team talked strategy.

"Really our defense," She said. "We were adjusting between single and double blocking and we will continue doing that depending on who we are playing. Through the last couple of weeks of practice, that's what we have been working on."

The strategy paid off the next morning as Malta opened the day at 10 a.m. and defeated the Cut Bank Wolves 3-0 in the first round of the elimination bracket. The scores were 25-19, 25-13 and 25-19.

Schye had 10 Kills and all three team blocks. Mitchell had 15 kills and seven aces. Senior Janessa Malmend had 19 of 87 digs.

The win put Malta back on track to challenge other teams also aspiring to get to the big dance in Bozeman.

"We have had a couple of good weeks of practice and we were just prepared," Coach Hines said after the win.

The team made a notable change in the lineup, sending senior Macy Knudsen to the middle at times.

"Macy has been strong all year," Coach Hines said. "Macy played the middle for the first time this year to give Janessa the cut for an outside (hit). Macy can do the half approach and whale on that ball unlike anyone else. It was definitely a good change."

The plan was to follow the momentum to the last game of the tourney but Malta's run would be short-lived as the team fell the next round to Choteau in three sets. The scores were 25-22, 25-10 and 25-18.

Schye led in kills, registering eight of the team's 19 kills. Mitchell led in aces with three of five, digs with 18 of 70 and assists posting 11 of 16. Malmend had two of four blocks.

"They (Choteau) are smart," Coach Hines said. "What they do is watch for plays on the other side of the net."

Due to the fact that no 2B teams are in contention, the 2017 District Volleyball Honors were announced on Monday, November 6.

Schye was awarded First Team All Conference honors. Mitchell and Marks were both awarded Second Team All conference honors.