M-ettes split series with Mavericks last Tuesday; Drop game against Wolf Point

The Saco Gymnasium served as a loud atmosphere for the M-ette, Maverick Cross-County Classic last Tuesday, October 13. In their second meeting of the season, it would be the M-ettes that would ultimately claim victory and split the season with the North Country Mavericks. The scores of the game were 25-22 (M-ettes), 25-21 (Mavericks), 25-1 (M-ettes) and 25-16 (M-ettes).

Both teams featured strong, hard-hitting frontlines and athletic, active backlines.

"I just think we really, really wanted to win considering these guys beat us last time," Senior M-ette hitter Mary Grace Kalal told the PCN. "We just got really excited and kept talking. That always helps."

Malta was led by Kalal and Adrianna Bibeau who both had 11 kills apiece. Malta had 38 kills as a team. Kalal also led Malta in aces, recording five of the team's 17. Bibeau led the team in blocks recording the only two blocks.

"Our serve-receive was really good," Kalal said. "I feel like our kill percentage was way higher than normal."

Riley Mortenson had 12 of the team's 43 digs. Sam Mitchell had 19 of the team's 21 assists.

The Mavericks led a strong effort that seemed destined to end in another five match game but Malta was able to edge them in four.

"It was Mary Grace's hits, Sam's sets and the whole team coming together and playing to the best of our abilities," M-ettes hitter Shay Garfield said.

The Mavericks were led by Jada Sudbrack who had 10 of the Mavericks' 21 kills and four of the team's five blocks. Payton Chopper had five of the team's 12 aces.

"They're all really good players," Garfield said of the Mavericks. "Tatum had some good hits and Jada Sudbrack. They're all really good so I guess nothing really surprised me because I knew they were all good."

Kalal was impressed by Payton Chopper, who has a lot of heat behind her serves.

"Payton Chopper has really improved on her serves," Kalal said. "She had some hard serves. We kind of didn't know what to expect the first couple of times but once we got going we adjusted to the servers."

Many of Kalal's hits went into the upper deck off of opponent's arms that night, so she knows a good server / hitter when she sees