One Nation, Under God
The season came to an end for the North Country Mavericks last Friday, November 2, in Sidney, as the team fell in the second round of elimination to Wibaux.
The Mavericks finished their 2018 campaign with a final record of 5-15, after going 1-2 at the Eastern C Divisional Tournament.
The team started the tournament with a tough 3-0 loss to Ekalaka on Thursday, November 1. The scores were 9-25, 10-25, and 16-25.
Kaitlyn McColly led the Mavericks with six kills, 14 digs, and five blocks. Jaycee Erickson had 5 assists and Danika Soper had the team’s lone ace. The Mavericks had a total of 10 kills, 34 digs, 16 blocks, nine assists, and one ace.
The team didn’t leave the tournament without a win as the team eliminated the Circle Wildcats 3-0 on Friday morning, giving the Mavericks their first and only sweep of the season.
The scores in their win were 25-21, 26-24, and 25-12.
“We talked a little the night before,” Mavs Head Coach Charlene Wasson said. “I just felt that in the Ekalaka game that if we rotated three positions to where Kaitlyn would serve for us, then that would put Jaydyn (Erickson) in the front row.”
In doing so, Coach Wasson wanted a more desirable matchup in the front row, where the Maverick front line could challenge Circle’s best hitters.
“Everything just fell into place and it was crazy,” Coach Wasson said.
The change paid off as Erickson led the team with 13 kills, 12 assists, three aces, and two blocks.
McColly had 13 digs and two blocks. Soper and Kia Wasson both had three blocks. Jaycee Erickson had two blocks.
After the team had a two-point lead, and a lead in the third set, Coach Wasson could hardly believe how well everything was going.
“I kind of felt like I was in the twilight zone,” Coach Wasson said. “Every ball and every call went our way.”
Just as everything was going the team’s way, an injury came up.
“Chaykota (Christensen) went up blocking a girl and jammed her finger,” Coach Wasson said.
With only three points needed for a win, and Christensen unable to serve, Coach Wasson gave senior Emilie Carrillo a chance to help shut down the game, pulling her off of the bench to serve.
“She hadn’t been in all game,” Coach Wasson said. “I said, here is your shot senior. Go in and serve these three for us and win the game. That is a lot of pressure but I had been able to do that with her all year. Emilie had served some big points for us. She went in and served three points for us.”
The team would lose in the second round of elimination to Wibaux in three sets. The scores were 13-25, 20-25, and 9-25.
K. Wasson led the team with eight of the Mavericks’ 20 kills. McColly had 14 of 39 team digs and three of the team’s four aces. Jaycee Erickson had 11 of the team’s 18 assists, and three of the team’s 12 blocks. Sarah Boucher also had three blocks.
According to Coach Wasson, the team was able to get momentum in the second game, but they were unable to finish the set.
“Things were going pretty good for us but we couldn’t finish,” Wasson said.
Coach Wasson was happy with her team’s development this season, but she knows that next year, her young but experienced team will be tested.
“Things are going to change next year,” Coach Wasson said. “We are making a super district between 1C and 3C. We will be an eleven team district.”
Being an eleven team district next season will mean that the Mavericks will face each team in the district one time as well as a few out of district teams.
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