One Nation, Under God

M-ettes head to Northern B

The Malta Volleyball team placed third in the District 2B District Tournament held in Malta last weekend. The placing earned the M-ettes the final 2B spot in the upcoming Northern B Divisional set to start on Thursday, November 5, and conclude on Saturday, November 7.

The Northern B will be held in two locations (Shelby and Conrad this year to help slow the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Malta will square off against the 1B runner-up Fairfield Eagles on Thursday at noon at the Conrad site. The Eagles lost the 1B championship on Saturday, October 31, to the Choteau Bulldogs in three sets.

One night prior in Malta, the M-ettes defeated the Poplar Indians in four sets. The scores were 25-19 Poplar, 25-17 Malta, 25-9 Malta, and 25-16 Malta.

"We wanted it," Captain Kaylee Bishop told the PCN. "It was now or never. It was, win the game or we don't go to divisionals. We wanted to go to divisionals, so you gotta do what you gotta do."

The M-ettes were led by Justine Lamb who had 11 kills and four of Malta's nine blocks. Libero Kylie Hunter had 21 of Malta's 88 digs. Sidney Meeks had five of 11 team aces, and Erica Smith had 18 of Malta's 32 assists.

In the opening round last Friday, Malta lost 3-2 to the Wolf Point Lady Wolves. The scores were 25-23 Malta, 25-22 Wolf Point, 25-22 Wolf Point, 25-18 Malta, and 15-11 Wolf Point.

"We kind of lost our confidence at the net," Captain Sidney Meeks said. "We started getting some hits that weren't going our way and lost our confidence. Our passers kept us together and they did a good job that game."

Malta was led by Skylie Lefdahl who had 10 of Malta's 40 kills. Lamb had five of 10 team blocks. Hunter had 29 of 88 digs. Smith led in assists and aces. Smith had 22 assists and six aces.

After the loss to Wolf Point, the M-ettes were aware that their season was on the line. The team talked in the locker room, and refocused, having less than an hour to get ready for their clash with Poplar.

"We had to forget about it because we had to play the next game in like 20 minutes," Bishop said. "It was in the past and we had to move on if we wanted to get to divisionals, we had to forget about it. It took a little bit of time in the beginning, but we came around to it."

Meeks said that the team's attack at the net was improved in their third-place game against Poplar. Bishop added that the team had better serves in the second game.

Malta needs to finish first or second this weekend in order to make state. Bishop and Meeks were asked what they needed to improve on this week.

"We need to get out of our valleys faster," Meeks said.

Bishop added that serve-receive rotations also need to improve.

 

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