The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

The Chinook Sugarbeeters began the week with a tough five set loss to the Malta M-ettes on Tuesday. Thursday the girls rebounded and earned a hard fought 5 set win over the Chester-Joplin-Inverness Hawks in District 6C-East play.

Tuesday evening the M-ettes got off to a fast start, taking the first set from the Sugarbeeters 25-14.

Chinook responded in the second set as junior Megan Molyneaux pounded home four kills and the back row dug up 16 balls with senior Carrie Hofer saving five of them as Chinook evened the match with a 25-19 win.

The 'Beeters continued their strong play in the third set as senior Sierra Swank and junior Kourtney Hanson each collected a trio of kills. Molyneaux dug up 7 of the teams 19 digs in another 25-19 set win for the 'Beeters.

The M-ettes fought back in the fourth set to even the match with a 25-16 set win.

In the fifth and deciding set it was Malta that got off to the fast start and held on for a 15-8 fifth set win to defeat the Sugarbeeters 3-2.

Hanson totaled eight kills in the match while Molyneaux added seven and Swank six. The 'Beeters saved 75 balls as Hofer led the team with 20 digs.

The 'Beeters served up 10 aces in the match led by junior Rachel Gunderson's four.

Chinook then headed to Chester for a match against the Hawks in an important District 6C-East clash.

The Hawks came into the match with a 4-1 conference mark while the 'Beeters record stood at 3-1 meaning the winner would hold a distinct edge over the other in the race for post season seeding.

Chinook dominated the opening set taking down the Hawks 25-12. Swank slammed home three kills in the opener to lead the offensive attack. Junior Lincy Johnson helped shore up the back row with five digs and Gunderson served up three aces.

Set number two went the way of the Hawks as they evened the match with a narrow 25-23 set win.

The 'Beeters were led in set number two by Swanks four kills. Junior Ashley MacLeod saved seven balls for the defense.

Set number three also went the way of the Hawks as they took a 25-20 set win to lead the match 2 sets to one.

Erin Pula led the offensive effort with three kills while Johnson dug up eight balls.

With their backs against the wall the Sugarbeeters fought back in the fourth set to even the match 2-2 with a 26-24 set win.

Hanson powered home six kills in the set to lead a resurgent offense. Molyneaux added five assists and Johnson led a very active back row with 15 digs.

The fifth and deciding set was a back and forth affair that saw each team have a bit of momentum but it was the Sugarbeeters who finished strong.

The 'Beeters took a 15-11 fifth set win over the Hawks to win the match 3-2 and bolster their post season tournament seeding position. Pula tallied two kills and Johnson five digs in the set win.

For the match Swank led the 'Beeter offense with 11 kills, Hanson added 10 and Pula five.

The back row was impressive recording a whopping 107 digs in the win. Their ability to keep the ball alive and get the ball to the hitters was instrumental in turning defense into offense in the win.

Johnson recorded 37 digs to lead the back rows effort. At the net it was Hanson leading the way with five blocks helping to thwart the Hawk attack.

Molyneaux served up 17 assists in the win for the 'Beeters while Swank added 10. Gunderson again led the team with five aces on the night.

The win sets up a huge District 6C-East clash for the 'Beeters this Thursday with the North Star Knights.

The 'Beeters are celebrating homecoming this week and the atmosphere Thursday will surely be electric with so much on the line.

Heading into the match the Knights sit atop the District 6C-East with a 3-0 record (6-0 overall) while Chinooks record sits at 4-1 (4-3). The Knights won the first match between the teams in five sets and the sugarbeeters hope to even the season series with a win Thursday.

Head Coach Mollie Rose is excited about her teams efforts in Chester, "am extremely proud of the girls' performance in Chester. I felt that they played with drive and determination. Throughout the match they did not give up and put together three solid sets. One of our main goals was to finish strong, and they definitely accomplished that."

With a big match looming Thursday Rose knows what her team needs to do to pick up a win, "In this weeks tough match against North Star we definitely need to play as a cohesive unit throughout the match. As North Star has a strong net presence we will need to make them pass and move the ball offensively."

Saturday the team will head to Fort Benton to play in the annual mid season tournament.

The Sugarbeeters will return home Thursday, October 5 when they will welcome the Big Sandy Pioneers to town.

Malta Def. Chinook 3-2

Malta - 25 19 19 25 15

Chinook - 14 25 25 16 8

Malta: Kills: 48 (Ella Schye 21); Assists 39 (Kyleigh Schipman 17); Aces 9 (Sam Mitchell 3); Digs 86 (Janessa Malmend 18); Blocks 7 (Schye 4).

Chinook: Kills 26 (Kourtney Hanson 8). Assists: 25 (Sierra Swank 16). Aces: 10 (Rachel Gunderson 4). Digs: 75 (Carrie Hofer 20). Blocks: 10 (Hanson 4).

Chinook Def. Chester J-I 3-2

Chinook - 25 23 20 26 15

Chester-JI - 12 25 25 24 11

Chester-JI.: Kills 37 (Gabby Mangold 14); Assists 29 (Peyton Hawks 25); Aces 10 (Samantha May 3); Digs 77 (Mangold 24); Blocks 4 (Kim Ghekiere 3).

Chinook: Kills 33 (Sierra Swank 11); Aces 14 (Rachel Gunderson 6); Digs 107 (Lincy Johnson 37); Blocks 10 (Kourtney Hanson 6); Assists 33 (Megan Molyneaux 17).