'Beeters yet to drop a set, sweep North Star to improve to 3-0 on Season
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The 'Beeter defense has shown a tremendous ability to keep the ball alive and putting pressure on their opponent. Chinook did that regularly in their 3-0 win over the North Star Knights at home Thursday.
The Chinook Sugarbeeters are off to a resounding start to the 2020 season. The 'Beeter volleyball team collected its third straight sweep this past Thursday, taking down the visiting North Start Knights in three lopsided sets to improve to 3-0 in on the season.
The Sugarbeeters were dominate Thursday night as the rival Knights were outmatched from the get go.
The 'Beeters jumped out to a big 19-7 lead after senior Jayden Miller served up a pair of aces. Senior Hailey Bell followed with a kill and Miller added another ace to help Chinook secure a 25-16 opening set win.
The 'Beeters and Knight have been at the top of the 6C-East for many years with Chinook holding a bit of an edge in the rivalry. With the history between the two teams the 'Beeters were up to the challenge of finishing the task at hand.
Senior Lily Surber got the 'Beeters started with three straight serve points, leading to senior Delaney Kellam crushing a free ball for an early 4-1 lead.
Kellam scored twice more at the net and then slammed home a kill off a nice back set from senior Ginger Hauer for a 7-2 Chinook advantage.
It was then Kellam who found the touch from the serving line with the Knights being unable to return five serves and sophomore Bree Swanson and Bell adding in a kill to extend the Chinook lead to 14-4.
The teams would trade points before junior Allison Powell found an opening in the Knight defense to put Chinook on top 18-9.
Moments later Kellam attacked the net for a Kill off a Powell set and Bell slammed home a pair of Kills off Hauer's sets to give Chinook a 23-15 lead. The Knights made a valiant attempt to stay close but that ended when Bell scored the game winner for Chinook in a 25-17 set 2 win.
Looking to finish off the Knights in front of a good home crowd, Chinook again scored first. Surber opened the third set with a point from the serving line only to see the Knights answer back with a point of their own. Following a service error from the Knights, Miller added another Ace to give the 'Beeters an early 3-1 lead.
Hauer later back set to Kellam for another Kill that doubled up the Knights 6-3. North Star closed the gap to 6-5 but again Chinook responded.
Bell served up an Ace to start a solid 'Beeter run. Freshman Hallie Neibauer made a strong point at the net for another, Bell added another point off the serve and Chinooks lead quickly ballooned to 12-5.
The 'Beeter would keep up their attack and continued to be strong defensively. Powell recorded a Kill and Swanson came up big at the net for another to put Chinook out in front 17-8.
The Knights scored four consecutive points until an error gave the serve back to Chinook. The Knights weren't about to go away quietly and strung together a few more points of their own to make things interesting.
Chinooks lead was down to four, 18-14 and then 19-15. Bell powered home another Kill and the Knights gave Chinook a pair of points off hitting errors. Senior Crystal Hofer then served up an Ace of her own giving Chinook a 23-15 advantage.
Chinook sophomore Bree Swanson makes a nice block at the net to help the 'Beeters pick up the win and improve to 3-0.
The third set would end uneventfully with the Knights hitting two balls out of bounds to give Chinook a 25-15 third set win and the match 3-0.
The 'Beeters were dominant throughout. Chinook never trailed in the match and other than at the start of each set were only tied once, 1-1 in the third set.
Bell led the offensive attack recording nine of the teams 26 Kills in the win. Miller served up five of the 'Beeters 16 Aces on the night and Hauer set the hitters up with 13 of the 19 assists in the contest. Kellam led the 'Beeters with seven digs, the team recorded 35 in the match.
Chinook will head to Fort Benton this Thursday for a huge match against the Fort Benton Longhorns. The 'Beeters will return home on Saturday to take on the Geraldine/Highwood Rivals.
With the season being anything but certain, the team has decided to hold 'Senior Night' prior to the varsity match with the Rivals Saturday night.
