Lady Cat's Primed For Another Run at the Northern B

 

August 25, 2021

Senior Chloe Messerly was a force in the middle a season ago for the Lady Cats. Harlem looks to continue building on the foundation they have put together the past three seasons.

The Harlem Lady Cat Volleyball team has developed a core foundation to build upon the past few seasons and Head Coach Kim Faulkinberry expects to do just that this fall.

The Lady Cats have 30 athletes out this fall that will fill out a Varsity, Junior Varsity and C Squad team.

Five seniors return and are looking to close out their high school career in style. They are: Alexus Cochran, Taya Trottier, Vanise Little, Chloe Messerly, Mia Wing. Eight juniors will be looking to play a bigger roll this fall and they are Jessica King, Keonna MedicineBear, Aniya Longknife, Mylah Rider, Ma'Lea Moore, Amilia Blackcrow, Mitchrena Begay and Gracie Brockie.

Three sophomores return to the court this fall for the Lady Cats and they are Emma Billmayer, Kaitlyn Johnson and Caly Adams. The freshman make up nearly half the squad with fourteen getting their first taste of High School Volleyball. They are: Izzy Baker, Ihte' Stiffarm, Amara Cochran, Aaraya Mount, Raelynne Briere, Jaden Blackcrow, Lacia Walls, Kishey Obey, Jasmine Doney, Kyra Fetter, Gracie Sanchez, Ava-Lee Ariwite, Jailee Wing and Mashyla Main.


Faulkinberry returns a solid core to lead the Varsity, "Taya Trottier, Vanise Little, Chloe Messerly, Jessica King, Alexus Cochran, Mylah Rider, Ma'Lea Moore.

These seven will serve as the core to build around. These seven girls work very well together and are working on building something that could be amazing by the end of the season. All have varsity experience, some more than others, but all are working hard to play fast volleyball and lead the younger girls. We have large numbers of girls back that didn't play last year, so their guidance and leadership is vital."


Early on that leadership is really coming through, "The returning girls are working extremely hard and encouraging each other to be at their best. Their enthusiasm and leadership are just what we wanted to start practices. We do have quite a few girls who haven't played volleyball or took the year off last year, but they are all working hard to learn necessary skills and are working on getting into volleyball shape," said Faulkinberry.

The Lady Cats will get a good idea of where they are at as a team early on, "We always enjoy going to the Malta tournament to find out what we need to work on to get better. I wouldn't say we are a veteran team nor are rebuilding...I would say we are right in the middle. We lost an All-Conference middle, Alaynee Hawley, to graduation, but we have the right girls to compete for that job."


Getting the girls fired up each day hasn't been a problem, "The girls have come to each practice ready to work. They are eager to learn and step outside of their comfort zones to challenge themselves to make the team better," commented Faulkinberry.

After a year like the last, thinking about what the season may hold for the Lady Cats is tough to do, "Every coach's expectation is to grow throughout the season and make a serious post season run. I am a bit hesitant to reveal my expectations after the 2020 season in which we were shut down for three weeks and then had to come back and have one practice then play three double headers and one match in six days. We have come to value one game at a time and play like it is our last."

Faulkinberry is pretty comfortable in knowing where the teams leadership will come from, "We will depend upon the leadership of Taya, Alexus, Vanise, Chloe, and Jessica!! Each of these girls are being vocal and leading by example in practice. We also expect to see Mylah and Ma'Lea step up and play vital roles as the season progresses. If they all continue to lead and play together like they have in practice we will be very competitive!! Keonna, Emma, Mia, and Kaitlyn could have a break out season with some confidence and consistency."

Varsity/jv Schedule

Sat. Aug. 28 Malta Invite (JV/V) 9:00 a.m.

Thur. Sept. 2 Conrad Cowgirls (C/JV/V) 4:15 p.m.

Sat. Sept. 4 St. Labre Lady Braves (JV/V) 11:00 a.m.

Thur. Sept. 9 North Country Mavericks (JV/V) 5:00 p.m.

Sat. Sept 11 Glasgow Scotties (C/JV/V) 1:00 p.m.

Tue. Sept. 14 Cut Bank Wolves (C/JV/V) 4:00 p.m.

Fri. Sept. 17 Malta M-Ettes (C/JV/V) 4:30 p.m.

Sat. Sept. 18 Rocky Boy Morning Stars (C/JV/V) 1:00 p.m.

Tues. Sept. 21 North Country Mavericks (JV/V) 5:00 p.m.

Sat. Sept 25 Wolf Point Wolves (C/JV/V) 1:00 p.m.

Fri. Oct. 1 Conrad Cowgirls (C/JV/V) 3:30 p.m.

Sat. Oct. 2 Poplar Indians (C/JV/V) 1:00 p.m.

Tues. Oct. 5 Malta M-ettes (C/JV/V) 4:30 p.m.

Sat. Oct. 9 Glasgow Scotties (C/JV/V) 1:00 p.m.

Sat. Oct. 16 Wolf Point Wolves (C/JV/V) 1:00 p.m.

Thur. Oct. 21 Rocky Boy Morning Stars(C/JV/V) Senior Night TBA

Sat. Oct. 23 Poplar Indians (C/JV/V) 1:00 p.m.

Oct. 29-30 District - Wolf Point TBA

Nov. 4-6 Divisional - Glasgow TBA

Nov. 11-13 State - Bozeman (MSU) TBA

 
 

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