Tournament time is a great time of year, but it also means the end. The Harlem Lady Cat Volleyball team concluded its 2021 campaign this past weekend in Glasgow at the Northern B Divisional.

The Lady Cats began their tournament by taking on the No. 1 seeded Choteau Bulldogs from the District 1B. The Bulldogs went undefeated through their conference schedule and are considered to be among the states best.

Harlem played every point against the Bulldogs the best they could, but the depth and experience throughout the Choteau lineup was simply too much.

Choteau took the first and second set by scores of 25-7, 25-7. The Lady Cats responded with some rally points in set number three before losing 25-12. The Bulldogs went on to claim the Northern B Divisional championship over Glasgow 3-0.

In their next match Harlem took on the Shelby Coyotes in a loser out match.

In the first set the Coyotes took command early building a comfortable lead and then maintaining it for a 25-16 set win over the Lady Cats.

Harlem disappeared in set number two never getting anything going in a lopsided 25-7 second set loss.

The Lady Cats did bounce back a bit in set number three but the Coyotes still controlled the momentum. Harlem was never able to get anything going consistently and saw their season come to an end following a 25-15 third set loss.

Senior Chloe Messerly added to her school record for Kills in a single season with five in the match. Messerly also recorded a pair of Aces as well as a couple of Blocks.

Junior Jessica King came into the Northern B with a school record 490 Digs eclipsing the 2007 mark of 468 by Leandra Thomas. Stats were not available for Digs but she certainly added to her record.

Head Coach Kim Faulkinberry reflected on her teams performance at the Northern B, "Both Choteau and Shelby were tough. Both teams are tough tournament teams with a great deal of experience. I really felt we could have beat Shelby, but we came out a bit flat and couldn't bounce back."

Harlem concludes a roller coaster of a season. Harlem showed glimpses of being a very solid team but youth and inexperience often got in the way.

Their overall record isn't a true indication of where the team was on the court. Several sets were lost right at the end that with a good shot here or a good play there could have went their way.

In the end though some records were set, the team stayed together and most of all the program added another brick to the foundation Coach Faulkinberry and her staff have been building.

Throughout the season more and more was being asked of the younger kids and that experience will go a long way to the Lady Cat's success in 2022.

Coach Faulkinberry signed off on the 2021 season by saying, "We are really proud of the girls and the strides they have made in further developing our program."

The season may be over but there will certainly be some post-season awards handed out to a few of these players.