'Beeters Swept in Big Sandy, Rebound to Top Centerville 3-0 in Home Opener

 

August 31, 2022

Makhayla Farmer

Senior Middle Hitter, Bree Swanson, keeps her eye on the ball as she slams home a 'Beeter point in the 'Beeters home opener

The Chinook Sugarbeeters got their season started this past Thursday with a short road trip west to Big Sandy to take on the Pioneers in their District 7C opener. In three straight sets played as tightly contested as possible it was the Pioneers winning the first go around between the two contenders in straight sets, 25-23, 31-29, 25-23. Saturday the 'Beeters were back Chinook playing in front of their hometown fans as they welcomed the Centerville Miners into the Floyd Bowen Gymnasium. This go around the 'Beeters were in control every step of the way, sweeping the Miners 25-21, 25-16, 25-18.

This year the 'Beeters opened the season with pair of District 7C matches forgoing the Malta Invitational, a tournament they had attended for many years. The District 7C is always tough and making through the District Tournament and advancing to the Northern C Divisional is never a gimme. As such, seeding from the regular season conference schedule always plays a big part of a teams chances to advance in the post season.

Chinook has qualified for the Northern C Divisional nearly every year since joining the ranks back in 2005, missing only the 2010 season. The Sugarbeeters have battled for one of the top seeds year in and year out alongside schools like Fort Benton, North Star and Chester/Joplin-Inverness, and has had success in the post season. The Box Elder Bears qualified for the Northern C a few years back as have the Big Sandy Pioneers. Geraldine/Highwood has had strong teams in recent memory as have the Centerville Miners. The Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds haven't advanced past the District Tournament yet but they have made teams earn the win when they faced them.

Factor all of that into a teams chances and the importance of winning as many conference matches as possible is clear. Beginning the season with a pair of conference matches the opening weekend is difficult.

Thursday the 'Beeters took on the Big Sandy Pioneers on the road and found themselves in a grueling back and forth match right from the opening tip. The Pioneers have been steadily getting better the past few seasons and were on top of their game in the season opener for both teams.

Neither team was able to gain the upper hand early on in the opening set with both teams having their chances to separate from the other at one point or another. In the end it was the Pioneers that were able to secure the win late claiming the final point in a 25-23 opening set win.

Looking to even the match in set number two the 'Beeters came out firing, but much like the first set neither team was really able to grab any momentum in the set. This time around it would take a few more points than 25 to win the set. Both teams continued to give the other their best shot but it wasn't until Big Sandy secured their 31 point that a winner was to be had with the Pioneer winning the second set 31-29 to go up 2-0 in the match.

The 'Beeters are a well coached team with plenty of fight in them and will always play hard until the final serve hits the floor. Down two sets to zero Chinook came out swinging just as they did the first two sets. In nearly identical fashion, just like the first two sets neither team gained much separation from the other and just like the first two sets it was the Pioneers with the slim lead late in the set. Big Sandy locked up the closest 3 sweep possible with a 25-23 thirds set win.

Chinook played well at times and struggled at time but they showed they could compete from the first serve through the last. The 'Beeter attack was led on the night by junior Hallie Neibauer who slammed home a team high 11 Kills. Neibauer also paced the team with three of the 'Beeters five blocks on the night. Senior Bree Swanson served up a trio of Aces to lead the 'Beeters and dug up a team high 15 Balls. Junior Mya Berreth set the hitters up with 15 Assists in the match.

Saturday night back in the friendly confines of the Floyd Bowen Gymnasium and playing in front of the 'Beeter Crazies, the girls were looking to bounce back and even their conference mark at 1-1.

Makhayla Farmer

Junior Middle Hitter, Hallie Neibauer, records one of her team high six blocks in the 'Beeters 3-0 sweep of the Centerville Miners this past Saturday night.

Chinook steadily kept the pressure on the Miners, slowly building their lead before securing a 25-21 first set win. Chinook opened up their attack a bit more in the second set and their defense was in sync leading the way for the 'Beeters to cruise to a 25-16 second set win. The 'Beeters maintained their strong play in set number three and road the momentum they had built up to a comfortable 25-18 match clinching third set win.

Chinook was again on the night by Neibauer with 12 of the teams 26 Kills. Neibauer served up six Aces in the win and recorded a half dozen Blocks on the night to lead the team in that category as well. Swanson led the defensive effort digging up a team high 11 balls to keep the offense rolling. Berreth led the team on the night with eight of the teams 19 assists.

Chinook will host the North Star Knights this Thursday and the Chinook Invitational Tournament this Saturday.

 
 

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