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

The Chinook Sugarbeeters were in Fairfield for an afternoon contest with the Eagles on Friday. Saturday the girls were back home in the friendly confines of the Floyd Bowen Gymnasium as they welcomed the Cut Bank Wolves to town in a District 1B contest. The 'Beeters have been the only team this season to take down the Eagles, a five set thriller at home early in the season. Friday in Fairfield it was all Eagles as they earned the sweep. The 'Beeters honored their seniors before Saturday afternoon's 3-1 win over the Wolves.

Friday in Fairfield the 'Beeters just didn't have their best game. The Eagles controlled the tempo start to finish in set number one, claiming a 25-16 set win. In the second set the Eagles were even more dominate as they took down the 'Beeters 25-11. The 'Beeters were more competitive in set number three but the Eagles soared with momentum on their side to a 25-19 set win to complete the sweep.

Senior Hallie Neibauer led the attack with seven kills, junior Sami Malsam served up five aces on the night for the 'Beeters. Junior Rilee Molyneaux dug up 11 of the teams 57 digs. Neibauer recorded a team high five blocks in the contest while junior Addison Olsen served up 12 of the teams 23 assists.

Saturday afternoon the 'Beeters responded with a big win against the Cut Bank Wolves. In set number one a Neibauer kill put Chinook up 2-1. Senior Teagan Richman found the corner for a 5-1 'Beeter lead. Moments later Olsen set Molyneaux for a kill and a 10-4 lead. The 'Beeters continued to attack and led 16-6 following a set from senior Mya Berreth that senior Jenna Liddle slammed home. The 'Beeters closed the set out with another kill from Richman and a big block from junior Hannah Schoen to win the set 25-13.

In set number two the Wolves offense came to life. Cut Bank got off to a fast start leading 8-3 early on. A pair of kills from Molyneaux cut the Wolves lead to 10-5 and moments later 10-7. The 'Beeters tried to rally late with a big swing from Neibauer and a kill from Schoen, but it was too little too late as Cut Bank evened the match at a set apiece with a 25-17 second set win.

The 'Beeters responded in set number three with a strong performance. Molyneaux scored a kill and moments later served up an ace to give the 'Beeters a 4-3 lead early. The two teams played each other even for several serves before a Malsam ace gave Chinook a 12-9 advantage. Chinook stretched the lead to 18-11. Schoen added a nice kill in the corner to give Chinook a 23-17 lead. They would go on to take the set 25-18 to go up 2-1 in the match.

Looking to finish off the Wolves, the 'Beeters were looking to get off to a fast start. It was the Wolves that would take the early lead, back to back kills from Molyneaux and Liddle cut the Wolves lead to 9-7. Following a time out from Chinook, Head Coach, Paula Molyneaux, Liddle recorded another kill cutting the deficit to 12-10. The 'Beeters closed to within one following a Malsam Ace and a big swing from Molyneaux to make it 14-13 in favor of the Wolves. The 'Beeters would take the lead 20-18 following a series of errors from the Wolves. The 'Beeters closed with kills from Molyneaux and Schoen and an ace from junior Alexus Seymour to secure the 25-19 set win to claim the match 3-1.

The 'Beeter offensive attack recorded 37 kills in the win with Richman and Molyneaux recording eight kills apiece. Seymour and Molyneaux each served up four aces in the win for the 'Beeters. Molyneaux dug up 16 of the teams 64 digs while Neibauer was responsible for four of the teams 11 blocks. Olsen led the team in assists with 18 of the teams 37.

The 'Beeters will host the Chouteau Bulldogs on Thursday and then travel to Shelby on Saturday to take on the Coyotes.