'Beeters Season Ends with Losses to Shelby, Choteau at District 1B
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The Chinook Sugarbeeters headed to Fairfield this past weekend for the District 1B Tournament. The ‘Beeters entered the tournament as the No. 5 seed and opened up play against the No. 4 seed Shelby Coyotes on Thursday afternoon. The Sugarbeeters defeated the Coyotes in five sets at home in September, while Shelby took the second meeting in front of their fans 3-0.
In set number one, junior Rilee Molyneaux slammed home a kill to give Chinook an early 7-5 lead. Junior Hannah Schoen evened the score at 9-9 with a kill of her own. The teams tested each other with every serve. Senior Hallie Neibauer scored a kill to cut the Shelby lead to 13-11 and then crushed a free ball, making the score 13-12.
Junior Ashlyn Jensen and senior Teagan Richman each slammed home kills to keep Chinook within one, 16-15. Trailing 23-21, Beeter Head Coach, Paula Molyneaux called a timeout. Neibauer slammed home another kill but the Coyotes took the first set 25-22.
Set number two was another battle between two evenly matched teams. Neibauer found the back left corner on back to back kills to give Chinook an early 4-3 lead. The Coyotes maintained a two point advantage for much of the second set with kills from senior Jenna Liddle, Neibauer, Richman and Jensen keeping the ‘Beeters close. Shelby pulled away late to win the second set 25-18.
In set number three, the ‘Beeters trailed 6-2 early but fought their way back slowly but surely. Schoen scored to make it 7-3. Molyneaux found a hole moments later to keep Chinook close at 10-6. Another kill from Molyneaux made the score 17-15 in favor of the Coyotes. Liddle evened the set at 19-19 with a big swing of her own.
Neibauer took over the rest of the way. The senior slammed home a kill to put Chinook up 22-20, followed with a huge block at the net and closed out the set with back to back kills, giving Chinook a 25-21 third set win.
The ‘Beeters took a 4-2 lead in set number four on an ace from junior Addison Olsen. Molyneaux scored a cross court kill moments later to give Chinook a 6-5 advantage. The Coyotes went on a small run to take a 12-10 lead, leading to a ‘Beeter timeout. The ‘Beeters continued to fight, getting an ace from Neibauer and kills from Jensen and Molyneaux, but it was the Coyotes that would take the fourth set 25-20 and the match 3-1.
Neibauer led the ‘Beeter attack, slamming home 21 kills on the afternoon. Molyneaux served up a trio of aces while also digging up 13 balls for the ‘Beeter defense. Schoen led the way with five blocks for the ‘Beeters. Senior Mya Berreth and Olsen each set the hitters up with 20 assists.
The loss sent the ‘Beeters to a loser out contest with the Choteau Bulldogs on Friday afternoon. Choteau won both regular season matches with the sets being very competitive.
In set number one, the Bulldogs jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead before a kill from Richman got the ‘Beeters on the board. The ‘Beeters evened the score at 9-9 following a kill from Molyneaux. Berreth extended the ‘Beeter lead to 12-10 with a well-placed serve. A kill from Richman and a block from Neibauer kept the lead at two, 17-15. The ‘Beeters maintained the slim advantage, getting kills from Richman and Neibauer to lead 23-21. Jensen won the set with a big swing, giving the set to Chinook 25-21.
Set number two was nothing like the opening set. Choteau jumped out to a big early lead and the ‘Beeters could never get their offense going. The Bulldogs didn’t look back and evened the match at a set apiece with a 25-13 win.
Set number three was a barn burner with both teams playing good volleyball. Kills from Neibauer and Richman and a block from Neibauer put Chinook up early 5-3. The teams traded serves for a stretch leading to a Jensen block that cut the Bulldog lead to 11-10.
Choteau jumped to a 23-14 lead when Neibauer sent one down the line and Richman added a kill of her own. The ‘Beeters trailed 24-16 when junior Alexus Seymour came to the serving line. Seymour served up an ace and Neibauer recorded a pair of blocks at the net. Seymour served another ace and Neibauer sent home a big kill to even the set at 24-24. The Bulldogs regained the lead and won the third set 28-26.
Set number four saw the ‘Beeters get off to a slow start and trail 11-6, leading to a timeout. Jensen slammed home a kill, Berreth served an ace and Molyneaux sent one down to cut the Bulldog lead to 14-11. Back to back kills from Richman brought Chinook within two at 17-15. Molyneaux found a spot in the Bulldog defense and, following a tip from Neibauer, the score was even at 19-19. Choteau responded with a strong finish to win the set 25-21 and the match 3-1, ending the ‘Beeters season.
Leading the way for the ‘Beeters once again was Neibauer with 14 kills and eight blocks. Seymour served up three aces in the match while Molyneaux dug up 15 balls. Berreth recorded 15 assists in the contest.
Following the ‘Beeters season conclusion, Molyneaux stated, “Although our season ended earlier than we wanted, that does not diminish the fact that this was a very successful season that produced many positives including: improvements in all of our players, highly competitive teams at all levels and a lot of fun playing the game of volleyball.”She concluded by saying, “As always, the coaching staff really appreciated our outstanding student/athletes. At the tournament the girls did everything we asked, executed the game plan, and left everything they had on the floor. It just wasn’t our day. I am proud of their efforts and more importantly, of the awesome young people that they are becoming.”
