M-ette Volleyball: Malta rules District tourney; Looks to earn berth into state

The Malta M-ettes proved in last weekend's district 2B tourney in Plentywood, that they were the cream of the crop, taking first after defeating Plentywood, not once, but twice.

The championship game was won in five, with scores of 25-16, 25-17, 13-25, 20-25 and 15-3.

Darby Schye led the team with 12 out of 41 team kills. Schye also had the lead in aces, with four of 11 total.

Markelle Lett also had a game to remember picking up 22 digs of 89 total. Lett had 14 assists of 48.

Malta owned the net blocking 10 kill attempts, while Plentywood only blocked one. Adrianna "Abba" Bibeau led the team with four blocks.

Lindsay Wangerin led Plentywood, with 11 kills out of 41. She also recorded the team's only block.

Dakota Simonson and Victoria Obergfell recorded 11 assists a piece for the Wildcats, who as a team had 35 total.

Clara Jensen led the team in aces, with two out of four.

Lizzy Gomez had 24 digs out of the team's 95.

Though Coach Julia Tatafu would rather Malta finish the game in three, she admitted the team let the Lady Wildcats hang around. Ultimately she was pleased with the results.

"It was fun. It was a 15-3 ending and we couldn't have asked for a better ending," Coach Tatafu said.

Malta also defeated Plentywood in the Semifinal round on Friday in four games. Those scores were 25-23, 25-23, 22-25 and 25-23.

Larimie Scheffelmear led Malta with 14 kills out of 46 in the game. She also tied Lett for the lead in digs. Both had 14 a piece. The team had 64 total.

Lett had seven aces of the team's 19. She also had 21 assists, of the team's 39.

The win against Plentywood means Malta may end the series between the two on top.

This is Plentywood's last season in Class B volleyball, and they will join Class C next year.

In the opening round of the tournament, Malta defeated Wolf Point in four rounds (24-26, 25-14, 25-17 and 25-17.)

Schye led the team with 10 kills. The team had 39 total.

Scheffelmear had three of five team blocks, though Wolf Point had the advantage with 12 as a team.

Scheffelmear also had 16 digs of 73 total.

The team had 11 aces, and the lead was split between Kelsey Kuehn, Lett, Bibeau, and Kaitlyn Smith, who each had two.

Lett led in assists, with 18 of 36.

In order for Malta to earn a place in the State Tournament, the team will have to place first or second at the Class B Northern Divisional Tournament in Choteau.

The tournament consists of four 1B teams (Cut Bank, Fairfield, Shelby and Choteau) and four 2B teams (Malta, Plentywood, Wolf Point and Glasgow.)

The matches start tomorrow at 10 a.m.

Malta's first game will take place at 2:30 p.m.

The M-ettes will have the task of trying to slow down 5'11" outside hitter, Lizzy Klinker, who has been stellar in her senior year. Klinker had seven blocks in the team's victory against Conrad last weekend at the 1B District tourney. She has also been a great attacker, leading the team in kills in multiple games.

"To stop (Klinker from blocking), I think our front line will have to adjust their hits and hit around her," Kayla Howard told the PCN.

The team's Libero Kourtney Simonson will be on the receiving end of a lot of serves and kills this week.

"I just have to have the mind set that it's coming to me every time, so I'm ready and hopefully I'll be in the right position when they hit my way," Simonson said, when asked about how she plans to defend this weekend.

Brooke Poor displayed skills behind the line, leading the team in aces in several games last weekend.

The team is also packed with many setters, who will look to knock Malta off rhythm.

Even though Malta advanced to divisional play last year, the team hasn't been number one since the 1991-1992 season.

"It feels really good (to be number one in the district)," Simonson said. "I'm really proud of my team and how we did and that we pulled out the win."

This year also marks the first time that Julia Tatafu has led her team to divisionals in the number one spot.

"It's a great feeling because that was a goal and the girls are doing a great job of accomplishing those goals," M-ette Head Coach Julia Tatafu told the PCN. "One was conference champs and now it's district champs and hopefully we continue to work our way to state."