M-ettes welcome nine freshmen

Last Monday, August 17 marked the beginning of practices for the Malta M-ettes volleyball team and with the new year, comes new players. The M-ettes welcomed nine new freshmen to the team, including good friends Raina Mortenson, who played for Malta's junior high team last year and newcomer Libby Rush, who went to Twin Spruce Junior High School in Wyoming.

Mortenson, who was a part of a Malta's junior high team that went undefeated in regular season play, has already noticed a few differences in practicing with the high school M-ettes.

"We probably run a lot more to get in shape," Mortenson said. "I think it's more fun playing with more people."

Mortenson played setter in junior high and was an outside hitter when she was healthy. She sustained a sprained ankle last year after practicing a back bend.

"I was out for weeks," Mortenson said.

She found out around a week ago that she had not only made the team, but she will be playing on Malta's Junior Varsity and C-squad.

Mortenson will be a setter on both teams. Speaking from experience, she shared what it takes to play the role.

"You need soft fingers," Mortenson said. "Being setter is like being the quarterback on the football team. You always get the ball. And always run to get second hit."

She also acknowledged that the setter is a more vocal role, something the more reserved young lady can improve on.

"You have to be a loud mouth, which I'm working on," Mortenson said. "You need to practice on it all the time and set from your forehead not your nose. You are also positive and have to ask for help when you need it."

Rush is a new addition to Malta, though the transfer student from Gillette, WY isn't a complete stranger. Her paternal grandparents are Dennis and Margo Rush. Her maternal grandparents are Joe and Marion Peigneux.

"I came here to help my grandparents and I figured if I came here it would be different. I just always wanted to be here," Rush said. "I love it here."

She has also noticed differences between playing in junior high in Wyoming to being a high school player in Malta.

"The hitting is definitely more intense," Rush said. "Everything is more intense. Other than everything being so much harder than it was in junior high, it's all fun."

Not lacking any height, being 5'10" Rush will play middle hitter for Malta, a position she has played in the past for the Twin Spruce Warriors, who won quite a few games last year.

"You have to be fast," Rush said about the position. "Obviously you have to be taller for that spot because you have to move from one side of the court to the other side of the court."

She has made quite a few friends, since moving to Phillips County and has even become closer to old friends like Mortenson, who she met in the beginning of the summer.

"I loved going to the lake (Nelson Reservoir), the pool and the canal," Rush said. "Everyone's warned me (about the canal), but nothing's happened yet."

Other than swimming, Rush also has embraced the local fishing.

"We fish a lot," Rush said. "My dad loves to fish. We definitely go tubing too."

The biggest fish she's ever caught in Nelson was a nine pound walleye about three years ago.

She was a little bummed to miss the 100th annual fair, due to a wedding obligation she had, however she is looking forward to all that Phillips County has to offer.

"I wish I would've made it," Rush said. "But this next fair coming up, I'm definitely going to that one."