M-ettes 22 deep; have five new starters

The M-ettes enjoyed plenty of success last season, going the furthest the team has been in over twenty years, placing third in the Northern B Divisional last November. Their record was 15-6 overall, which will be a tough act to follow.

"We were so close to making it to state, but we couldn't finish," M-ette Head Coach Julia Tatafu told the PCN.

This season, if the M-ettes do find themselves in third place at divisionals, they will punch their ticket to state in Bozeman.

This year's version is a bit younger and has less experience after the team graduated eight seniors last season and lost starter Kaitlyn Smith to a knee injury this summer.

There is hope for the M-ettes as most of the incoming freshmen were part of a junior high team that only lost one game last season.

"They're excited about volleyball," Coach Julia Tatafu said. "They're athletic and they're a big class."

Many of those players are already placed on the junior varsity team and can see time on varsity this season and next season.

The team has one lone starter returning, senior Adrianna Bibeau, who impressed as a strong hitter last season. She leads a class of four seniors, which includes libero Hailey Olson, hitter Riley Mortenson, and Mary Kalal, who was also a strong hitter in junior varsity last season.

"Adrianna is a major hitter on my team," Coach Tatafu said. "Not only is she going to be a threat offensively to the other teams that we play but she is also a captain."

Bibeau has been playing on the varsity team since her sophomore year.

"Not only does she hit hard but she serves hard too," Coach Tatafu said.

Kalal has had a strong summer and has drastically improved her game that was very strong last season. Kalal was selected as the second team captain.

"She had some problems with her knee last year, so it prevented her from getting a lot of playing time on the varsity team," Coach Tatafu said. "She's worked hard this summer and went to camps. She's also going to be our right side hitter. Not only can she hit and serve hard, she can put up a big block."

Not lacking in height this season, Malta will look to attack the net and block anything opposing teams put over the net. Kalal will be a big part of their blocking defense.

Sam Mitchell made the varsity team last fall as a freshman, this year she will get the opportunity to start.

"She got a little bit of playing time last year," Coach Tatafu said. "Because I lost my setter (Markelle Lett to graduation), her and Raleigh Hunter (junior) will be my setters along with Kyleigh Schipman (freshman)."

Coach Tatafu spoke high of all of her varsity players including Mortenson, Ella Schye, Chanel Lett and Shay Garfield but she named junior Julia Meisdalen as the most improved player this season.

"Her reach is incredible," she said. "She can reach to nine foot. I'm excited to have her up at the net as a right side hitter."

The team currently has 11 varsity players listed. But the list isn't concrete and though she has two more spots left, the list will never be concrete, allowing players to move up.

"These rosters are never set," Coach Tatafu said. "Hopefully, when these girls are playing, they're improving throughout the season. If that is the case, they have an opportunity to move up, after discussions among the coaches."

The team saying this season is we have H.E.A.R.T., the acronym stands for Honesty, Effort, Attitude, Respect and Teamwork.

"That's a huge part of playing volleyball," Coach Tatafu said. "You've really got to love the game because if you're not in it, it can be a long season. I definitely feel like our volleyball players have big hearts."