M-ettes struggle at Chinook Invite but show plenty of potential

The M-ettes had a bittersweet weekend in Chinook, where the Sugarbeeters hosted the Chinook Invitational. Malta won three of seven outings during the event, however the team has shown improvement and many of the players are in high spirits.

"I think we're improving," M-ette Head Coach Julia Tatafu told the PCN. Sometimes we just take a couple of steps back, where we come out a little cold in games but there are a lot more bright moments and that's all that I can ask for; that we continue to improve."

In their first pool play outing against Chinook, Malta lost 30-20.

Malta attempted 28 kills and was led by Mary Kalal, who had four kills. Kalal also tied with Adrianna "Abba" Bibeau for team lead in aces during the set. Both had one ace. Sam Mitchell had three kills and three digs. Ella Schye had the team's lone block.

"I thought we covered extremely well," M-ette outside hitter Riley Mortenson said. "There were some good hits that we hadn't adjusted to but we only had four missed serves and last time we had doubled that amount."

Mortenson also knows that there are a few other things the team needs to work on.

"We need to get to our blocking positions faster," she said. "When it's an outside or a back hit, we need to make sure that we turn our hands properly so they aren't bouncing off and going out of bounds."

The M-ettes picked up a 30-26 victory over the Highwood Lady Royals in their next pool play game.

Malta registered four kills on 20 attempts. Shay Garfield led the team with four aces and had a team leading tie in digs with Hailey Olson. Both players had two apiece. Garfield also had the team's lone block.

If there was a player of the game, it likely would've been Garfield who served the ball with confidence and poise at a time where the M-ettes needed a point swing.

"I spot serve," said Garfield who had a team leading 11 serves. "Coach T picks a spot for me to serve and I just try to serve their every time."

Garfield noted that the team's communication was the key to their victory.

"We were really loud," Garfield said. "We were talking to each other. We were really excited. When we're excited it helps bring our team up."

At one point the team was so ecstatic, that when it looked like the team had a sure kill, they celebrated early and nearly got