M-ette Volleyball 2017

The Malta M-ettes Volleyball team made it to the Northern B divisional last season, only to see their hopes of making it to state end in an elimination game against the Cut Bank Wolves in Shelby.

This season, the team has returned both of their all-conference athletes as well as plenty of talents that helped them get out of the 2B District Tourney last year. The team graduated a few seniors last season, including Raleigh Hunter, who was the team's Libero, defensive specialist Chanel Lett, right-side hitter Rheanna Messerly and middle hitter Julia Meisdalen.

"This year's group of kids are different in the fact that we don't have a lot of height but these girls have a ton of hustle and a natural ability to read the ball," M-ette Co-Coach Tasha Hines told the PCN.

The team retained their top hitter, Ella Schye, a senior who was named to first team All Conference team last season. She is the tallest on the roster at 5-foot-11 and will start as the team's middle hitter.

"She has played middle for the last two years and she is a presence on the court on and off," Coach Hines said.

Coach Hines went on to say that she has seen a lot of growth in Schye over the summer as the team went to compete in Bozeman.

"It was really fun to get some outside perspective," Coach Hines said.

The team also retained their setter, senior Samantha Mitchell, who is a four-year starter for the M-ettes.

"The girl has got hustle," Coach Hines said.

Mitchell was more than a setter last season.

"She's great on defense and she is a key part of the team."

The team's third and final senior is Macy Knudsen, who will be a right side hitter.

"She has seen a lot of growth during the summer," Coach Hines said.

The senior class has displayed leadership traits in the off-season and first two weeks of practice.

"The three seniors that we have, Ella, Macy and Sam are good leaders and the girls look up to them," Coach Hines said. "It's really set the precedent for the year."

Schye, Knudsen and Mitchell will each be named team captain for the Malta Invitational but then the team will collectively vote for two team captains for the remainder of the year.

The team will also retain a strong junior class that has provided young starters for the team in the previous two seasons.

Janessa Malmend will likely see time as a middle hitter, while Raina Mortenson and Kyleigh Schipman will play on the outside.

Kloie Marks also saw more time last season in her sophomore season and will provide the team with more depth and experience. Wylee Young and Kaylanna Bain will also see minutes on varsity.

Coach Hines coached the junior class during their nearly undefeated season in eighth grade and it's only a matter of time before the class' competitiveness shows up in a varsity game.

Though the athletes are classified by their positions, Coaches Hines and Kalli Reintjes hope that the team can learn to play all positions, an approach that they came up with during the team's summer events.

"Every girl should know every position on the floor," Coach Hines said. "A strong team does that."

Instead of relying solely on the Libero or defensive specialist, the team will be focusing on getting the whole team involved.

"We changed our serve receive a little bit," Coach Hines said. "Just working on our angles and covering each other on the floor."

The results of having every one field hits and serves will be evaluated.

"We did our defense a little bit and these first two tournaments will tell us if it was a good change or if we need to adjust from there," Coach Hines said.

The team will have a Libero and that title belongs to sophomore Kelbee Denham.

According to Coach Hines the team is eager to play anywhere this season, and their season will start with a pair of tournaments, the first was in Malta last weekend and the second will be in Chinook this weekend on Saturday, September 2.

The team's senior night will be their last game of the regular season against Harlem in Malta on Thursday, October 19.