2019 Mavericks Volleyball

A few years ago Saco, Whitewater, and Hinsdale aligned to become a co-operative named the North Country Mavericks, this year the Mavericks and the other 3C teams have merged with the 1C District.

This year's 1C group will consist of Bainville, Brockton, Culbertson, Froid-Medicine Lake, Lustre Christian, Lambert-Richey, Mon-Dak (Westby and Grenora), Nashua-Opheim, North Country (Hinsdale, Saco, Whitewater), Plentywood, Savage, and Scobey.

Given that there are only 16 regular-season games scheduled, each team in the new 1C Conference will play each other one time this season and North Country will go on to play Class B Teams in the area including Malta, Poplar, and Harlem.

"I think when you only play a team once and then run into them again at the district tournament, for me it brings anxiety," Lady Mavericks Head Coach Charlene Wasson said.

She went on to say that each game represents a tournament-like atmosphere because they only see Class C teams once.

"It's better because the kids will see different people and they will always have to be prepared to play because with one shot to play a team, you don't get a second time to get back at them," Coach Wasson said.

Five teams will move on from the 1C District Tournament to play in the Eastern C Divisional Tournament this year.

North Country has a total of 15 athletes, which includes a freshmen class of six.

"It's nice because it gives us a lot to work with and the level that they are coming in at is really good," Coach Wasson said.

The team also retains a lot of their talents from last season, having lost only two to graduation. Last year's team went 1-2 at divisionals, suffering a season-ending loss to Wibaux.

Returning to the team is junior hitter Kaitlyn McColly, who was the team's lone All-Conference athlete last year. Also returning are Elise Strommen, Danika Soper, Kia Wasson, Haile Beil, Jaydyn Erickson, Zandora Longtree, Jaycee Erickson, and Montaya Idler.

Returning starters include Wasson, McColly, Soper, Elise, and Jaycee. Jadyn also played a lot of varsity minutes and saw starting time.

"I feel like we are returning six pretty seasoned positions," Coach Wasson said. "It's kind of nice because we are already ten times ahead of where we were last year because we know that much more and our skill level is better."

The incoming freshman class consists of Kora LaBrie, Cienna Strommen, Codi Donniaquo, Isabella Gehrke, Mattea McColly, and RyLee Mix.

The team will run two setters this season because Coach Wasson believes that each of her athletes are capable hitters including the team's setters.

"Right now we are extremely blessed to have good hitters and kids that can really dig the ball up," Coach Wasson said. "Our underclassmen are testing us every day in practice. That's hard when you don't have that. They are taking some big hits and nasty serves. They don't flinch and I think we are gritty."

According to Coach Wasson, the team that North Country is most excited about playing is Plentywood, due to the fact that the Wildcats handed them a brutal loss in basketball last season.

"We have a bit of a bad taste in our mouths from basketball," Coach Wasson said. "We feel like if you can beat Plentywood that says something."

North Country split games against Plentywood at the Malta Invitational last Saturday, going 1-1. Plentywood scored more points after all and went to the championship games.

2019 Lady Mavs Volleyball

Game Schedule

DATE DAY Opponent Time SITE

Aug. 16 Friday First Practice 7 p.m. TBA

Aug. 31 Saturday Malta Invitational 9 a.m. Malta

Sep. 5 Thursday Scobey TBA Scobey

Sep. 6 Friday MonDak 5 p.m. Saco

Sep. 10 Tuesday Malta 5 p.m. Malta

Sep. 13 Friday Bainville 5 p.m. Saco

Sep. 14 Saturday Wolf Point 5 p.m. Hinsdale

Sep. 20 Friday Plentywood 5 p.m. Saco

Sep. 21 Saturday Savage TBA Savage

Sep. 24 Tuesday Harlem 5 p.m. Harlem

Sep. 28 Saturday Culbertson 5 p.m. Hinsdale

Oct. 1 Tuesday Malta 5 p.m. Whitewater

Oct. 4 Friday Richey-Lambert TBA Away

Oct. 5 Saturday Plentywood Invitational Plentywood

Oct. 10 Thursday Froid-Lake TBA Away

Oct. 15 Tuesday Nashua-Opheim 4:30 p.m. Nashua

Oct. 24 Thursday Harlem 5 p.m. Whitewater

Oct. 25 Friday Lustre TBA Whitewater

Oct. 26 Saturday Fairview 5:30 p.m. Fairview

Oct. 31- Nov. 2 District Tournament TBA Plentywood

Nov. 7-9 Divisional Tourney TBA Sidney

Nov. 14-16 Class C State Tournament TBA Bozeman