Malta Volleyball Invitational

The Malta M-ettes hosted the 2021 Malta Invitational Volleyball Tournament last Saturday, August 28, at the Malta High School Gymnasium.

The event featured six teams; the M-ettes, Plentywood Wildcats, North Country Mavericks, Harlem Wildcats, Poplar Indians, and Circle Wildcats.

Plentywood defeated Malta in the Malta Invitational's championship game, the scores were 25-16 and 25-16. Circle placed third by defeating North Country 25-21, 25-24 in the third-place match. Harlem was fifth after defeating Poplar in the consolation finals; the scores were 25-9 and 25-10.

One day prior to the event, Malta held their first Blue and White Scrimmage, prior to the Mustangs holding their event on Friday, August 27.

The PCN caught up with junior hitter Allie Kunze and junior Libero Kennedy Koss during pool play of the tourney to talk about their weekend.

During the scrimmage, Kunze played on the blue team and Koss played on the white team. Blue, led by assistant coach Kalli Rummel, won the event over the white team, which was led by head coach Tasha Hines. Teams were selected randomly by the coaches.

"We had fun," Kunze said. "We had a few rules. It was so much fun. I thought it was a good experience to get us all together."

Koss suited up as Libero for the varsity team for her first time this weekend. She shared what it is like being the defensive anchor for the team.

"This is my first time playing varsity, so I was a little bit nervous, but it was fun," Koss said. "It has been a little slow but fun."

The team earned a first-round bye due to their finish in pool play. Koss was recognized by the coaches as a key part to their success that day. Koss was asked what made her so successful early in the event.

"I was just reading the hitters," Koss said.

Koss said that to continue playing well, teamwork and positivity would be needed that day.

After earning a first-round bye, the M-ettes defeated the Mavericks in the semi-finals 25-12. The Mavericks reached the semi-finals by defeating Harlem in the opening round 25-12 and 24-24.

In North Country's third-place game, Coach Charlene Wasson said that her team was competitive, but serving errors proved to be costly.

"Our passes were getting a little out there," Coach Wasson said.

The Mavericks were one of the smaller varsity teams that day, only fielding a total of seven athletes. Prior to the tournament, the Mavericks defeated Poplar, but lost to Plentywood.

Coach Wasson was asked how she felt her team did in their first action of the season.

"I was happy with our play and I think that it is a good starting point for us," Coach Wasson said. "We have to improve on a few things."

She also said that she was pleasantly surprised how serve-receive went throughout the tournament, because of how much younger the team is this season without graduated seniors Kia Wasson and Kaitlyn McColly who were both All-State selections in 2020.

"These girls surprised me in that aspect," Coach Wasson said. "Any little ball that went sideways or funky, it seemed like we got our hands on it. It might not have gone over, but we touched the ball."

The Malta M-ettes will take on the Shelby Coyotes in Malta on Friday, September 3. The game is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. The M-ettes will then travel to Chinook on Saturday, September 4, to play in the Chinook Invitational.

The Lady Mavericks are scheduled to face Richey-Lambert at Richey on Thursday, September 2, at 5 p.m.