2021 M-ette Volleyball

The Malta M-ettes Volleyball team is primed and ready to go for the 2021 Volleyball season.

"They are excited that it is more of a regular season this year and they have some high goals," Malta M-ette Head Coach Tasha Hines said.

The team has returned plenty of talent including two of three 2020 All-Conference selections.

The team will be without it's only All-State selection, Erica Smith, who graduated. The team also lost Kylie Hunter and Sidney Meeks to graduation last spring.

Returning to this years team is 2020 first-team selection Justine Lamb, and second-team selection Allison Kunze.

Lamb will see playing time later in the season as she heals from an off-season injury.

Kunze has played middle hitter this season.

"Allie is a special athlete," Coach Hines said. "As a middle blocker, she is just mentally strong. She can have two or three bad passes but it never breaks her."

This year the team has three seniors including Lamb, Kaylee Bishop, and Skylie Lefdahl. The team also has ten juniors that bring back plenty of experience.

"This whole group is just so exciting," Coach Hines said. "They work together so well. They move well, they are quick, and they are mentally tough."

Rounding out the senior class is team manager Jade Darrington.

"She keeps the ball rolling for us," Coach Hines said. "You don't have to ask her twice and its like she can read our minds."

Bishop, an outside hitter, has been a vocal leader for Malta over the past couple of seasons, and according to Coach Hines, that hasn't changed.

"Kaylee has a great, hard, fast swing and she is always communicating with those girls and really trying," Coach Hines said. "Even when you're down and on the struggle-bus, Kaylee is like, 'come one guys, lets push through'."

Coach Hines also noted that Bishop also tries to figure out opponents during games and internally tries to find a way to beat them.

Lefdehl, a middle hitter, has been working hard this off-season, given her new role as starter this season.

"She is exciting," Coach Hines said. "She is fast and she can track (the ball). She reads it pretty well, and she has been working on her quicks and slides, and different hitting techniques."

The junior class has four athletes that have proven to be capable setters this year and last season. Rylee Hines, Lauren Tuss, Bylee French, and Maddie Williamson.

Outside hitters in the junior class include Tia Siewing, Addie Anderson. Allie Kunze plays middle hitter, Kennedy Koss is the team's Libero and Dally Neibur is a defensive specialist.

"They are a strong group," Coach Hines said of the junior class.

Coach Hines said that the M-ettes have been working hard to get their tempo up, which includes shorter sets and quicker approaches.

"It's great because these girls do that on their own," Coach Hines said. "They don't wait for the coaches to tell them to cover spots. They have already communicated and tried to make the adjustments."

The M-ettes looked confident in their home opener last Friday, September 3, as the team defeated the Shelby Coyotes in three sets. The scores were 25-20, 26-24, and 25-22.

The team was led by Kunze who had nine kills and 14 digs. French had six of Malta's 14 aces. Rylee Hines had 13 assists and Skylie Lefdahl had two blocks.

The JV squad also defeated Shelby's JV team in three sets. The scores were 25-13, 25-13, and 15-8.

"Those JV girls are playing their hearts out tonight and it is fun to watch," Coach Hines said during the game.