VB pumped for tourney
The last thing Charlo High's volleyball team wants is a repeat performance from last season's District 10-C tournament. That was when Charlo easily won the regular season district title, but inexplicably fell twice at home in successive matches to get ousted from the district tourney.
iWe should have won the district tournament last year and we lost two in a row at home,i Charlo coach Christy Fryberger said. iSo we're looking forward to this weekend's district tournament. We've got a good group and we've been working on some new hitting transitions during practice. But the main thing is to keep focused and conditioning.i
Charlo disposed of Hot Springs and Noxon last week to round out district play at 7-1. But Charlo didn't reveal its entire hand during an easy three-game win over Noxon last Friday on the road. After all, Charlo will likely face the same Noxon team during its district tourney opener Friday night at the same location.
iWe didn't want to show Noxon everything because they'll probably be our first tournament opponent,i Fryberger said slyly,
Charlo heads into the district tourney with a 12-3 overall record. The team's only district loss came at the hands of St. Regis. The top two teams form the double elimination district tourney advance to divisionals the following week.
Charlo would have to win its first two matches at the district affair to secure at least a top-two finish. Fryberger is expecting a big effort from this year's team, which is comprised largely of younger athletes. Charlo graduated three key seniors from last year's team and consist of five sophomores and three juniors this season.
A 25-13, 25-15, 25-12 win over Hot Springs Oct. 26 secured Charlo's district championship. In that match, Charlo got a big hitting night from Hayley Carr en route to the win. Carr slammed a match-high 11 kills for a solid front row effort.
Charlo also capitalized on a strong serving night to dismantle Hot Springs. Jessie Bucholz led the way by recording 10 of Charlo's 33 service aces.
Bucholz also displayed a fine effort at the net with a team-best four solo blocks.