Charlo volleyball keeps 11-0 season

ARLEE — Last week, the Charlo volleyball team found its second sets to be challenging.

However, the Vikings came away with victories to keep their record a perfect 11-0 so far this season.

They beat Arlee 25-21, 10-25, 25-21, 25-17 last Thursday and Noxon 25-17, 21-25, 25-21, 25-17 last Saturday.

Against Arlee, Charlo came out ready to roll but found the Scarlets moving their feet. Charlo took the set but fell apart in the next set, senior outside hitter Stephanie Maughan said.

“In the others, we came together and played good, not our best,” she said. “We wanted to give this game our all.”

The Vikings righted themselves and won the third set before a dramatic fourth set.

With the score tied at 11, senior middle hitter Becky Jo Dumont put up two huge blocks for the Vikings. Charlo rallied to a 21-16 score when Dumont tipped the ball over the net to make it game point for the Vikings. Dumont ended the night with 10 kills.

Communication is what helped Charlo turn themselves around after the second set, Maughan said.

“We started to talk more, so we were in our right spots,” she said. “We could pass the ball and we were getting their tips up. That was really good.”

Maughan had 30 digs and senior outside hitter Alex Esterby had six aces.

Head coach Sheryl Kain was baffled at her team’s second set.

“We did come back, though, and that’s the thing,” Kain said. “It gets really ugly and then we played well. Hopefully, we don’t do this against Noxon.”

Kain might have jinxed it. 

The Vikings won the first set before losing a close second set and Kain isn’t sure why.

“We dig down, get in a hole and really suck,” Kain said. “Then all of a sudden we play really awesome. There’s no rhyme or reason.”

The Vikings regrouped and were more focused and scrappy, Kain said.

Esterby had eight kills, four blocks and five aces. Sophomore outside hitter Kinley Pope led the Vikings with 27 digs in the Viking’s victory.

The Vikings played St. Regis on Tuesday and Hot Springs on Wednesday. Both scores were unavailable at press time.

Charlo will host Mission next Thursday for senior night.