Tournament throws challenge at Charlo

PHLLIPSBURG — Charlo volleyball’s team motto is “hard work, trust, respect and discipline” and head coach Sheryl Kain wants to see a little more of that from her team after the Phillipsburg tournament last Saturday.

“Those are four things they really need to start understanding,” Kain said.

Before the tournament, Charlo (4-0 overall, 2-0 conference) beat Noxon on Thursday 3-0 with 25-18, 25-18, 25-6 wins with sophomore Rachel Hoyt leading the way with 10 kills and junior Kinley Pope backing things up with 12 digs. Pope also had eight kills. However, things would get a little tougher for the Lady Vikings.

The Phillipsburg tournament had a low match point count at 12, meaning that slow starts generally derailed teams during the morning games.

On Saturday, Charlo split with Sheridan 10-12, 12-5, lost to Gardner 12-3, 12-7 and then beat Victor in two matches, 12-2, 12-5.

“It takes us more than 12 points to get our game going,” Kain said. “You don’t get to wait and make an awesome comeback.

In the afternoon for knockout play, the game point count would go up to 15 and Charlo had a bye in the first round. Then they defeated Seeley in three games, 15-17, 16-14, 15-12. Then they fell to Drummond in two games, 15-9, 15-9.

Charlo defeated Drummond 3-1 earlier on Aug. 31, but couldn’t overcome the lower point count against a very good volleyball team.

“They play a lot during the summer,” Kain said. “You don’t get third at state without playing together.”

Kain felt that while the low game point count was a change, her team needed to adjust.

“My girls need to be ready right off the bat,” Kain said. “They need to be ready to go.”

Hoyt led all Lady Vikings in kills with 24 for the tournament. Junior Dawn Blevins was a force around the net with nine blocks.

The team as a whole had 62 digs, 23 blocks and 12 aces in the tournament. 

Charlo will face Two Eagle in a conference matchup at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at home. Then they’ll travel on Friday to Phillipsburg.