Scarlets build for the future after finishing season
ARLEE SCARLETS volleyball players Eden Morin and libero Emily Fiddler attempts to dig a Gardiner players attack. (photo courtesy of Neil Patrick Healy, Livingston Enterprise)
ARLEE SCARLET Eden Morin digs a Gardiner attack during the Western Class C Divisional Tournament Friday at Manhattan Christian High School. (photo courtesy of Neil Patrick Healy, Livingston Enterprise)
The Arlee Scarlets volleyball team came into the Western C volleyball divisional tournament with a lot of momentum they gained from capturing the Class 14-C Western District title last week in Charlo.
The Lady Scarlets hoped to maintain its momentum after getting crucial victories against Plains and Charlo in the District Tournament.
Arlee was able to carry its momentum into the first round of the Divisional tournament when they defeated Clark Fork 25-23, 21-25, 25-16, 25-14 in the first round.
After the Scarlets defeated Clark Fork for the second consecutive time this season, they advanced to play the No. 1 seeded Gardiner Lady Bruins. Last season the Lady Bruins were so efficient in their ability to play volleyball they didn’t lose a single game in 2016.
This season Gardiner, as expected, was just as formidable as previous teams. Arlee struggled against the powerhouse and lost in three consecutive games 25-14, 25-14, 25-12.
Scarlets head coach Lonnie Morin said she felt her team continues to build on its tradition in what was their third consecutive trip to Divisionals Thursday through Saturday at Manhattan Christian High School.
The Scarlets entered the loser’s bracket against Manhattan Christian and played a close contest. The Scarlets came within two points closely-contested first game 25-23 but couldn’t sustain momentum in the second and third game. Arlee lost the second and third match 20-25 and 25-19.
Despite being swept in the final two games of the season, Morin said she felt her team is building on their postseason experience.
“(Qualifying to our third straight divisional tournament) is a huge plus for us, because the older girls are coming into it with some experience playing at that level,” Morin said. “ If we continue to play together and for each other, we will advance to state.”
Morin said she felt her team displayed a lot of chemistry all season and responded to challenges all season long.
“They are really responding well to the team concept this year, and it has carried them far and made this year one of the funnest years I have coached here in Arlee,” Morin said.
The Lady Scarlets will now prepare for the 2018 season as they continue to build on the success of their three-consecutive Divisional appearances.
The following is the final scores of the Western C volleyball tournament Friday and Saturday at Manhattan Christian High School:
Western C divisional
At Churchill
Thursday
Gardiner def. Twin Bridges 18-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-18
Arlee def. Clark Fork 25-23, 21-25, 25-16, 25-14
Plains def. Seeley-Swan 25-11, 25-12, 25-13
Ennis def. Manhattan Christian 25-14, 25-12, 25-12
Gardiner def. Arlee 25-14, 25-14, 25-12
Ennis def. Plains 25-23, 25-16, 25-23
Friday
Twin Bridges def. Clark Fork, loser out, 25-18, 20-25, 25-19, 25-20
Manhattan Christian def. Seeley-Swan, loser out, 25-17, 25-22, 25-15
Plains def. Twin Bridges, loser out, 26-28, 25-19, 18-25, 25-16, 15-10
Manhattan Christian def. Arlee, loser out, 25-23, 25-20, 25-19
Ennis def. Gardiner,
The following volleyball scores are from the Western C Divisional volleyball tournament Thursday-Saturday at Manhattan Christian. This was the third-consecutive season Arlee qualified for Divisionals.
Arlee def. Clark Fork 3-1
Arlee def. Superior, 25-23, 21-25, 25-16, 25-14
Arlee: Kills 34 (Ashley Revis 15), Digs 80 (Mikayla Rieken 25), Assists: 27 (Sydney Rogers 20), Blocks 5 (Revis 4), Aces 7 (Nellie Desjarlais 2).
Superior: Kills 20 (Kenzie Mueller 7), Digs 47 (Madison Mask), 17, Assists 18 (Mask 17), Blocks 1 (Margaret Parkin), Aces 3 (Parkin 2).
Arlee: Kills 17 (Ashley Revis 8). Blocks 5 (Revis 5). Digs 68 (Eden Morin 13, Tomi Brazill 13, Mikayla Rieken 13. Assists 22 (Sydney Rogers 13). Aces 5 (Nellie Desjarlais 3).
Manhattan Christian: Kills 33 (Kellie Van Kirk 15). Blocks 8 (Kelsey Heidema 4). Digs 48 (Lexie Kassity 15). Assists 30 (Hailey Kassity 17). Aces 3 (Kellie Van Kirk 2).
Gardiner def. Arlee 3-0
Gardiner def. Arlee, 25-14, 25-14, 25-12
Gardiner: Kills 25 (Abby Dean 7), Digs 65 (Sage Cowley 17), Assists 19 (Cowley 14), Blocks 1 (Christi Webster), Aces 6 (Chloe Chase 3).
Arlee: Kills 21 (Ashley Revis 8), Digs 62 (Edin Morin 22), Assists 18 (Sydney Rogers 11), Blocks 2 (Noelle West, Ashley Revis), Aces 4 (Mikayla Rieken 2).