Charlo battles back from the brink, punches ticket to state

At Churchill for the Western C Divisional hosted by Manhattan Christian, the Charlo Lady Vikings would be tripped up in the opening round, regrouped, then reeled off four straight to extend their season another week.

In their first round matchup, Charlo would face 11C runnerup Gardiner. The Bruin and Viking volleballers were not completely unfamiliar opponents as they had faced each other not only in the winners bracket championship of the Granite Volleyball Tip-Off at the start of the season, but also later on in the quarterfinal of the Manhattan Christian Invitational back in early October. If they played well, they knew Gardiner was a team they could hang with.

But in an unanticipated three set sweep, none of Charlo’s mid-teen scores would reflect a contest that had been anticipated to be fairly evenly matched. The loss would reroute the Lady Vikings from their aspired trajectory into survival mode of consolation bracket play.

Whatever factors might have detracted from optimal levels of play, the loss seems to have done more than just leave a bitter taste in their mouths. Something ingrained within these Lady Vikings was awakened, that proverbial burr in the saddle or bee in the bonnet that rekindled their competitive fire. It has been evident all season that these Charlo players don’t like to lose. It’s not a case of being a poor sport about losing when you’ve given your best and the team that executed the higher caliber of play prevailed. In this case, they just didn’t care to stomach another bout of deficient effort if they could help it when they knew they were capable of performing better.

The result of such introspection would be that Charlo would reel off four straight wins against stiff postseason competition to secure a berth to the all classification state tournament in Bozeman the following weekend..

Charlo’s first consolation bracket opponent would be the District 13C champion Lady Mountain Cats of the Clark Fork coop between Alberton and Superior. The disparity in scoring can probably be attributed to the Lady Vikings taking out some of their frustration about not having played better in their preceding loss. Clark Fork is a better team than the set scores would reflect. But Charlo was playing at a level in which there was no more “miss nice girl” to go around.

Charlo’s second consolation round opponent would be the District 12C champion Lady Mustangs of Ennis. The Lady Vikings would sweep in three sets, but each would be competitive as Ennis climbed into the 20s each time.

Destiny Manuel would be a defensive diggin dynamo with more than two dozen, while Carlee Fryberger chipped in a baker’s dozen kills and Kira McPhail snuffed a trio of blocks.

Cooling off the Heat

In the loser takes fourth match, Charlo and Hot Springs would engage in a rematch of their earlier District 14C championship. The Lady Savage Heat and the Lady Vikings were quite familiar with one another by this time, so it was little surprise that all three sets extended among high numbers.

But unlike the second match of the District title tilt that extended a full five sets, Charlo was able to finish their Friday finale with a sweep.

Destiny Manuel dug out more than two dozen digs once again, while Bella Hawk stuffed a quartet of blocks. Carlee Fryberger dabbled among double digits for kills, while Connor Fryberger and Kassidi Cox were equally efficient in their practice of dining etiquette as they set the table for others with 20 set assists each. Destiny Manuel, both Frybergers along with Liev Smith contributed double digit digs.

The win would propel the Lady Vikings into the hardware rounds, their chances for extending their postseason still very much alive.

On Saturday in a rematch of their tournament opener, this time for third place, the Lady Vikings brought both barrels to bear against the Lady Bruins of Gardiner. The contest was more reminiscent of their quarterfinal clash back in early October at the Manhattan Christian Invitational when they split their two set match.

The match was even at one apiece after two sets with both teams tallying among the 20s, but the Lady Vikings dug down deep to tap some kind of reserve, for they would overcome their opponent by taking the next two sets. Upon banishing the Bruins in the third place contest, the win not only routed the Lady Vikings into the championship, but also secured a berth to state irregardless of the outcome.

Carlee Fryberger and Liev Smith collaborated on more than two dozen kills. A half dozen who dipped into double digits for defensive digging included Destiny Manuel, both Frybergers, Kassidi Cox, Bella Hawk along with Liev Smith.

To some degree, the championship would pit the fatigued against the fresh. The Lady Vikings would face the Manhattan Christian Eagles, not only on their home court with all the benefits of sleeping in their own beds and eating home cooking, but also freshly rested from their preceding contest the day before.

The amount of physical as well as emotional energy expended to dispatch Gardiner less than an hour prior would be reflected in the first two set shortfall.

The Lady Vikings were able to regroup in the third set, flipping the script by cutting into the deficit. Charlo would battle strong in the fourth set as they tallied among the high teens. But in the end, the Eagles would take flight in the latter going to secure the championship in their favor.

Bella Hawk, Kira McPhail, Leiv Smith and Carlee Fryberger would each spike more than a fistful of kills. Eagle defense was solid on the serve receive end, but Bella Hawk and Connor Fryberger each were able to serve up a sizzling spud that was too hot to handle for hands on the other side of the net. Bella Hawk and McPhail each snuffed multiple blocks. The quartet of Destiny Manuel, Kassidi Cox and both Fryberger sister each excavated out more than twenty defensive digs apiece.

Reflecting upon the tournament, coach Rhondell Volinkaty commented, “we tend to do things the most difficult way possible... But we persevered and I couldn’t have asked these girls for any more than what they gave.”

Among the memorable moments that coach Volinkaty recalled were comments made by the announcer when Charlo was being awarded their second place trophy after the loss in the championship game. As recalled by the coach, the announcer identified Charlo as “a team full of adjectives, but the one that stuck out to him most was tenacious.”

Coach Volinkaty concurred, “I couldn’t agree with him more. This team is one that will not let down even when all odds are stacked against them. They came together as a team and put together some amazing moments on the court.”

Charlo will now take the second seed out of the West and will face Northern top seeded Fort Benton in the late game of the opening rounds of the C segment in Bozeman.

Part of the historicity behind the Viking mascot entails conquering obstacles. Charlo will have their share of opportunities to do just that.

Coach Volinkaty holds onto the hope “that we can make our way to Saturday, whether it be the hard way or not.”

State C bracket

(1E) 1C Plentywood (22-1) Wildcats vs (2N) 7C Belt (20-5) Lady Huskies

(1W) 11C Manhattan Christian (21-1) Eagles vs (2S) 5C Roy-Winifred (21-2) Outlaws

(1S) 4C Bridger (23-1) Lady Scouts vs (2E) 1C Westby-Grenora (16-8) MonDak Thunder

(1N) 7C Fort Benton (18-5) Longhorns vs (2W) 14C Charlo (22-4) Lady Vikings

2019 Western C Divisional

at Churchhill

Thursday-Saturday,

November 7-9

championship

Manhattan Christian def. Charlo 3-1

14C Charlo (22-4), 11C Manhattan Christian (21-1)

Manh Christian def. Charlo 25-13, 25-16, 19-25, 25-19

KILLS – C35 (Bella Hawk 8, Kira McPhail 7, Liev Smith 7, Carlee Fryberger 7), MC51 (Eliana Kuperus 18, Kiersten Van Kirk 18). ACES – C2 (Bella Hawk, Co.Fryberger), MC7 (Hope Kenney 4). ASSISTS – C32 (Connor Fryberger 23, Kassidi Cox 7), MC50 (Taylor DeVries 41). BLOCK – C8 (B.Hawk 4, McPhail 3), MC9 (Kuperus 3.5). DIGS – C116 (Destiny Manuel 25, Kass Cox 22, Car.Fryberger 22, Con.Fryberger 21), MC105 (Maddie Liudahl 30, DeVries 18). (Sa09Nov19gm14div)

variants: 406mtsports (25-17,-17, 18-,-19), venue (25-13, -19, 19-, -19)

third place match

14C Charlo def. Gardiner 3-1

14C Charlo (22-3), 11C Gardiner (16-6)

Charlo def. Gardiner 25-21, 20-25, 25-18, 25-19

KILLS – G30 (Kyndra Long 12), C43 (Carlee Fryberger 14, Liev Smith 11, Kira McPhail 8). ACES – G9 (Josie Thomas 4), C6 (Bella Hawk 2). ASSISTS – G30 (Chase Cunningham 28), C39 (Connor Fryberger 21, Kassidi Cox 16). BLOCKS – G10 (Long 3), C10 (K.McPhail 5, Kass Cox 2, Car.Fryberger 2). DIGS – G115 (Long 26*), C129 (Destiny Manuel 29, Carlee Fryberger 28, Connor Fryberger 24, Kassidi Cox 20, Bella Hawk 13, Liev Smith 11). (Sa09Nov19gm13div)

Asterisk (*) denotes corrected data courtesy of coach that differs from media reporting: Long 3d

fourth place match

Charlo def. Hot Springs 3-0

14C Charlo (21-3), 14C Hot Springs (15-7)

Charlo def. Hot Springs 25-20, 25-19, 25-21

KILLS 24 – HS (Katelyn Christensen 7, McKennzie Cannon 7), C45 (Carlee Fryberger 20, Liev Smith 9, Bella Hawk 9, Kira McPhail 5). ACES – HS4 (Syd Jackson 2), C2 (Ca.Fryberger, Liev Smith). ASSISTS – HS14 (Sydney Jackson 14), C40 (Kassidi Cox 20, Connor Fryberger 20). BLOCKS – HS17 (Katelyn Christensen 7), C5 (B.Hawk 4). DIGS – HS31 (Brianna Gray 12), C109 (Destiny Manuel 25, Con.Fryberger 22, L.Smith 21, Car.Fryberger 14). (Fr08Nov19gm12div)

Charlo def. Ennis 3-0 (lo)

14C Charlo (20-3), 12C Ennis (15-5)

Charlo def. Ennis 25-20, 25-21, 25-21

KILLS – E25 (Kennedy Davies 7, Shelbey Klein 7), C36 (Carlee Fryberger 13, Kira McPhail 5, Liev Smith 5, Con.Fryberger 5). ACES – E6 (Olivia Lohrenz 3), C11 (Ca.Fryberger 4). ASSISTS – E23 (Riley Robinson 19), C31 (Conner Fryberger 16, Kassidi Cox 13). BLOCKS – E10 (Shelbey Klein 5.5), C3 (Kira McPhail 3). DIGS – E28 (Riley Robinson 7, Olivia Lohrenz 7), C87 (Destiny Manuel 25, L.Smith 15, Car. Fryberger 10, B.Hawk 10). (Fr08Nov19gm10div)

Charlo def. Clark Fork 3-0

14C Charlo (19-3), 13C Clark Fork (11-11)

Charlo def. Clark Fork 25-11, 25-6, 25-9

KILLS – C39 (Liev Smith 12, Carlee Fryberger 10, Kira McPhail 6, Bella Hawk 3), CF12 (Sorren Reese 7). ACES – C12 (Bella Hawk 4), CF0. ASSISTS – C37 (Connor Fryberger 20, Kassidi Cox 14), CF11 (Cassie Green 8). BLOCKS – C4 (K.McPhail 4), CF4 (Emmah Baughman 2). DIGS – C76 (Destiny Manuel 20, Car.Fryberger 15, L.Smith 10, B.Hawk 8), CF27 (Baughman 8). (Fr08Nov19gm7div)

Gardiner def. Charlo 3-0

14C Charlo (18-3), 11C Gardiner (16-5)

Gardiner def. Charlo 25-15, 25-17, 25-16

KILLS – C18 (Kassidi Cox 5, Kira McPhail 4, Carlee Fryberger 3, Bella Hawk 3, Liev Smith 3), G23 (Kyndra Long 6). ACES – C4 (Bella Hawk 2), G2 (Josie Thomas, Cunningham). ASSISTS – C17 (Connor Fryberger 13), G21 (Chase Cunningham 21). BLOCKS – C4 (Kira McPhail 3), G10 (Long 4). DIGS – C67 (Destiny Manuel 18), G54 (Lonie Powell 13). (Th07Nov19gm1div)

Western C Divisional

Saturday

cf. boxes for all Charlo matches

Friday

(gm11) Manhattan Christian def. Gardiner 25-18, 25-20, 21-25, 25-18 (semi)

(gm9) Hot Springs def. Philipsburg 25-22, 25-6, 25-21 (lo)

(gm7) Hot Springs def. Valley Christian 26-24, 25-14, 25-9 (lo)

Thursday

(gm6) Gardiner def. Philipsburg 25-13, 25-15, 25-19

(gm5) Manhattan Christian def. Ennis 25-16, 25-14, 25-11

(gm3) Philipsburg def. Clark Fork 25-17, 25-18, 21-25, 24-26, 15-11

(gm2) Ennis def. Valley Christian 25-23, 25-17, 25-13

(gm1) Manhattan Christian def. Hot Springs 25-10, 25-16, 25-13