Great Chinook season ends against Rangers

The Chinook Sugarbeeters had an incredible 2015 season, but the Class C state volleyball tournament was a tough one.

After falling to Manhattan Christian in the first round Thursday, Chinook was fighting to keep its season alive Friday afternoon. Against a tough Absarokee squad, though, the Beeters saw their state tourney stay come to an end. The Rangers bested the Beeters by scores of 25-14, 25-17, 21-25 and 25-19 Friday at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman.

In the loss, Abby Ellison had 10 kills and one ace for the Beeters. Sierra Swank had 12 assists and one ace, while Lauren Harshman and Taylor Neibauer had five blocks each.

The loss to the Rangers ended a remarkable season for the Beeters in which they went unbeaten in the regular season, won their third straight 6C East championship and reached the state tournament for the second time in three years. Chinook’s only losses all season came to teams who played at this past weekend’s state tournament, including two to Northern C rival Belt, which finished second to Circle at the state tournament.

Absarokee def. Chinook

25-14, 25-17, 21-25, 25-19 (lo)

Chinook: Kills 30 (Abby Ellison 10), Assists 21 (Sierra Swank 12), Blocks 9 (Lauren Harshman 5, Taylor Neibauer 5), Aces 2 (Swank 1, Ellison 1).

Absarokee: Kills 39 (Emma Chandler 13, Maisey Sheppard 9), Assists 34 (Colleen Culbertson 18, Chandler 15), Blocks 6 (Chandler 4, Erin Campbell 2), Aces 10 (Emma LaMoure 5, Chandler 3, Culbertson 2).