Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Taylor Neibauer, Chinook Volleyball

The Chinook Sugarbeeters have once again put together one of the top volleyball teams in the state at the Class C level. The Beeters, who made it all the way to the state tournament last season, are hungry to get back, and one player who will help them get there is Taylor Neibauer.

Of course, Neibauer is just one of many Chinook players who contribute on a nightly basis. Along with others such as Brooke Elliot, Sierra Swank and Kelsey Mathon, Neibauer and her teammates have helped make Chinook a consistent Class C contender.

The Beeters, who are looking for their second straight trip to the state tournament, will start their quest Thursday, when they host the District 6C East tournament, one in which Chinook is the three-time defending champion.

“Our biggest goal is just to get back to the state tournament,” Neibauer said. “We have been working really hard in practice and really since the summer, so that’s important to us.”

While getting to the state tournament will certainly be a challenge for the Beeters, Chinook is a heavy favorite to win the 6C title once again after putting together a perfect 10-0 record in the regular season. It was the Beeters second straight year with an unblemished record.

Like many of her teammates, Neibauer knows what it’s like to play in big matches and in big games. She’s been part of the varsity rotation the past few seasons in volleyball and has played varsity basketball and track just as long.

The three-sport athlete, who does jumps, hurdles and sprints in track, said she is looking to pursue a degree in physical therapy and hopes to attend Montana State University in Bozeman next fall.

Yet before looking too far down the road, Neibauer is focused on one last postseason run with her teammates, one they are hoping ends, fittingly in Bozeman, the site of the All-Class state volleyball tournament.

To get there, Chinook will not only need to advance past the district tournament this weekend, they will also need to get past other schools such as Belt, Great Falls Central and others at divisionals.

“Our division is pretty tough,” Neibauer said. “There are actually some really good teams, and we are looking forward to getting a chance to play against teams like Belt and Great Falls Central.”

But before Neibauer and the Beeters start their journey to state Thursday, the Havre Daily News caught up with her for five questions.

HDN: How are you guys feeling heading into districts?

Neibauer: “We are feeling really good. We are excited and pumped up. Our main goal is to make it back to state, and we have just been going all out to try and do that.”

HDN: Seems like you guys have a lot of fun playing with each other, would you say that’s true?

Neibauer: “That definitely is true. We have a really strong chemistry. I think it just comes from us being around each other all the time. Since we were little kids, we were always playing with each other and have always gotten along really well.”

HDN: How has the chemistry helped you guys be a better team?

Neibauer: “I think that it really helps a lot. I think that if you hate each other, you are not going to have a very successful team, you know?”

HDN: What has made you want to be so involved in sports and do you have a favorite out of volleyball, track and basketball?

Neibauer: “I don’t know if I have an exact favorite. I love all sports and I like being active. I am just a really competitive person, and I just really enjoy that competition.”

HDN: Obviously, you are involved in lots of sports, what is something outside of sports or school that you like to do for fun?

Neibauer: “I really like to go fishing. I have been fishing ever since I was a little girl with my grandpa. He would take me and my sisters and brothers, and he would take us out to Beaver Creek all the time to go fishing.”