Hi-Line Volleyball Roundup: Big Sandy, Chinook earn big wins

Fall is coming on strong now, but high school volleyball is just starting to heat up on the Hi-Line. And there was plenty of action last week.

Last Tuesday, Box Elder moved up to play Class B rival Rocky Boy, and the Bears continued their recent strong play with a dominant 25-19, 25-12 and 25-17 win. Lillian Gopher was strong for the Bears in the win, leading Box Elder in both kills and blocks.

Rocky Boy’s struggles continued with a loss to Cut Bank Thursday night, while Box Elder also lost a heartbreaker to Chinook. In a five-set thriller in Box Elder, the first-place Sugarbeeters outlasted the Bears by scores of 25-16, 25-17, 19-25, 26-28 and 15-13. The Bears were down 2-0 but came roaring back to push the Beeters to the limit.

In more 6C East action last Thursday, Big Sandy took down Chester-Joplin-Inverness by scores of 25-15, 26-24 and 25-19. Kim Ghekiere had nine kills, four aces and a block for CJI, while Jaylyn Cline had a match-high 10 kills, as well as two blocks for the Pioneers.

In Class B matches Thursday night, Harlem was thumped by Malta by scores of 25-13, 25-11 and 25-9. McKenzie Doney had two kills for the Wildcats, which also fell to the Glasgow Scottie Friday night. Harlem lost that match by scores of 25-11, 25-11 and 25-12. Doney had four kills, while Rylee Conlan had seven assists for the Wildcats.

CJI bounced back from its loss to the Pioneers with a sweep of Sunburst Friday night. The Hawks won by scores of 25-11, 25-19 and 25-22. Peyton Hawks had six kills for CJI, while Samantha May had five assists and two aces.

North Star also looked strong Saturday night, taking care of Big Sandy by scores of 25-19, 25-21 and 25-12 in Rudyard. Saige O’Neil had six kills and four aces for the Knights, while Paij Peterson had 13 assists and two blocks. Jaylyn Cline had 11 kills and three blocks for the Pioneers.

Saturday also saw Chinook go on the road and take care of Hays-Lodge Pole in two 6C East matches, while Rocky Boy dropped its third match of the week, falling at home to Fairfield by scores of 25-16, 25-16 and 25-3.

Thursday

Malta def. Harlem

25-13, 25-11, 25-9

Harlem - Kills (Mckenzie Doney 2), Assists (Taseshon Schaeffer 5), Digs (Haylee Johnson 5), Blocks 2, Aces 3.

Malta - Kills (Carley Garfield 5), Assists (Kyleigh Schipman 12), Digs (Schimpan 7), Blocks (Janessa Malmend 2), Aces (Kelbee Denham 7).

Big Sandy def. CJI

25-15, 26-24, 25-19

CJI - Kills (Kim Ghekiere 9), Assists (Peyton Hawks 16), Aces (Ghekiere 4), Digs 15, Blocks (Ghekiere 1).

Big Sandy - Kills (Jaylynn Cline 10), Assists (Lainey Gregory 9), Aces (Stacey Allderdice 3, Georgia Wortman 3), Digs 32, Blocks (Cline 2, Allderdice 2),

Friday

Glasgow def. Harlem

25-11, 25-11, 25-12

Glasgow - Kills (They Campbell 7), Assists (Rachelle Glaser 27), Digs (Cardelia Nickels 8), Blocks (Kelly Fossum 2), Aces (Campbell 9).

Harlem - Kills (McKenzie Doney 4), Assists (Taeschon Schaeffer 4, Haylee Johnson 4), Digs (Rylee Conlan 7), Blocks (Skylee Dirden 2), Aces (Schaeffer 1, Aspen Baker 1).

CJI def. Sunburst

25-11, 25-19, 25-22

CJI - Kills (Peyton Hawks 6), Assists (Abby Fraser 7), Digs (Samantha May 5), Blocks (Kim Ghekiere 3), Aces (Samantha May 2).

Sunburst - Kills (Jeena Alborano 3), Assists (Maria Baker 4), Digs (Laura Meyer 5), Blocks (McKenzie Wilson 2), Aces (KJ Cullen 4).

Saturday

Fairfield def. Rocky Boy

25-16, 25-16, 25-3

North Star def. Big Sandy

25-19, 25-21, 25-12

Big Sandy - Kills (Jaylyn Cline 11), Assists (Lainey Gregory 9), Digs (Amanda Cline 16), Blocks (J. Cline 3), Aces 3.

North Star - Kills (Saige O'Neil 6), Assists (Paij Peterson 13), Digs (Kenidee Wolery 15, Shayla Borlaug 15), Blocks (Peterson 2), Aces (O'Neil 4).