Hi-Line Volleyball: Chinook tops North Star in a thriller

The volleyball action on the Hi-Line is really starting to heat up. And rivalry matches are taking center stage.

Last week’s matches started with a showdown between Class B rivals Harlem and Rocky Boy in Harlem, where it was the Wildcats who dominated from start to finish. Harlem beat Rocky Boy by scores of 25-7, 25-16 and 25-16. Sarah Billmayer and Shyan Krass combined for six kills for Harlem, while Taeschon Schaeffer had six assists and eight of Harlem’s 28 aces. Kirsten Lamere led Rocky Boy with five kills.

Friday night saw a big match in the District 6C East as Chinook and North Star battled it out over five sets in Chinook. The Sugarbeeters won the first two sets by scores of 25-13 and 25-18, but the Knights fought right back, winning the next two by scores of 25-18 and 25-22. However, in the decisive fifth set, Chinook seized control and took down the Knights 15-11.

Delaney Kellam had 11 kills and Ginger Hauer had 31 assists for Chinook. Bree Swanson also had four blocks. The Knights got 11 kills and 16 digs from Shayla Borlaug, while Jade Wendland tallied two blocks and two aces.

North Star did rebound with a non-conference win Saturday. At home, the Knights took out Valier by scores of 25-27, 25-19, 25-18 and 25-15, in a hard-fought match.

Wendland came up big for the Knights with 15 kills and a block, as well as four aces, while Kenidee Wolery had 29 assists.

After beating Rocky Boy on Thursday, Harlem returned to 2B play Saturday but ran into a buzz saw in the form of the Glasgow Scotties. Glasgow beat Harlem by scores of 25-8, 25-15 and 25-15. Taeschon Schaeffer had two kills and two aces to lead the Wildcats in the tough match.

Also back Tuesday, the District 6C East, Box Elder scored a huge, five-set win over Big Sandy. The Bears beat the Pioneers by scores of 25-23, 19-25, 25-23, 23-25 and 15-11. In a non-conference match Tuesday, Harlem also swept Hays-Lodge Pole by scores of 25-15, 25-8 and 25-13, while CJI beat Box Elder Saturday by scores of 25-14, 25-8 and 25-22 in a conference match.

Thursday

Harlem def. Rocky Boy

25-7, 25-16, 25-16

Rocky Boy - Kills 8 (Kristen Lamere 5), Assists 7 (Jaynah Gopher 4), Digs 30 (Sasha Coffee 15), Blocks 3 (Jeralyn Parker 3), Aces 0.

Harlem - Kills 14 (Sarah Billmayer, Shyan Krass 3), Assists 12 (Taeschon Sceaffer 6), Digs 12, Blocks 2 (Krass 1), Aces 28 (Schaeffer 8).

Friday

Chinook def. North Star

25-13, 25-18, 18-25, 22-25, 15-11

North Star - Kills 36 (Shayla Borlaug 11), Assists 35 (Kenidee Wolery 34), Digs 63 (Borlaug 16), Blocks 2 (Jade Wendland 2), Blocks 10 (Wendland 2).

Chinook - Kills 38 (Delaney Kellam 11), Assists 35 (Ginger Hauer 31), Digs 91 (Jayden Miller 24), Blocks 6 (Bree Swanson 4), Aces 8 (Miller 3, Lily Surber 3).

Fort Benton def. Centerville

25-5, 25-8, 25-13

Fort Benton - Kills 24 (McKenzie Clark 7, Nicole Axtman 7), Assists 22 (McKenna Hanford 22), Digs 9 (Clark 3), Blocks 1 (Axtman 1), Aces 22 (Clark 12).

Centerville - N/A.

Saturday

Glasgow def. Harlem

25-8, 25-15, 25-15

Glasgow - Kills 23 (Keely Fossum 6), Assists 19 (Rachelle Glaser 17), Digs 37 (Glaser 10), Blocks N/A; Aces 9 (Laura Ross 4).

Harlem - Kills 10, Assists 7 (Schaeffer 2, Owens 2), Digs 15 (Spotted Eagle 4), Blocks 3; Aces 5 (Schaeffer 2, Owens 2).

North Star def. Valier

25-27, 25-19, 25-18, 25-15

Valier - Kills 21 (Abby Bock 9), Assists 17 (Kylie Christians 9), Digs 30 (Bock 12), Blocks 11 (Bock 5), Aces 7 (Makenna VandenBos 3).

North Star - Kills 37 (Jade Wendland 15), Kenidee Wolery 29), Digs 36, Blocks 2 (Shayla Borlaug 1, Jade Wendland 1), Aces 12.