Scarlets punch ticket back to Butte
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CHARLO — The Arlee Scarlets looked out-of-sync at the District 10-C tournament in Charlo, but at least they will have another week to find their rhythm.
With a couple of their starters out, the Scarlets had to play with a new rotation at the tourney and struggled to adjust to the altered lineup, but still managed to beat the St. Regis Lady Tigers and Hot Springs Savage Heat, but were no match for the Lady Vikings.
The Scarlets were swept by the Lady Vikings 25-21, 25-8, 25-14 in the undefeated match Saturday, but earned a rematch with them by sweeping the Savage Heat. Even though they played better the second time around, they still were swept 25-15, 25-19, 25-19.
“It just throws everybody off, they’re so used to playing together, it just throws everybody off,” Arlee coach Brian Big Sam said of entering the tournament with a new rotation.
The Scarlets offense never could get going against the Lady Vikings. In their two wins at the tournament the Scarlets knocked down 64 kills compared to 33 in their two losses to the Lady Vikings.
The Scarlets struggled with their passing which hampered their offense and after a few hitting errors their offense went in a shell. In the undefeated match The Scarlets first hard-hit kill attempt didn’t come until after the midway point in the second game.
“They got in their head, they got one bad hit and it threw them off. And eventually they we’re like we can’t do it we need to start tipping the ball, we need to start pushing the ball. I kept saying ‘hit it, hit it, hit it,’” Big Sam said.
After missing the divisionals the past season, the Scarlets earned a trip back to Butte with a 25-15, 25-19, 25-19 victory over the Savage Heat.
“Going to divisionals,” Big Sam answered, when asked what the team’s goal was at the start of the season. “That’s what we wanted and that’s what we got.”
Nelson had 14 of the Scarlets’ 33 kills in the match. Cortney Dix was everywhere against the Savage Heat. She finished with seven kills, 19 assists, three blocks, 12 digs and two aces. Mahalia Hendren collected nine kills, 10 digs and three blocks.
The Scarlets opened the tournament with a 25-8, 25-11, 25-23 sweep of the St. Regis Lady Tigers. Dix led the team with 13 kills and 14 assists. Melissa Ivanoff and Nelson each dug out 15 balls. Nelson also put down nine kills.
The Scarlets open the Western C Divisional Tournament against Gardiner at 2 p.m.
Summary
Arlee def. St. Regis, 25-8, 25-11, 25-23
Kills - Arlee 31 (Courtney Dix 13), St. Regis 13 (Relish Rhodes 6). Blocks - Arlee 5 (Mahailia Hendren 3), St. Regis 1 (Lisa Stevens). Digs - Arlee 88 (Melissa Ivanhoff 15, Becca Nelson 15), St. Regis 12 (Leandra Baldwin 5). Assists - Arlee 16 (Dix 14), St. Regis 12 (Juliana Spencer 9). Aces - Arlee 16 (Dix 4, Nelson 4), St. Regis 9 (Jocelyn Dockter 5).
Undefeated match
Charlo def. Arlee, 25-21, 25-8, 25-14.
Kills - Charlo 43 (Rachel Hoyt 15), Arlee 15 (Mahalia Hendren 7). Blocks - Charlo 4 (four with one), Arlee 8 (Hendren 3). Digs - Charlo 46 (Dawn Blevins 9), Arlee 86 (Becca Nelson 19). Assists - Charlo 30 (Blevins 24), Arlee 8 (Courtney Dix 8). Aces - Charlo 6 (Kelsie Blevins 2), Arlee 4 (Nelson 2).
Arlee def. Hot Springs, 25-15, 25-19, 25-19.
Kills - Arlee 33 (Becca Nelson 14), Hot Springs 14 (Alex Green 4). Blocks - Arlee 12 (Courtney Dix 3), Hot Springs 1 (Green). Digs - Arlee 99 (Cassandra Cline 22), Hot Springs 33 (Shanny King 8). Assists - Arlee 24 (Dix 19), Hot Springs 10 (Lindsey Salmi 9). Aces - Arlee 13 (Whitney Malatare 4), Hot Springs 12 (Green 5).
Championship match
Charlo def. Arlee, 25-16, 25-21, 25-19
Kills - Charlo 30 (Kinley Pope 8), Arlee 18 (Mahalia Hendren 7). Blocks - Charlo 5 (Dawn Blevins 3), Arlee 16 (Becca Nelson 5, Cassandra Cline 5). Digs - Charlo 50 (Pope 8), Arlee 102 (Nelson 22). Assists - Charlo 23 (Blevins 21), Arlee 10 (Courtney Dix 8). Aces - Charlo 16 (Rachel Hoyt 6), Arlee 7 (Nelson 3).
