Kendall Genson lays out for the dig to keep the ball in play against Valley Christian.
Eighth grader Darby Gleason serving up the winning point in the second set against Valley Christian. She served the last six points of the set.
Laciey Auchenbach sends the ball over the net and places it in a seam where Valley Christian could not get to it.
Eighth grader Kilty Hanson sets up the ball for her teammate.
Rylie Cahoon tips the ball over the net in the game against Valley Christian.
Seventh grader Ryan Pitman gets under the ball as Rylie Cahoon prepares to assist and Laciey Auchenbach ducks.
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Elementary girls volleyball closed out an undefeated regular season Oct. 11 with a final home game against Valley Christian. They clawed their way up through the losers bracket at tournaments in Frenchtown Oct. 16 taking second to St. Joes in the final set of the third game. Eagles Head Coach Chelsea Cahoon and Assistant Coach Sandee Cahoon were really proud of the girls for all their hard work and flexibility throughout the season.
There were 22 girls on the B (fifth and sixth grade) and A (seventh and eighth grade) teams including six eighth graders. However, due to illness, quarantine and class trips, they rarely had all the players at games. Last week they only had 11 players, six for the A game and five for the B game.
"It has been a fun learning experience because we don't have the same people every game," Chelsea said. "We are trying to figure out who is playing and if we have enough."
Despite the numbers challenge, Chelsea said the girls learned how to play different positions and run plays. They worked on the standard bump-set-hit play from different positions, back setting and several others from the back row.
In an effort to keep the opposing team on their toes, Sandee said they keep adding plays and changing up plays when they play a team for the second time. Chelsea added they encourage the girls to be creative and make up their own plays as well.
"It is one thing to learn a play in practice but they have executed them in a game," Chelsea said smiling. "It is really fun."
Because very few teams hit close to the net, blocking did not come up much this season. Eighth graders Kendall Genson and Kilty Hanson have the only two blocks for the season.
The Cahoons also highlighted that all the girls are taught to serve overhand. Some of the girls are even able to jump serve. The girls are also able to serve to positions and hit a seam between two players.
"We have [Montana Officials Association] refs looking at us like, 'That is a sixth grader?'" Sandee said. "To start now is incredible because just imagine in high school when they are bombing that thing over. It is just awesome."
The Eagles were the undefeated, first seed going into the tournaments in Frenchtown, Oct. 16.
An early loss to St. Joes dropped the Eagles into the loser's bracket during the double elimination tournament. They continued to win earning a spot in the championship game, again pitted against St. Joes. They won first game, never allowing more than a five-point spread. Trading sets in the second game for tournament champions, the Eagles lost by only a few points in the final set.
"They are an awesome team and I feel like they are my kids and grand kids," Sandee said. "They are so much fun and they are such great kids, great fans, great family, great principal and school. It is a blessing to us too."
Reader Comments(0)