Volleyball Has Biggest Spike Of Season

Something must have clicked for the the Scottie volleyball team. 

Coming off a straight-game loss at the hands of the Wolf Point Lady Wolves, the Scottie girls played up to their enormous potential with their own three-game sweep of the Malta M’ettes. 

That’s how it has been all year. Similar to last week’s volleyball story, and every week it seems, the Scottie girls have struggled to maintain a consistent level of play. The Thursday night, Sept. 27, match up with Wolf Point was a microcosm of the Scottie girls’ entire season. 

it was their first home game in almost three weeks. So, the assumption was the girls would be fired up to put on a show for the home crowd and take it to the Wolves. Instead, the Wolves jumped out to early leads in every single game. 

The Scottie girls were sloppy with their passing and made mistakes that led to long streaks for the Wolves. But just when it was about time to give up on at least the match, they would flash that superior potential. They battled back from six- to eight-point deficits in the first two games. But it was short-lived each time as the Lady Wolves pulled away again for a 25-21 win and a 25-23 win. In the third game, it was more of the same. The Lady Wolves jumped out to an early lead and Glasgow was even down 21-15 at one point. The Scottie girls wouldn’t quit, though. They fought back to take the lead 23-22 and the crowd was back in it. 

But the inconsistency struck and Wolf Point pulled out the sweep with a 27-25 win. Maybe it was time to believe that the potential would never fully develop this season and the year would be lost. It was certainly possible after three losses already in conference play this season.

But the way the girls played on Saturday was different. It just wasn’t a flash of potential. It was a complete and total domination of a very good Malta team as they won 25-21, 25-14 and 25-16. 

“It was just solid all-around play. I was so proud of them,” said Head Coach Lori Dailey, who is not necessarily known for her coyness but was definitely reserved with that understatement. 

Maybe it was the thrill of homecoming weekend. Or maybe the excitement of a completely packed house against arch-rival Malta. Or maybe wanting to put on a good show during the successful “Wipe Out Cancer” event the team held on Saturday was the motivation the girls needed. And maybe the girls will struggle to maintain that level of play going forward. But for that Saturday afternoon, the team showed why Dailey and others have been raving about the talent on the team.

Malta could never get anything going on the attack. It seemed as though the M’Ettes were always on the defensive trying to stem the Glasgow onslaught. Alex Page constantly set up her teammates with well-placed balls for Alaina Cole and Megan Dailey to kill. Cole led the team with eight kills and Dailey had six. 

“They were aggressive and smart. They were just so exciting,” said Dailey. 

It was a remarkable turnaround in the less than 48 hours between games. 

The Scottie girls hope to take that momentum with them on the road this week as they travel to Poplar on Friday, Oct. 5, for the second-match of the conference schedule with the Lady Indians. Then the girls host Harlem on Saturday for the second match with the Lady Wildcats. The Scottie girls won in straight games against both opponents in their first match ups.

The Scottie girls’ play was not the only positive on Saturday. The “Wipe Out Cancer” event, that featured a serving contest, a bagpipe performance and pizza provided by Pizza Hut, Eugene’s and The Hangar, raised $279 for Relay For Life. The team sold leis at the door to the crowd, many of whom also wore pink. Even some of the Malta fans participated.