North Country Takes Fourth at Divisionals

After clinching third place at Districts the week before, the North Country Mavericks hit the road again to participate at the Eastern C Divisional volleyball tournament which was hosted at Sidney High School and Fairview High School. The goal of each team was to outlast and outplay to punch their ticket to State.

The North Country Mavericks first match-up was against the Jordan Mustangs on Nov. 5, which the Mavericks clinched in three, 25-20, 25-21, 25-12. Jaycee Erickson led the team with eight aces, Danika Soper led the team with 13 assists, Kia Wason led the team in digs with 15 and Kaitlyn McColly led the team in kills with eight.

“Jordan had five of their starters out because of quarantine but the kids who stepped in to fill their shoes did a great job. We had a few first match jitters and found ourselves having a hard time rolling and getting going like we wanted to. We served decent and then in set three we decided it was time to play and there we were winning the last set significantly,” reflected coach Charlene Wasson.

Individual stats for the game were:

Danika Soper - Aces 4, Assists 13, Digs 4

Kaitlyn McColly - Aces 2, Kills 8, Digs 8

Jaydyn Erickson - Aces 5, Kills 7, Block 1, Digs 4

Jaycee Erickson - Aces 8, Kill 1, Assists 4, Digs 5

Kia Wasson - Ace 1, Kills 7, Digs 15

Mattea McColly - Assist 1

Zandora Longtree - Ace 1, Kill 1, Digs 7

Paige Wasson - Assists 5

Teagan Erickson - Kills 3, Blocks 2, Digs 2

The win moved the team along the tournament bracket providing the opportunity for the match-up against the Plentywood Wildcats later in the afternoon on Nov. 5. The Lady Mavs battled it out against the Wildcats securing the win in the first set 25-23, however ultimately lost the following three, 27-29, 19-25, 25-27. K. McColly again led the team in kills by achieving 15 and Jaycee Erickson led the team in assists with 13. Zandora Longtree led the team in aces with five while Wasson led the team in digs with 20.

“This match was an amazing match for us. We might have lost but the confidence we gained from this game was everything. We controlled the net blocking and made their power hitters really change the way they hit the ball. We just had a few errors that happened at the wrong time. We walked away from this match knowing we were ready to compete at the Divisional tournament,” stated Wasson.

Individual stats for the game were:

Danika Soper - Aces 2, Assists 12, Digs 4

Kaitlyn McColly - Kills 15, Assist 1, Block 1, Digs 18

Jaydyn Erickson - Aces 3, Kills 8, Blocks 2, Digs 2

Jaycee Erickson - Aces 2, Kill 1, Assists 13, Digs 7

Kia Wasson - Kills 10, Digs 20

Zandora Longtree - Aces 5, Digs 16

Paige Wasson - Assists 10

Teagan Erickson - Kills 9, Blocks 4

Mattea McColly - Block 1

The loss brought the Mavericks to a loser-out situation and they weren’t ready to give up. Their next match-up on Nov. 6 pitted them against the Froid-Lake Red Hawks. Neither team wanted to go home and battled it out in five matches, with the Mavericks coming out victorious, 25-15, 25-19, 16-25, 22-25, 15-13. K. McColly and Wasson led the team in aces by achieving five each while Wasson also led the team in kills by achieving 16 and digs with 18 while Jaycee Erickson achieved 18 assists.

This match-up was a sense of déjà vu for both teams as they played each other in the semi-final contest of the District tournament at Froid the weekend before, and Froid-Lake took home the win. “In this match, we passed extremely well off serve receive giving us the opportunity to score points right off our offense. Losing to a team in five sets both times during the season is heartbreaking so this win gave us the lift we needed,” reflected Wasson.

Individual stats for the game were:

Danika Soper - Kills 2, Assists 13, Digs 9

Kaitlyn McColly - Aces 5, Kills 14, Block 1, Digs 11

Jaydyn Erickson - Aces 4, Kills 6, Block 1, Digs 3

Jaycee Erickson - Ace 1, Assists 18, Digs 7

Kia Wasson - Aces 5, Kills 16, Digs 18

Mattea McColly - Assist 1

Zandora Longtree - Aces 3, Kill 1, Digs 10

Paige Wasson - Kills 3, Assists 4, Dig 1

Teagan Erickson - Kills 5, Blocks 2

Securing the win allowed the team to play later in the evening on Nov. 6 against the Fairview Warriors for the chance to either secure fourth place or move onto the third place game. Both teams wanted the opportunity to keep moving along the bracket and battled it out in five matches. The Mavericks secured the first two wins, 25-23, 25-21, however lost the last three to the Warriors, 23-25, 21-25, 13-15. Soper and Jaycee Erickson led the team with three aces each while K. McColly again dominated in kills by achieving 18. Wasson again also dominated, achieving 29 digs while Soper led with 20 assists.

“This game was an absolute heartbreaker for us. We played Fairview two times this season and this being our third. In the first two sets we were attacking hard and playing our power game. In set three and four we went away from our strengths and they switched up their attacks with tips. It was hard for us to recover from that. We went up seven to zero in the last set but just couldn’t seal the deal. It is hard to realize a team you beat two times is going to state but we know volleyball is about who makes the least amount of mistakes in a set and we weren’t that team,” stated Wasson.

Individual stats for the game were:

Danika Soper - Aces 3, Kills 1, Assists 20, Digs 10

Kaitlyn McColly - Aces 2, Kills 18, Assist 1, Block 1, Digs 16

Jaydyn Erickson - Kills 4, Blocks 1, Digs 2

Jaycee Erickson - Aces 3, Kills 2, Assists 18, Digs 14

Kia Wasson - Ace 1, Kills 14, Digs 29

Zandora Longtree - Ace 1, Digs 18

Paige Wasson - Kills 3, Assists 2, Blocks 2

Teagan Erickson - Kills 9, Blocks 3

With such an unusual season, Wasson is proud of the work her team has put in throughout the season and appreciates the qualities the seniors have exemplified.

“I can say we were disappointed but I also challenged each girl to find something they can take away from the season and put it in their life tool box. I’m proud of the Mavericks and so lucky to be a part of this co-op and coaching this team. They make this coach proud!” exclaimed Wasson.