Hinsdale/Saco Wildfire Light It Up In Malta Invite

After a less than stellar performance in pool play, losing to Chinook in a close match and getting fully annihilated by Plentywood, the Wildfire went two and two and won a berth in bracket play at the Malta Invitational Volleyball Tourney last Saturday, August 30 in Malta.

With every game, the ladies from Hinsdale/Saco (H/S) seemed to gather strength from each other and get stronger as the grueling day progressed. Remember friends, their first match was at 9 a.m. and the championship game wasn’t decided until about 7:30 that night.

After knocking off Rocky Boy in bracket play, the Wildfire faced a very tough and seasoned Malta M’Ettes squad. The Saco/Hinsdale Panthers lost to Malta in two games last year and were out to settle the score this year. This season however, the “new and revised Hinsdale/Saco Wildfire” hammered at the Malta team unmercifully and came out victorious in two games.

“This win was very sweet for us” was the way Wildfire Head Coach Kathy Siroky put it. “We all wanted it badly and the girls went out and took Malta’s game away.”

Next up to face the H/S Wildfire was the Plentywood Wildcats who routed the Wildfire in pool play 25 to 7. (The worst whuppin’ any Saco/Hinsdale, Hinsdale/Saco team ever took.

One doesn’t pour a thumping like that on the Wildfire without expecting retribution ... and retribute they did, knocking off the Wildcats 25 to 23 and 25 to 18 in the brackets..

Coach Siroky was actually ecstatic in describing the play of the Wildfire throughout the final two matches, “but the Championship match beat them all she said.”

Whitney Molina “played the game of her life” in this match. “She was everywhere at once,” coach Siroky described. Then she added “Bethany Lacock came absolutely alive with some really first class blocks.”

This is what Siroky said about the whole tournament play of the Wildfire. “They dug, dove, smashed, blocked, covered, hit the floor, talked to each other, moved, and did everything they could to assure the win.”

Coach went on to add “Chadaya Christensen is slamming her kills this year and aiming for the empty court. Something she didn’t do last year. Courtney Capdeville is coming along very nicely and getting some great blocks, and Shyla Gairrett is a great addition.”

Coach also mentioned that Hannah Whitaker is an integral part of the Wildfire machine filling in the gaps, making some good digs, sets and passes. Devon Palmer will get some pretty good playing time this year as will Delaney Beil.

Freshman Payton Chopper got into the fray and the team scored on four straight of her serves. We’ll see more of this young lady.

The Championship match saw the H/S Wildfire against Grass Range/Winnett with The Wildfire winning the first game 25 to 17. They win the championship if they beat Grass Range in the second game; they lose if Grass Range wins the second match 25 to 18 or better. GR/W beat the Wildfire 25 to 19 in a hard fought battle and took first place by just two points.

The Wildfire is a team small in numbers but very large in heart, and the desire to make it to State is instilled in everyone.

It is electrifying to watch this team. Their next outing will be at Bainville this Saturday, Sept. 7. Great job to one and all at the Malta Invite. This was HUGE!

That’s it for now, folks. Thanks for Listening.