Scottie Volleyball Gets Golden Start

The Glasgow volleyball team started their 2021 season in the traditional way – at the Choteau Invitational. Last year’s tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, as were all the big tournaments which hurt the team according to head coach Somer Hoerster.

Though, one might be forgiven for not noticing given how well the team played in their season opener. Glasgow came up against some tough competition but gave better than they received, finishing in fifth place after making the gold bracket and with a 7-5 overall record.

The final standing and the team’s play put Coach Hoerster’s mind at ease. “As a coach you always question how ready you and the kids are until we can actually play,” she said. “We had had a rough couple practices so I was a bit worried if we were ready.”

The first two matches of the tournament set the Scotties up against two top tier teams. They first faced the host team Choteau, who finished third at state last year, and dropped two tight sets, 21-10, 21-20. Hoerster said her girls had a slow start but rebounded quickly and nearly took the second game.

Glasgow faced Florence next, who has consistently been a powerhouse team the last several years, and again dropped two tight games 21-20, 21-17. Despite the losses, Hoerster was proud of how her team battled and scored points.

The losses did not bring the Scotties down as they went on to win eight straight games. Glasgow defeated Cut Bank 21-10, 21-9 before taking out Three Forks, 21-4, 21-16. Ennis fell to the Scotties 21-13, 21-18 before Glasgow took two games off Thompson Falls, 21-18, 21-18.

The Scotties faced a much-taller Manhattan Christian for their final two games of the day on Friday. Fielding at least four players towering at six foot or taller, the Eagles wrested two close games from the Scotties, 21-18 , 21-20.

Saturday morning, Glasgow hit the court against Fairfield for two decisive wins, 21-11, 21-12, before taking another two games from Conrad, 21-13, 21-14.

The wins moved the Scotties into the gold bracket, an amazing feat per Hoerster, who said, “Gold is always the goal.” The scotties finished third after the first two rounds of the tournament, scoring the third most points of all 15 teams. “The girls learned so much in such a short span of time,” Hoerster said, “and that is why this tournament is so crucial for having the girls jell and come together.”

Glasgow hit the final round as they started the tournament – facing Choteau. The teams split their games 21-14, 11-21. The Scotties then downed Big Fork, 21-7, 21-14 before facing Shelby for their final match.

The Scotties defeated the Coyotes in three sets, 25-13, 20-25, 7-3. “They were so tired [on Saturday] at the end but still found a way to get the last win after sitting for a couple of hors and waiting for final results,” Hoerster boasted. “I truly couldn’t be happier or more proud of them. I know we could have played with any of the last teams in the gym and we got some huge game wins off of some huge teams.”

Hoerster expressed deep pride in her team, saying each and every player contributed to the team’s success. She stressed, “I’m so so so dang proud of them.”

Senior Scottie Tyann Graham said, “The tournament was really fun and the team played really well. We had a lot of strengths but one is we played the net well when blocking and hitting.” That strength will serve the Scotties well when the Scotties host their home opener this Friday, Sept. 4, with the junior varsity game against Plentywood beginning at 4 p.m. followed by the varsity game at 5:30. The games will be broadcast live on the NFHS Network.

The Wildcats come into Glasgow as the third place team in Class C from last season, with a state appearance the year before that. Hoerster said Plentywood will present “a tall task” for her girls but that her Scotties will be focusing heavily on defense as the Wildcats boast a “6-foot absolute beast … that hammers the ball.” She explained that though Plentywood will be bringing in a strong offense, the Choteau Invitational gave her girls a taste of what to expect. “I am looking forward to a tough and demanding match as that is the best way to keep preparing for where we want to be in November.”

On Saturday, Sept. 5, the Scotties will be on the road for the Chinook Invitational.

The JV team will be in Lustre on Thursday, Sept. 2 and the Middle School volleyball team will be in Poplar on Saturday, Sept. 4 for a jamboree event.