Hot Springs tangles with Noxon in county battle

Matt Unrau

Noxon traveled to Hot Springs on Friday for an inter county volleyball battle last week that saw the Savage Heat being less than gracious hosts and beating the Lady Devils in three games, 25-16, 15-9 and 25-21.

Despite a misstep in the second game, the Devils hung tough both in the first and third game.

In the first game the Devils and the Savage Heat battled back and forth leading to a 16-14 score before Hot Springs outscored Noxon 9-2 to close out the game. In the third game Noxon was down 17-8 when Jordyn Wilkinson began to pound Hot Springs with her serves gathering seven straight points before Hot Springs finally broke serve.

Noxon eventually tied the game 21-21 before Hot Springs reeled off four straight points.

Head Coach Bonnie Franklin didn’t know what to expect from her team following a four-game loss to Charlo earlier in the week and is happy with the outcome, but is still looking for more aggression from her team.

“I wonder if our girls were too comfortable,” says Franklin regarding the Charlo loss. “It could’ve been a blessing…we’re working on not backing off, taking it to the other team.”

For Noxon Senior Stephanie Larkin says her team is still looking for more consistency saying her team has good moments, for example game number three, and bad moments like game number two.

“We need to focus on having no mental errors. Try to play from your heart,” says Larkin.

It was a tough week for the Noxon who lost to Troy on Thursday and then had to play Charlo at Charlo on Saturday. However, they nearly pulled off the upset forcing five games against the top team. Larkin had 10 kills in the game.

Noxon is now 4-4 overrall and 3-3 in conference.

Against Noxon MacKenzie Wood of Hot Springs collected 19 assists and 3 blocks, while Lindsey Salmi had 14 digs and 4 aces.