Hot Springs staying strong

Danielle Switalski

Hot Springs volleyball had another successful weekend as the Lady Heat beat Two Eagle in Pablo on Thursday and took home the championship trophy at their tournament on Saturday. 

Hot Springs swept Two Eagle in a three game match, winning 25-12, 25-10 and 25-17 in a game that Head Coach Bonnie Franklin called “fairly uneventful.” 

The tournament was by far the Lady Heat’s most eventful part of their weekend.  The morning began in pool play, which are short games which decide who will move on to the championship games.  The Lady Heat started slow, which is pretty standard play for the Hot Springs girls, as Franklin said they tend to pick up momentum as the tournament day goes on. 

Hot Springs lost their first pool play against Drummond, 12-15, 13-15 and 10-9. 

“We didn’t know what to expect from Drummond and they are undefeated right now,” said Franklin.

The team definitely picked up momentum after this first pool play game, and beat Noxon, 15-9 and 15-14.  Franklin said they raillied very close and were scrappy as always.  Hot Springs then went on to beat St. Regis, 15-6 and 15-10.  The last team they faced in pool play was Philipsburg, a team Hot Springs has never played, nor seen play this whole season.  But Hot Springs won once again 15-7 and 15-13.

“The biggest shock of the tournament was that Charlo was out.  They were beat by Alberton,” said Franklin surprised at this loss because she said Charlo will be the team that determines where the Hot Springs’ girls really stand in the conference.

The first real tournament game to decide who moves on to the championship was Hot Springs verse Arlee, playing the best two out of three.  Hot Springs won the first game 15-11, then Arlee fought back and beat Hot Springs in the second game winning 7-15.  Hot Springs pulled it back together for the win in the third game 15-13.

Hot Springs moved on to the championship to face Drummond, the team they just lost to not more than a few hours prior. 

Hot Springs beat Drummond 25-16 and 25-17 and walked away with “a beautiful trophy.” 

“We start slow and teams see us in the morning and see we don’t have it together but as the day goes on the confidence increases and their ability to play together and trust each other increases,” said Franklin.

The Lady Heat remains undefeated in conference and tournament play as this is their second championship trophy this season. 

The Lady Heat played Charlo Tuesday night in Hot Springs.  Please check the web for details on this game.

“It going to let us know where we stand because Charlo has been dominating,” said Franklin.

Reporter Danielle Switalski can be contacted by email at reporter@VP-MI.com