Trotters end season at districts

Sports are often explained as a metaphor for life, and as the Trotters volleyball season drew to a close at the District 7-B tournament in Thompson Falls last weekend, that was never more true.

At the tournament, the Trotters ended their lackluster season with a pair of losses, first to Mission 3-0 on Friday, and on Saturday, 3-0, versus Troy.

“Do I still feel that we had a successful season? I do. I would have hoped that we had done better in the finals, but you always have a winner and you have a loser,” Plains head coach Kim Earhart said.

“I’ve tried to use some life experiences through the year just to get them to reflect,” Earhart said. These girls have really struggled and they’ve had some issues to deal with and it’s all about going out there and performing.”

The Trotters, a team with zero seniors, eight juniors, three sophomores and a freshman, had little varsity experience heading into this season and understandably has experienced its share of growing pains associated with a losing season.

The Trotters found out this year, that it’s easier to talk about character and persistence than to live it out day after day, but Earhart believes those hard lessons learned on the volleyball court will translate in success off the hard-wood for his players.

“When you get to varsity it’s all about performance,” Earhart explained. “When you get into the job market, its performance that makes all the difference between keeping a job and losing one.”

On Friday Plains lost its third match in three attempts versus Mission this season, falling 25-17, 25-12, 25-13.

After struggling through two sets Earhart pulled many of his starters for the final stanza, to light a fire under some of his regulars.

“That’s the biggest statement I can give right there, because if somebody wants to play we’re going to give them that opportunity,” he said. “They’ve got to have the desire.”

Kayla Revier and Jessica Hansen led the Trotters with three kills each. Kelsey Beagley had 11 digs and Nikki Kunzer had five assists and four aces.

For St. Ignatius, Adessa Durglo had 13 kills to lead all players. Mackenzie Trudeau had 15 digs, and Loren Erickson doled out 23 assists in the win.

In the loser out match against Troy on Saturday, the Trotters came up short one last time, losing in straight sets 25-14, 25-18, 25-7

“Our passing just wasn’t there,” Earhart said of the loss. “It made it harder to set and hit.”

Revier, Laurel Danhof and Jessica Hansen all had five kills for Plains. Beagley had 15 digs, and Kunzer had 15 assists.

Jordan Williams and Michaela Curry served up five aces apiece. Kimmy Klin had eight kills and Alyssa Olds set 24 assists for Troy.

“I want to pivot off of the positive in the fact that I did see some good things. Every girl did something through the season that showed that they stepped up to a degree,” Earhart reflected. “To build a program you have to look at not only this year, but the next year, and the next year.”

Earhart remained optimistic adding that despite ending with a losing record his girls have established a foundation for future success. He expects his returning players to prepare even harder next year after learning the quality of competition they can expect at the varsity level.

“There are some girls that love the game,” he said. “I enjoyed coaching them. I loved this year.”