High-flying Bobcats play Arlee
<p>Marissa Koke, center in mid-air, prepares to spike the ball against Arlee at a match last week.</p>
SUPERIOR – The Superior High School volleyball team is starting to pick up steam this season, having gained some much needed experience in the first few games of the season.
The Superior Lady Bobcats started off the week with a match against Arlee on Thursday, Sept. 11 and the team started off down several points in the set. It looked like the team would be down early in the match but no one told that to the Lady Bobcats. After a strong rally, the Superior team closed the gap and were up 22 to 21.
Unfortunately, the team from Arlee answered back and took the first set 26 to 24. In the second set, Superior got out to an early lead on the strong offensive power of Marissa Koke and the on-court leadership of Danielle Ewoniuk.
Superior was down again in the second set but, again they fought their way back into the match tying the score at 24 to 24. Arlee would eventually take the second set 26 to 24.
Down two sets, Superior came into the third set with a different look in their eyes. Down early again, the Lady Bobcats clawed their way back into the set. Superior would take the lead from the Arlee team and they never gave it back.
Off the strong serving performance of senior Jordan Mueller, Arlee was forced to take a time out to figure out how to deal with the surging Lady Bobcats. They were unsuccessful. Superior went up 20 to 13 in the third set and looked certain to get back into the match. The team from Superior would go on to take the set 25 to 19 to stay in it.
Arlee would go out to a commanding lead in the fourth set and they never looked back winning the match with a score of 25 to 12 in the fourth. Despite the loss, Head Coach Beth Janney said she was encouraged by what she saw on the court. She said the level of communication among the players will help them down the road
“They did a good job talking,” Janney said. “It was a good chance for them to figure things out on the floor. It was our first game so there were some jitters. I saw some good leadership from Danielle and Marissa. They did a great job and so did our back court senior, Nadeia Ewoniuk. They played well as a team. Hopefully we will see more of that.”
Superior dropped the next match against Charlo three sets to zero. Koke had four kills and four blocks in the match while Danielle Ewoniuk also had four kills and 11 digs.
Scores for the game on Tuesday, Sept. 9 against Alberton were not available at the time of press. The Lady Bobcats will next face Two Eagle on the road on Saturday, Sept. 13.