Heat sweep Arlee for first volleyball win

There were signs of progress this past week for the Hot Springs Lady Savage Heat volleyball team, highlighted by their first win of the season, a 3-0 on-the-road sweep of the Arlee Scarlets Thursday night. 

Earlier in the week, they ran into the red-hot Plains Trotters and lost 3-0. The Heat closed out their busy week with a 3-1 loss to always tough Seeley-Swan, a match in which they played the Blackhawks even up until the end. 

Against Arlee, the Lady Heat looked like the aggressive teams of their recent past as they attacked the net and took it to the Scarlets on their home court. 

Hot Springs jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never trailed, building their lead in the first set to 21-11 before closing out a 25-17 set win and a 1-0 match lead. 

Set two was nearly a carbon copy of the first set as the Heat went up 4-0, then built a 10-3 lead before Arlee fought back.  Near the end of the set, the home team Scarlets cut the Hot Springs lead to 23-19, but Hot Springs fought back with two quick points to close out the set 25-19 and take a commanding 2-0 match lead. 

In the third set, after an early swapping of ties, the Heat pulled away to a 9-3 lead, then maintained it the rest of the way to take a 25-17 win and clinch their first match win of the year, 3-0. 

After this past week’s action, the Lady Heat are now 1-6 on the season. 

Saturday Hot Springs journeyed to Seeley-Swan for a match with the then 4-0 Blackhawks. 

The first set was a back-and-forth affair with eight ties and as many lead changes, including a 23-all tie late in the set.  However, Seeley managed to score two straight points and win the opening set 25-23 and take a 1-0 match lead. 

The second set was all Seeley-Swan as they shook off a brief, small lead by the Heat and steadily increased it the rest of the way.  They won the second set 25-9 and appeared to be on their way to a match sweep. 

But the Heat did not quit and fought back in a dramatic reversal of the first two sets. 

Hot Springs broke away from a 6-6 third set tie and built a lead of 23-8 on their way to a convincing 25-8 third set win that pulled them within one set of the Blackhawks, 2-1. 

With momentum on their side the Heat led most of the way in a set four that was tied seven times.  Hot Springs trailed 24-23 before Seeley eked out a 25-23 win, giving them a 3-1 match victory. 

Last Tuesday Hot Springs began their three-game week with a visit from Plains, which is unbeaten so far this year, including a victory of rival Thompson Falls this past week. 

The first set went to Plains 25-10.  The Trotters then captured set number two 25-16 to take a 2-0 lead. 

Plains led all the way in the third set, but they were unable to shake the determined Lady Heat, who tied the score at 22-all.  The score was 24-23 Plains when Hot Springs served long, giving the set to Plains 25-23 and securing the sweep. 

Plains is now 4-0 on the year. 

Next up for Hot Springs is a game against Flathead Valley Home School tonight (Sept 24) in Hot Springs.  Thursday the Heat travel to Missoula for a match versus Valley Christian.  They return to their home court Friday (Sept 27) to take on the Two Eagle River team at 6 p.m