Lady Wolves Fight Off Poplar in Volleyball Battle

The volleyball squads from Wolf Point and Poplar had a tight battle on Thursday night, Sept. 10, before the Wolves emerged with a 25-18, 19-25, 25-18, 25-14, victory on their home court.

After being disappointed with the second set, Wolf Point coach Kim Hanks was satisfied with the final two games of the match.

“Most of the time, I was pleased,” Whiteman said after the victory. “I thought they played well as a team, once we came together.”

The Wolves took control in the early going of the first game as the hard serving of Sierra Hamilton and Gracie Ferdina led the way for a 9-2 advantage.

Wolf Point enjoyed a 16-8 lead until Poplar battled back on the net play of Dusti Marottek and Jazmyn Gorder to pull to 18-13. Aces by 6-2 senior Macey Stump closed the gap to 18-15.

Wolf Point responded with three straight points, including two on Ferdina’s service, for a 21-15 lead. The Indians didn’t back down though as Gorder led them back to 21-18.

The Wolves closed the game out on a kill by Mikaya Smoker-DeWitt and two aces by Hailey Nelson.

In the second game, the net play of sophomore Morgan Nordwick highlighted play as the Indians gained a 12-5 advantage. Wolf Point fought back to 15-8 on kills by Katelyn MacDonald and Sarah Williamson, but Poplar answered with a tip by Stump. A block by Nordwick gave Poplar a 20-11 advantage.

The Wolves were able to get as close as 23-18 on a kill by Jewel Olson and an ace by Hamilton, but Poplar ended the second set on net winners by Stump.

After a kill by Poplar’s Keandra Martell tied the score in the third set, Wolf Point took an 18-14 lead on the serving of Hamilton and a tip by MacDonald.

Poplar was down by only an 18-17 margin until a kill by Olson and two aces by Williamson produced a 21-17 lead. After a kill by Smoker-Dewitt put the gap to 23-18, Wolf Point ended the third set on an ace by Ferdina.

The Wolves gained a 9-7 advantage in the fourth set on a kill by Kayden Sibley and a serve by Nelson.

Ahead 18-13, Wolf Point struck for four straight points on spikes by Olson, Smoker- Dewitt, Sibley and Hamilton.

With the score at 24-14, a kill by Sibley ended the match.

Sibley finished with five kills and one block. Kylie Rodenberg and Ferdina finished with nine assists each.

Hamilton served seven aces. Nelson had seven digs.

Leading Poplar was Stump with four aces and four blocks. Nordwick finished with four kills. Martell had four assists. Kylie Gourneau accounted for five digs.