Cowgirls Plan To Rebuild For Successful Season

The Culbertson Cowgirls will keep gaining experience and improving throughout this volleyball season.

Culbertson returns all but one starter from last season’s squad. Returning starters include senior Jazzmin Fugere, junior setter Ayden Ator, junior setter Ivy Colvin, junior Leandra Perkins and junior Mariana Burciaga.

Serenity Wilbanks and Fugere are the squad’s two seniors.

Other players with a fair amount of varsity experience include junior Catherine Donaldson, sophomore Emma Berwick, junior Josie Simonsen and sophomore Bella Petersen.

“We’re finally getting up to where we’re not so young,” Culbertson Coach Tiffany Nielsen said. “We’re still going to be building.”

Nielsen, who is assisted by Tessa Rumsey, is pleased with the amount of time many girls spent playing the sport this summer. Fugere gained experience in Germany and Perkins played in Hawaii.

“They are really excited about the season and have put in the work,” Nielsen said of the Cowgirls.

The team’s tallest girls are Wilbanks and Berwick at 5-11.

The Cowgirls aim to put together a season where they will battle near the top of the district standings.

“If we keep working and meshing together, it will be good for them,” Nielson said.

Top teams in the league are expected to include Scobey, Plentywood, Bainville and North Country.

The Cowgirls will open their season with the Culbertson Invitational on Saturday, Aug. 31.

Culbertson Volleyball

Aug. 31: Culbertson Invitational Sept. 3: Frazer Sept. 5: at Scobey Sept. 7: at MonDak Sept. 12: Bainville Sept. 14: at Scobey Invitational Sept. 17: at Lustre Sept. 20: Savage Sept. 21: at Richey/Lambert Sept. 26: at Nashua Oct. 3: at Bainville Oct. 10: at Brockton Oct. 12: MonDak Oct. 15: Richey/Lambert Oct 26: North Country Oct. 31-Nov. 2: District tournament in Plentywood Nov. 7-9: Divisional tournament in Sidney