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The Hot Springs Savage Heat completed another very successful volleyball season last week by placing fourth in the Western C divisional tournament.

Coach Alisha Pablo and her Savage Heat bowed out of the tourney, dropping a 25-16, 25-19, 25-17 decision to Lone Peak in the first round Thursday night in Hot Springs and completing play with a 25-6, 25-16, 25-14 loss to District 14C rival Charlo in Charlo Saturday.

Manhattan Christian won the tournament by defeating Lone Peak in the championship match. Charlo came back to claim second place and the division's other berth into this week's State C tournament in Malta by defeating Lone Peak in a challenge match in Charlo Monday night.

The Lady Savage Heat's second straight fourth place finish in the Western C sits well with their coach.

"I am so proud of this whole team," she said. "They dug deep and gave it their all. This volleyball family is going to be missed. The girls and their parents and fans have proved through this difficult year that we are all in it for the girls and that is what matters."

The difficult year statement holds some weight. Matches were played in mostly empty gyms this the season of the pandemic as people did their best to stay apart while still getting together to participate in usually normal activities like high school sports.

Like the 14C tourney the week before, the Western C was played virtually, and COVID-19 reared its ugly head before the matches even began, forcing Gardiner (Hot Springs' first round foe) to drop out of the tournament due to an incident at that school.

Although the Heat moved into the tournament semifinals with the forfeit, it probably didn't help the Spa City girls when they did play their first match Thursday against Lone Peak. Then starter Emma Rae Rasmussen went down with an injured ankle early on in the match, limiting Hot Springs' substitution possibilities after that.

Pablo thought her girls gave her everything they possibly could this season.

"This team filled some big positions and finished exactly where we did in the division last year," she said. "That says a lot about their drive and love for the game."

Junior standouts Katelyn Christensen and Lily Winn each hit eight kills and two blocks for the Heat against Lone Peak.

John Hamilton

SAVAGE HEAT junior Lily Winn hits a shot as Lone Peak's Maddie Cone watches.

The Heat's hot season came to an end against rival Charlo. Christensen led the Heat in that match with four kills, nine digs and four service aces.

Kassidi Cox hit 11 kills and eight digs and Carlee Fryberger 10 kills, eight digs and six aces to lead Charlo to the win.

Pablo looks forward to another fine season of Savage Heat volleyball in 2021. "Of course we will miss our core group of seniors," she said, "but we will still have some standouts to carry the tradition on next year."

Savannah Roosma, Ariah Erny, Rasmussen, Sam Carr and Lizzie Fisher were the seniors for Hot Springs this season, Winn, Christensen and Moira Lonergan the juniors, Lily DeTienne and Josie Uski the sophomores, and freshman Lauryn Aldridge rounded out the roster.