The Hornet Volleyball team has secured its spot in the Montana Class C State Tournament after a grueling, yet rewarding performance at the Western C Divisional Tournament. With determination, resilience, and a “never-give-up” attitude, the Lady Hornets overcame early setbacks to prove they belong among the best teams in the state.

The Lady Hornets entered the divisional tournament ready to compete, but their journey wasn’t without challenges. The young team played several games, showcasing their grit and determination in the face of tiredness. The team ultimately emerged as the 2nd place team in the division, bringing home hardware to the White Sulphur Springs School.

The tournament started with a tough loss to Granite in straight sets (18-25, 25-27, 17-25). The Lady Hornets came out tight and faced several unforced slip-ups, impacting their confidence leading into the tournament from a successful district tournament. Despite this, standout players emerged, with Jules Feddes leading in kills and Natalie Fisher contributing 11 kills and 12 digs with three blocks. Mikayla Teter also added an impressive 23 assists, showing her consistency despite the challenging start.

The team quickly regrouped and returned stronger than ever in their second match, defeating Charlo in just three sets (25-17, 25-15, 25-19). Determined not to end their season early, the Lady Hornets rallied, led by Natalie Fisher’s impressive 25 kills. Jules Feddes added an additional 15 kills, while Mikayla Teter provided 30 crucial assists and three aces. Fisher also led defensively with 15 digs and four blocks, while Feddes contributed nine digs and three blocks. With the momentum built from this match, the team quickly regained their confidence for the rest of their divisional run. 

With this key momentum, the Hornets took on the Drummond Lady Trojans, winning, yet again, in three straight sets (25-11, 26-24, 25-19). The “Do or Die” mentality continued to drive them forward, and the Lady Hornets played with confidence, skill, domination, and overall ease on the court. Fisher once again led with 20 kills, adding 15 digs and four blocks, while Feddes had 13 kills and 11 digs. Teter kept the team’s offense running smoothly with another 31 assists, and Shayla Clayton contributed to the team’s success with a notable 12 digs.


The Hornets faced Granite once again, determined to showcase their growth and tenacity. Head Coach Marteen Taylor reflected on the rematch: “We knew we didn’t play up to our potential when we played them the first time and wanted to show them the real Lady Hornets.” With added confidence, they won decisively (25-19, 25-23, 25-16), with Julianna Feddes emerging with 14 kills, 18 digs, and three blocks, while Natalie Fisher added 21 kills, 14 digs, and two aces. Teter’s 30 assists helped maintain the team’s high level of play, proving their improvement since the first matchup.

In an exciting matchup, the Hornets finally defeated the long-time rivals of the Manhattan Christian Eagles (25-18, 21-25, 25-16, 25-21). In years past, the Manhattan Christian team has dominated Class C volleyball, but the Lady Hornets utilized previous momentum and confidence to block out any intimidation factors from the opposing team. Natalie Fisher led with an impressive 28 kills, 15 digs, and seven blocks, while Jules Feddes added 18 kills and 11 digs. Teter recorded an astounding 43 assists, facilitating one of the team’s best performances of the season. This victory marked a significant achievement for the Lady Hornets, who had never beaten Manhattan Christian in the five years under their current coach.

By the time they reached the championship match, the Hornets had secured their spot at the Class C State Tournament. Gardiner took control in the first set, and despite the Hornets' rally in the second set, they eventually ran out of steam, losing the match (10-25, 25-23, 17-25, 15-25). Despite the outcome, there were still notable performances that added to the already impressive tournament run. These included Fisher with 20 kills, 18 digs, and five blocks, and Feddes with 13 kills and nine digs. Shayla Clayton also contributed with 15 digs and Teter added a consistent 31 assists, showcasing the team’s tenacity to the end.

The Lady Hornets are now enthusiastically preparing for the state tournament, still riding the high of their successful divisional week. Tomorrow, November 14, the Lady Hornets will face Circle in the first round at 4 PM. According to the coaches, the team is focused and excited, recognizing the rare opportunity to make a deep run, similar to their past few weeks, on the state level. 

Coach Taylor noted that key players, specifically underclassmen, have grown immensely over the season, with several contributing ace serves and clutch kills in the previous tournaments, while other improvements have strengthened the team’s overall defense and communication on the court. Moreover, Coach Taylor praised the team’s unity and commitment, noting, “It was during these matches that I told them they were playing like a true ‘state’ team.” This unity, she says, has carried them through challenging games and their ‘we’ team mentality is their greatest strength as they head into the tournament.

The Hornets are eager to compete against the state’s top teams and believe they can go head-to-head with anyone in the tournament. With the support of fans and the community, they’re confident they’ll make their mark at state and showcase true Meagher County-raised grit.


Lady Hornets Soar to State

White Sulphur Springs Volleyball Punches Hard-Earned Ticket to Montana Class C Tournament

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