CHARLO - It was a busy season debut for the Charlo volleyball team as they defeated one of their strongest rivals on Friday, then advanced to the semi-finals of the Drummond volleyball tournament on Saturday.

Last Friday night, the Lady Vikings came out on top over Hot Springs in three-straight sets 25-18, 25-16, 25-13. Then they put on a strong showing at the Drummond tournament, going 8-4 in games on Saturday.

"I know we can do better, but it was a great place to start," Charlo head coach Sheryl Kain said.

The Savage Heat came out fired up, according to their head coach Alicia Pablo, but Charlo's team was able to grab onto leads and hold them.

In the first set on Friday, Charlo came out to a 2-0 lead after junior Kinley Pope warmed her arm up with a couple kills. She would go on to lead the Vikings in kills for the game with 14.

Hot Springs fought back to a 3-3 tie, but with Pope serving, the Vikings jumped out to a 10-7 lead.

Junior Deondra Brown killed for a point as Charlo went up 20-15.

Sophomore Rachel Hoyt served for the Vikings, had five aces and ended the game. In the second set, Brown started with an ace before Hoyt earned another for a 4-1 lead. Junior Dawn Blevins set the ball to junior Jazmine Hernandez-Kelley for Charlo's sixth point before Hoyt earned another ace. Blevins proved to be an effective quarterback on the court for the team, collecting 26 assists in the game over half of the entire team's 45 assists.

Up 8-3, Hernandez-Kelley earned a point for the Vikings with a well-placed kill. Hot Springs started to make a comeback at the end of the set, outscoring Charlo 8-2, as the Vikings sat at match point for three serves. Pope ended things with a hard kill.

The third set started off closer, as a 2-2 tie was broken by Blevins blocking a ball at the net.

Hoyt served an ace and Blevins blocked another ball for a 7-2 lead.

Sophomore Derika Stipe set the ball to senior Royelle Esterby, who dropped it down to an open spot on the floor for another Charlo point.

After a Hot Springs time out, with the score 19-7 in favor of the Vikings, Hoyt spiked the ball and Brown served to close out the set and game.

The next day at the Drummond tournament, the Vikings started with a split against Lincoln, 9-15, 15-6.

"I didn't think we should have lost to Lincoln at all," Kain said.

Charlo then split with Arlee 15-6, 13-15 and defeated Hot Springs again 15-6, 15-8 going into the bracket part of the tournament.

"It's really early so everyone can improve," Kain said. "Overall, there was some good competition at the tournament. I thought it was a great tournament."

The Vikings defeated Victor, 15-9, 15-5 and Arlee 15-11, 15-8 to advance to the semi-finals game against Drummond. In that game, Drummond took the early game 15-5 but Charlo made things close for the second set before falling 16-14.

Kain felt that her team could have stretched that matchup to at least three games but overall felt that the kids performed well.

"I think they all did well," Kain said. "They all had their moments."

On Tuesday, Charlo traveled to Drummond, but scores were unavailable at press time. Charlo will travel to Seeley today.