It has been a tough start to the 2024 season for the Hot Springs volleyball team, but with the core of players they have, things are likely to get better.

This past week the Lady Heat played two matches, dropping a home match against Stillwater Christian, a private school from Kalispell, 3-0 Tuesday evening. 

They closed out their week with a road loss to always tough Charlo, also 3-0. 

Against the Cougars from Stillwater Christian, the visitors jumped out to an early set one lead and cruised to a 25-11 win that gave them a 1-0 match lead. 

Hot Springs played them tough in the next two sets but lost 25-17 in set number two and 25-18 in the third and final set.  That gave the Cougars a sweep in their opening match of the season. 

From there, Hot Springs traveled to Charlo for a Thursday night game with the Vikings, who have yet to lose a set in four matches. 

A long-time nemesis of the Heat, Charlo opened the first set with an 11-4 lead, then went on to win the set 25-11 and take a 1-0 match lead. 

But in what may have been their best volleyball of the season, Hot Springs overcame an early 8-2 set two deficit and pulled within 21-18 before falling 25-20. 

The Heat then played well in the third and deciding set, overcoming another 10-4 Charlo lead and scoring six straight points to tie the set at 10-10.  The set was tied six more times, including 21-all.  Charlo took a 24-23 lead and secured the sweep and third set win with a 25-23 win. 

The win boosted the Vikings to 4-0 on the year, while Hot Springs fell to 0-4. 

Next up for the Lady Heat is a home match this Tuesday (Sept 17) versus Plains.  The Lady Heat close out the week with a pair of road games beginning Thursday night (Sept 19) in Arlee, then a Saturday afternoon match in Seeley Swan against the Lady Blackhawks.