Coach Maria Begger’s Savage Heat volleyball team had its say this season, getting in their last words of the season at the Western C divisional tournament in Churchill last week.

Capping a very successful season where the Heat won second place in the District 14C regular season and in the conference tournament, the Hot Springs girls fell to Gardiner in three sets Thursday and Twin Bridges in three sets Friday in the Western C tournament.

Begger had some strong words for her Savage Heat after their stirring run to a second-place finish at the 14C tourney the week before. 

“I'm super proud of the matches that the girls put together,” she said. “They have worked hard all season, and it paid off at Districts.”

Begger added that earning a berth at the Western C tournament “was a big team goal all season, so to achieve that was very exciting.”

Seniors Kara Christensen, Callie Cano and Erica Cannon, juniors Hollis Key, Lanet Jakabosky, Mackenzie Johnson, Ava Boquet and Kora Hensrude, and freshmen Alisha Jakabosky, Dakota Slonaker, Layla Ford, Peyton Salmi, Sami Hoffstetter and Ziah Hensrude were the roster members for the 2025 Savage Heat net squad.

Begger was very grateful to her team and to the Hot Springs fans. 

“We would like to thank everyone who has shown up to cheer us on throughout this season,” she said. “This is a great bunch of girls who have shown up and worked hard day in and day out all season long.”

Begger also had sincere thoughts about some other important people in her coaching life. 

“We will definitely miss our seniors on and off the court,” she said. “And I had amazing assistant coaches in Karly Lawson and Nancy Dome, I cannot thank them enough for their support, their leadership, their knowledge, and their efforts,” she added. “We look forward to making another exciting run next season."

"We will definitely miss our seniors on and off the court. If the girls continue to put in the work in the off season, I think that Hot Springs volleyball will have some exciting years to come."