Tournament champions

On Saturday, Carter County High School hosted the Willa Nies Memorial Volleyball Tournament. Northern Cheyenne, Jordan, Custer/Hysham, Terry, Broadus, CCHS Varsity and CCHS JV all participated.

CCHS JV played their first game against Broadus at 9 a.m. and lost in two sets, 4-25 and 15-25. In their second game, they defeated Northern Cheyenne in two sets, 25-17 and 25-20. They lost a close third set to Custer/Hysham, 12-15, in their final match.

The varsity Bulldogs played their first game at noon against Custer/Hysham. After a close first set, they won the second 25-16. Whitney Kittelmann led the team with 14 assists, Heather LaBree had 13 of the team's 39 digs, and Tori Tooke totaled 15 kills.

In their second match, the Bulldogs took down Broadus in two sets. Again Tooke led in kills. She also had the team's only block. Kari Kittelmann served four aces.

The championship match featured CCHS Varsity and the Jordan Mustangs. Again, the Bulldogs handily won in two sets, becoming tournament champions. Gracie Tooke led the team in aces (3 of 7) and digs (11 of 42). Whitney Kittelmann had 9 of 18 assists and Tooke again led in kills (9 of 21).

Willa Nies contributed 10 years as an assistant and head coach in volleyball and girls basketball for CCHS. As part of her philosophy, she taught her players that athletics is about more than just winning; that it is a means to develop positive and lasting relationships with other people. After she passed away in 1997, a tournament was created in her memory.