Leaving it all on the court

The Ennis Mustang varsity volleyball team ended their successful season on Nov. 11, placing third at the Western C Divisional Tournament held at Manhattan Christian.

Ennis blasted through Seeley-Swan during their first matchup, winning 3-0. Next on the list was Gardiner, who served up a tighter game, but Ennis came out on top, 3-2. The next day Ennis met Charlo, winning once more, 3-1. Their final match proved too much, with White Sulphur Springs shutting the Mustangs out in three during the second and third place round.

The Mustangs ended their successful season with a 16-8 season record.

After 20 years of leading varsity volleyball, this would be Coach Klein’s last varsity competition, a celebratory finale for her 20 years of leading Ennis’ volleyball athletes. Klein’s said it before and she said it again, the focus should be on the players, not the coach.

Coach Klein was, however, happy to discuss her girls’ latest successful season. Despite a late season loss of one of their starting setters to a broken fibula, the girls stepped up and forged ahead.

“They stepped up, and we got third in districts, and then third at divisionals,” said Coach Klein. “I am super-duper proud of them. We have a super hard district and super hard division, and finishing in the top three, I think, is awesome.”

The tournament’s announcer also recognized Ennis’ spirit, commending the team for leaving it all on the court and never quitting, “And it’s true,” said Coach Klein. “We were behind, and we never gave up. We always pushed until the very end, worked hard to catch up, and gave it our all.”

Ennis’ volleyball team has had a history of success, last winning the state championship in 2017 and making it to state in 2018.