Facing a weaker team this season in the Belcourt Braves, the Williston volleyball team put the junior varsity on the court to play for the West Region point at Jackson Field House Friday.

The move looked a little shaky after the JV dropped the first game 25-22, but they regrouped to pound the visitors 25-5, 25-14, 25-17.

Williston improved to 16-4 overall and 7-0 in conference play.

“I think the girls were a little worried because it was a varsity match, but they got it together in the second game. This team really plays well together and once they got a big lead in the second game, they just followed through from there,” said Coyotes coach Ticinie Heller.

In the second game, Katelyn Christensen opened the game on a 10-0 run at the service line, dropping in four aces. “She had a great service game to spark the team, and Lindy Bjella had a wonderful match getting the ball to the hitters,” said Heller. Christensen finished with 25 service points, with nine aces, while Bjella handed out 30 assists to go with 14 service points.

Brittany Nice and Abby Hagen led the net play with 11 and 12kills, respectively, while Megan Ryckman tacked on seven. Taryn Jundt led with 20 digs.

Belcourt 25 5 14 17

Williston 22 25 25 25

Williston - Service points & aces: Katelyn Christensen 25-9, Lindy Bjella 14-2, Brittany Nice 11-6, Megan Torgerson 8-2, Megan Ryckman 6-2, Abby Hagen 2-0. Kills: Nice 12, Hagen 11, Ryckman 7, Bjella 6, Christensen 6, Torgerson 1, Ashley Slade 1. Assists: Bjella 30, Taryn Jundt 1. Blocks: Torgerson 1, Christensen 1. Digs: Jundt 20, Hagen 9, Christensen 7, Bjella 4, Ryckman 4, Nice 3.