Eureka rolls into division tourney

You could say the Eureka Lady Lions volleyball team is on a bit of a roll.

Eureka (17-0) hasn't lost a regular season match this season. No one has even managed to push the Lions past three games.

No other Class B volleyball team can say that.

Add to that the fact Eureka is the defending Western B divisional champion - and you might also guess the Lions are wearing targets on their backs as they enter the 2004 divisional tournament today.

The Lions begin divisional play at 2 p.m. against Deer Lodge (9-10).

A win against Deer Lodge would pit the Lions against their Missoula Loyola hosts, the Heartbreakers, at 8 p.m.

The top two advance to next weekend's Class B state tournament in Bozeman.

"The kids are excited. I think they're ready. I hope they go in with a lot of confidence," Eureka coach Rhonda Hammond said.

"They're quite the group of girls. I still don't think they realize how good they are. I've got just an incredible team."

Eureka won its first ever divisional volleyball title last year.

All but one member of this team - exchange student Edith Gavriel - was a part of that team.

"That experience hopefully will help. If we play like we're capable, we'll be OK," Hammond said.

"But we can't overlook Deer Lodge," the coach said. "They're good. They'll be tough."

Deer Lodge is also the only team in the tournament that Eureka hasn't played this season.

"I saw them play at the (Florence) Showcase," Hammond said.

The Wardens are a bit taller than Eureka - Hammond guessed the average height to be 5-9 to 5-10.

"They're up and down," she said.

When the Wardens are up, they're tough. But when they're down, they struggle with their serve receive.

"If we serve like we have been, that'll hurt them," the coach said.

Like Eureka, the Wardens also run a 5-1 offense, but their setter doesn't block.

That means in three rotations, Deer Lodge will have only two blockers.

"That should help us … if we can utilize that mismatch," Hammond said.

"Passing and serving will be crucial," she said.

The coach feels confidence in setter Ali Zauner and in the Eureka hitters.

Western B

divisional

At Missoula Loyola

Today

10 a.m. - Seeley-Swan (17-2) vs. Plains (6-13)

Noon - Superior (10-10) vs. Thompson Falls (12-7)

2 p.m. - Eureka (17-0) vs. Deer Lodge (9-10).

4 p.m. - Troy (6-12) vs. Missoula Loyola (16-5)