Bulldogs 'home opener' a success
The Daily Inter Lake
Whitefish - Home, at last.
Whitefish's volleyball team, banished to road games because of a unplayable gym floor since August, finally managed to get a home date Thursday night.
And the unbeaten Bulldogs responded with a 25-6, 25-9, 25-9 triumph over Ronan.
"The biggest thing, we had an outstanding crowd," said WHS coach Jackie Fuller.
"They were amazing tonight. The support they provided the girls boosted us up."
Ashley Ferda had nearly half of Whitefish's kills with 12. Tracy Schwada led in blocks with two and Mandy McFadden topped the list in assists, 22, and aces, five.
Jessie Conners had five digs for the Bulldogs.
Whitefish, 7-0 in league play, missed out on three early home games because water had warped the gym floor. Those games were instead played at what would have been the visiting school. That means Whitefish will now spend the remainder of the season at home with just one road trip to Missoula.
Ronan slips to 0-7.
Whitefish hosts Columbia Falls on Saturday, 6 p.m.
Stats
Kills - Ronan 9, Allison Crenshew 2; Whitefish 25, Ashley Ferda 12; Blocks - Ronan 2, Amanda Folsom 2; Whitefish 8, Tracy Schwada 2; Assists - Ronan 7, Kallia Orr 3; Whitefish 23, Mandy McFadden 22; Digs - Ronan 15, Kaylee Larson 6; Whitefish 22, Jessie Conners 5; Aces - Ronan 3, Crenshaw 2; Whitefish 18, McFadden 5.
Libby 3, Polson 1
LIBBY - Libby evened its Northwestern A volleyball record at 3-3 Thursday by downing Polson 20-25, 25-23, 25-13, 26-24.
"Intense match," said Libby coach Cindy Ostrem-Johnston.
"We battled back and forth. I must praise my kids on their passing tonight. They passed better than they have all year."
Laice Dedrick finished with 11 kills, nine digs and eight aces for the Loggers.
Sam Schultz had eight kills and nine digs.
Libby, 3-3 in league play and overall, travels to Ronan on Saturday while Polson, 1-6 and 3-5, hosts Bigfork.
Stats
Kills - Polson 35, Emily Fors 7; Libby 40, Laice Dedrick 11, Sam Schultz 8, Erin Byrns 8; Blocks - Polson 0; Libby 3, Nicole Newman 2; Assists - Polson 29, Dylen Zetterberg 22; Libby 35, Shelby Barton 30; Digs - Polson 61, Janelle Lundeen 17; Libby 50, Barton 13, Schultz 9, Dedrick 9; Aces - Polson 8, Zetterberg, Gracie Satorie, Jennifer Gallatin, 2 each; Libby 22, Dedrick 8.
Bigfork 3, Columbia Falls 1
BIGFORK - Mary Hall finished with 10 kills and 18 digs to lead Bigfork in two volleyball categories and a victory over Columbia Falls 25-16, 21-25, 25-23, 25-22 on Thursday.
Both teams are now 4-2 in Northwestern A play. Bigfork is 5-2 overall.
"They are a very athletic, quick team," said Bigfork coach Yvonne Peck of the Wildkcats.
"The first game we executed very well, attacked a couple times on the second attack. We made some blocking adjustments. We adjusted well."
Columbia Falls was led by Shanelle Swift in kills with six and Monica Burns in blocks with three. Burns also had four kills.
"They were neckj and neck all the way to the end, which made it very exciting," said Columbia Falls coach Josie Brown of the match.
pi"The girls came out a little slow, then picked up the momentum toward the end of the first game and then continued to play well throughout the match."
Bigfork travels to Polson on Saturday while Columbia Falls visits Whitefish.
Stats
Kills - Columbia Falls 21, Shanelle Swift 6, Monica Burns 4; Bigfork 40, Mary Hall 10, Whitney Wilson 10, Alyssa Fierro 9; Blocks - Columbia Falls 7, Burns 3; Bigfork 8, Wilson 3; Assists - Columbia Falls 19, Kate Marcille 18; Bigfork 32, Clara Davis 15, Cayla Fox 12; Digs - Columbia Falls 73, Donna Burns 29, Sarah Sauter 13; Bigfork 52, Hall 18, Trisha Smith 17; Aces - Columbia Falls 11, Amber Lineberry 3, Callie Spencer 3; Bigfork 11, Sami Wade 4.