Divisional time for Eureka volleyball
By DAVID LESNICK/The Daily Inter Lake
Eureka will be looking to finish either first or second this weekend to qualify for the upcoming state volleyball tournament.
Trouble is, so will seven other teams - Darby, Deer Lodge, Florence, Missoula Loyola, St. Ignatius, Thompson Falls and Troy. They are all competing in the Western B divisional at Missoula Valley Christian.
"We're back to looking pretty good," Eureka coach Rhonda Hammond.
"I like their attitude, they have a good shot (of going to state)."
Eureka opens divisional play Thursday at 2 p.m. versus Darby, a team it defeated in two pool play games in a preseason event in early September.
Florence plays Thompson Falls at 4 p.m.
The winner of those two matches will meet again Thursday at 8 p.m.
The Lions are 0-2 versus Florence, but 2-0 against Thompson Falls.
In the other divisional bracket on Thursday, it's Missoula Loyola vs. Troy at 10 a.m. and St. Ignatius vs. Deer Lodge at noon. The winners of those two matches will play at 6 p.m.
"Both teams (Eureka and Darby) have probably changed drastically (since that earlier meeting)," Hammond said.
"Darby upset Seeley in three games at the district tournament to knock them out; Seeley beat us on our Senior Night. Darby is obviously peaking at the right time.
"I like our position," Hammond continued.
"We're maybe not expected to go (to state) as the south is suppose to dominate (with Loyola and Florence), but I would never count these kids out. They have too much heart, they have worked hard."
Eureka, 14-5 overall and 8-0 in District 7B, is coming off its four district tournament title in six seasons. The Lions competed in Class A one of those years.
The Lions have advanced to state three of the last five years. They finished second in 2005.
Eureka did not qualify for state last year.
The Lions will again be without the services of Marni Zauner. The junior right-side hitter had knee surgery two weeks ago.
"She kind of did everything for us," Hammond said.
Starting for Eureka will be: Auna Lawler, sr., right-side hitter; Briann Linnell, sr., middle hitter;
Mariah Newell, sr., middle hitter; Jonna Yost, sr., setter; Ashley Gullo, sr., libero; Carly Hammond, jr., left-side hitter; and Tayler Holder, jr., left-side hitter.
Cami Stacy, jr., middle hitter; Casey Armstrong, jr., libero; and Natasha Mikita, so., right-side hitter; will also see playing time.
"They filled in admirably when we had some missing players," Hammond said of her reserves.
"They did a tremendous job.
"The kids last week just didn't look good in practice," Hammond added.
"This week, we've had two very good, well-focused practices. The kids look great. I just hope this ride continues. They've been a blast to work with."
Bozeman will host the all-class state tournament Nov. 20-22.
Divisional and playoff pairings for all classes are listed below.
Class AA
Western
All matches 7 p.m.
Thursday
Helena Capital (2-10, 3-18) at Missoula Sentinel (10-2, 17-5)
Missoula Hellgate (3-9, 6-15) at Glacier (8-4, 12-9)
Friday
Flathead (3-9, 4-14) at Missoula Big Sky (6-6, 10-12)
Eastern
Thursday
Butte (1-11, 7-16) at Billings West (9-3, 21-7)
Friday
C.M. Russell (2-10, 6-15) at Bozeman (8-4, 17-8)
Billings Skyview (5-7, 13-13) at Great Falls (5-7, 9-12)
Class A
Central
At MAC, Butte
Friday
10 a.m. - Havre (14-6) vs. Browning (0-17)
Noon - Butte Central (5-12) vs. Livingston (4-14)
2 p.m. - Belgrade (10-9) vs. winner match 1
4 - Lewistown (16-3) vs. winner match 2
6 - Losers matches 2 and 3
8 - Losers matches 1 and 4
Eastern
At Sidney
Thursday
Miles City, Billings Central byes
6 p.m. - Hardin vs. Glendive
8 - Sidney vs. Laurel
Southwestern
At Anaconda
Thursday
Dillon, Anaconda byes
6 p.m. - Hamilton vs. Corvallis
8 - Stevensville vs. Frenchtown
Northwestern
At Polson
Thursday
Libby, Bigfork byes
5 p.m. - Whitefish vs. Columbia Falls
7 - Polson vs. Ronan
Class B
Northern
At Shelby
Thursday
10 a.m. - Glasgow vs. Fort Benton
11:30 - Choteau vs. Wolf Point
1 p.m. - Fairfield vs. Plentywood
2:30 - Malta vs. Shelby
Western
At Missoula Valley Christian
Thursday
10 a.m. - Missoula Loyola vs. Troy
Noon - St. Ignatius vs. Deer Lodge
2 p.m. - Eureka vs. Darby
4 - Florence vs. Thompson Falls
Southern
At Red Lodge
Thursday
11 a.m. - Colstrip vs. Townsend
12:30 p.m. - Huntley Project vs. Three Forks
2 - Manhattan Christian vs. Broadus
3:30 - Baker vs. Red Lodge
Class C
Northern
At Chinook
Thursday
9 a.m. - C-J-I vs. Big Sandy
11 - Geraldine vs. Sunburst
1 p.m. - Belt vs. North Star
3 - Chinook vs. Simms
5 - Highwood vs. winner match 1
Eastern
At Fairview
9 a.m. - Fairview vs. Nashua
10:30 - Saco-Hinsdale vs. Savage
Noon - Richey vs. Ekalaka
1:30 - Scobey vs. Terry
4 - Circle vs. winner match 1
5:30 - Losers matches 1 and 2
7 - Losers matches 3 and 4
Southern
At Harlowton
Thursday
10 a.m. - Tri-Cities vs. Park City
11:30 - Absarokee vs. Winifred
1 p.m. - Broadview-Lavina vs. Joliet
2:30 - Bridger vs. Grass Range-Winnett-Roy
6 - Winners matches 1 and 2
8 - Winners matches 3 and 4
Western
At Montana Tech, Butte
10 a.m. - Hot Springs vs. Sheridan
Noon - Philipsburg vs. Shields Valley
2 p.m. - Gardiner vs. Charlo
4 p.m. - White Sulphur Springs vs. Arlee
6 p.m. - 10 a.m. winner vs. noon winner (quarterfinal)
8 p.m. - 2 p.m. winner vs. 4 p.m. winner (quarterfinal)