Volleyball squads primed for state action

When it comes to the state volleyball tournaments, you can depend on Flathead and Libby being there.

Flathead is competing at state for the third-straight time under coach Leon Wilcox, and for the seventh straight year, while Libby is there for the 11th time in Cindy Ostrem-Johnston’s 17 years as head coach.

Flathead captured a Class AA state championship in 2001, and Libby’s only Class A state title came in 1997. The Loggers finished second in 1995, 2002 and 2003.

Also advancing to the Class A state tournament for a second-straight season is Polson.

The all-class state tournament begins today in Bozeman at Montana State University and runs through Saturday.

Billings Senior, which has won the last four AA championships, returns to defend its title. The defending Class A state champion is also back — Lewistown — but new champions will be crowned in Class B and C.

Six (Flathead, Helena, C.M. Russell, Missoula Sentinel, Billings West and Billings Senior) of last year’s AA state participants return, which is the largest number of all the classes. Five (Libby, Polson, Anaconda, Lewistown and Billings Central) are back in Class A, and just three in both Class B (Choteau, Missoula Loyola and Huntley Project) and C (Circle, Simms and Gardiner).

Class AA

Flathead opens state tournament play today at 2 p.m. versus Billings West. The Bravettes (12-11) advanced with a 3-1 home play-in victory over Helena Capital. West (25-3) earned an automatic trip to state by winning the regular-season title in Eastern AA.

West is the top-ranked team in the AA coaches poll. The Golden Bears were 12-0 in league play.

Flathead tied for third in the Western AA standings with a 6-6 mark.

West finished second last year at state, falling to Senior 3-0 in the title match. The Golden Bears won a state championship in 2004.

The last team, outside of West and Senior, to win state was Helena Capital in 2002. Senior has won six titles since then.

West and Flathead met back on Sept. 10 in Great Falls with the Golden Bears winning 3-1 (25-19, 23-25, 25-11, 25-18). West had 43 kills, led by Mikensi Romersa with 13. Flathead totaled 37 with Hannah Sackett getting 12.

West had 18 blocks in that match to Flathead’s 7. Freshman Kwyn Johnson led the Bravettes with three.

“We’ve changed a lot,” Wilcox said.

“Some of our young kids were very young. We’ve improved since then. We bring a different look offensively.”

West has also gone through some changes, namely changing setters.

“I really don’t know what to expect, other than they will be solid at every position,” Wilcox said.

“Offensively we can’t key on stopping one or two key hitters. Any one of their hitters can bring it.”

Flathead enters state play on a high note. The Bravettes have won seven of their last ninth matches.

“We started out pretty raw,” Wilcox said.

“Now they are less raw.

“When you start with an inexperienced group, it takes awhile to get on a roll. It takes some time to find some consistency.”

The last time Wilcox had to deal with that was two years ago. The Bravettes finished third at state that season.

“I think they are capable of a final four, but they will really need to bring everything they have,” he said.

“I’m sure most of the other teams there think they are worthy of the same.”

Sackett, a 5-foot-10 sophomore outside hitter, leads AA in kills per set (4.58) and is No. 4 in hitting efficiency (.328). She is also No. 4 in the state in aces per set (.63).

Alison Lunde, a 5-4 sophomore setter, is second in AA in assists per set (9.23).

Mary Allen, 5-8 senior outside hitter, is AA’s leader in digs per set (5.31).

Danika Johnson, a 6-3 junior middle blocker, is No. 6 in hitting efficiency (.300).

“The numbers are there,” Wilcox said.

“We have the kids who are capable of doing it. We just have to put it all together at the same time.”

And ...

“We have to really step up our passing,” he said.

“Our offense will be very good if we can get the ball in Alison’s hands. We’re expecting our back row to step up and compete. If we do that, that will make a lot of things easier for us.”

If Flathead wins its first-round match, the Bravettes will play at 8 p.m. They will face the winner of the 4 p.m. match — Billings Senior vs. Missoula Hellgate.

If Flathead loses, the Bravettes have a loser-out match on Friday at noon.

Senior defeated Flathead 3-0 in first-round action at state last year. The Bravettes lost their second match to Great Falls High  3-1.

Class A

While it was a fabulous Northwestern A Divisional tournament for Libby, it was also an exhausting one.

“Just trying to recover,” Ostrem-Johnston said of a practice earlier this week.

“They were still a little tired.”

And emotionally spent.

Libby was pushed to two championship games by Polson before it was all said and done. Polson won the first title match 3-2, while Libby took the second 3-1 for its third straight divisional championship. Libby has won nine overall.

Libby (11-5) opens state play today at 4 p.m. versus Stevensville. It’s the final game of the first round.

Polson (17-2), Northwestern A’s regular-season champion, faces off with Anaconda at 10 a.m in the opening game.

If Polson wins, the Pirates play again at 6 p.m. If Libby wins, the Loggers play again at 8 p.m.

If either team loses in the first round, they drop into loser-out play on Friday.

“I think we have as good a shot as any team over there,” Ostrem-Johnston said.

“I think it’s up for grabs.

“I don’t know if there is a team like Fergus (Lewistown) was last year,” she continued.

“They were phenomenal, a well-oiled machine all the way around.”

Libby’s players should be comfortable with the tournament atmosphere as six have been there before —seniors Jackie Mee, Evi Cernick and Katie Emery, and juniors Alex Kulbeck, Alyssa Martin and Logan Best. This is Mee’s third state tournament.

“I just want the kids to play to their potential, have a great time and go for it,” Ostrem-Johnston said.