Unbeaten Valkyries sweep Troy
Bigfork's Kirsten Campbell (middle) and Nikie Bilodeau (right) watch nervously as a tipped ball from Troy's Ashley Suber makes its way to Bigfork's Claire Wilkin (6) during the second game Tuesday evening. The Vals swept the Trojans in three games to stay undefeated on the season. Nate Chute/Daily Inter Lake
The Daily Inter Lake
BIGFORK - Bigfork improved to 3-0 overall, 2-0 in 7B volleyball play on Tuesday by sweeping Troy 25-8, 25-7, 25-9.
Bigfork held a superior edge in service aces, 17-0, and in kills, 26-7.
Emily Hardman had 13 kills for Bigfork.
"She swings stronger and stronger every game we get," Bigfork coach Tammi McDaniel said.
"She never seems to tire."
Claire Wilken turned in a strong game for the Valkyries with five kills, 13 assists and five aces. Melissa VanDerveer led in aces with seven.
"I was speechless," McDaniel said of the team's performance.
"They jumped on the lead and never relinquished it, kept going.
"I always tell them to be aggressive," she added.
"They were."
Bigfork will compete in the Northwestern A vs. Southwestern A volleyball tournament on Friday and Saturday in Anaconda. The Vals were scheduled to play at Plains on Thursday, but that match as been rescheduled for Sept. 28.
Kills - Troy 7, Ashley Paasch 3; Bigfork 26, Emily Hardman 13, Claire Wilken 5; Blocks - Troy 1, Kristin Parks; Bigfork 5, Melissa VanDerveer 3; Assists - Troy 5, Alyssa Olds 3; Bigfork 21, Wilken 13, Taylor Peck 7; Digs - Troy 19, Jessica Lyons 6; Bigfork 18, Kelly Deaton 9, Mallery Knoll 5; Aces - Troy 0, Bigfork 17, VanDerveer 7, Wilken 5.
Columbia Falls 3, Ronan 0
RONAN - Kayla DeWit totaled 12 kills and Brooke Cady finished with six aces and four blocks as Columbia Falls stopped Ronan in Northwestern A volleyball action on Tuesday.
The Wildkats won a wild first game 30-28, then came back to win 25-19, 25-19.
It was the second meeting of the season for the two schools. Columbia Falls and Ronan split, 28-26, 23-25 at the Starter Tournament in Whitefish last month.
Columbia Falls, 1-1 on the season, will compete in the Northwestern A vs. Southwestern A tournament in Anaconda on Friday and Saturday.
Kills - Columbia Falls 26, Kayla DeWit 12, Brooke Cady 7; Ronan 15, Alice VanGunten 8; Blocks - Columbia Falls 4, Cady 2; Ronan 3, Taylor Irvine 2; Assists - Columbia Falls 25, Cassidee Skiles 24; Ronan 13, Taylor Lynch 12; Digs - Columbia Falls 44, Shay Grilley 13, y 12; Ronan 35, Lynch 9; Aces - Columbia Falls 17, Cady 6, Grilley 4; Ronan 11, Brit Clairmont 6.
Libby 3, Eureka 0
LIBBY - In a battle for bragging rights in Lincoln County, Libby defeated Eureka 25-16, 25-14, 25-22 in a nonconference volleyball outing.
The win lifts Libby to 1-0, heading to a Friday and Saturday tournament in Anaconda - Northwestern A vs. Southwestern A.
"It was good to get in a regular match tonight," Libby coach Cindy Ostrem-Johnston said.
"To get the win and in three (was nice). Eureka played us hard. They play very aggressive."
This was Libby's first outing in 10 days. Last week's match with Polson was postponed.
The match with Eureka was originally scheduled for Thursday, but moved to Tuesday because of the tournament.
Jackie Mee led Libby in kills, 10, and was second in aces with three.
Alex Kulbeck totaled six kills and led in aces with five.
"Alex Kulbeck had a great match," Ostrem-Johnston said.
"She's around .500 hitting. She played some good defense for us."
Kills - Eureka 10, Taylor Holder 3, Carly Hammond 3; Libby 28, Jackie Mee 10, Alex Kulbeck 6, Alysha Martin 6; Blocks - Eureka 2, Selene Elster 1, Hammond 1; Libby 1, Martin/Kulbeck; Assists - Eureka 9, Natasha Mikita 9; Libby 26, Evi Cernick 25; Digs - Eureka 27, Cassidy Morgan 9, Libby 38, Martin 9, Logan Best 8; Aces - Eureka 6, Holder 2, Casey Armstrong 2; Libby 16, Kulbeck 5, Mee 3.