Polson sweeps C-Falls in volleyball
COLUMBIA FALLS - Kayla Duford had 25 assists and Ashley Johnson added 12 digs and six aces as Northwestern A leader Polson swept host Columbia Falls on Thursday. Scores were 25-14, 25-17, 25-11.
Jessie Gist had seven kills and Dani Gilley added 12 digs for the Wildkats.
"We just had a lot of adversity," said Columbia Falls coach Addy Connelly.
"It's always an emotional night on senior night," she said.
Added to that were two lost starters in the second set. The Wildkats were right with the Pirates in that one, but one player went down to an injury and another became ill.
"You have to admire a team that continues to work hard. I asked when they came off ‘did you give it everything you had?' They said yes and they are a truthful crew," she said.
The Wildkats play host on Friday and Saturday to the Northwestern A Divisional tournament.
"It's going to be nice to host it at home. Our girls are excited to play and we're still holding out hope. I think they can (qualify for state)," Connelly said.
"I'm giving them the next three days off. They need to recoup. With people sick and feeling the way we do, we need to rest, so I hope they do," she said.
Kills - Polson 30 (Breanne Kelley 12, Sallie Sams 8) Columbia Falls 16 (Jessie Gist 7); Assists - Polson 26 (Kayla Duford 25); Columbia Falls 16 (Hope Burlage 11); Blocks - Polson 4 (Kelley 2, Sams 2); Columbia Falls 1 (No leader); Digs - Polson 33 (Ashley Johnson 12, Kendyall Rochin 5); Columbia Falls 31 (Dani Gilley 12, Shaun Rowe 9); Aces - Polson 10 (Ashley Johnson 6), Columbia Falls 4 (Gabrielle Stenger 3).
Whitefish 3, Libby 1
LIBBY - Whitefish was pushed to four sets, settling for a 25-19, 25-18, 22-25, 25-19 Northwestern A victory over Libby (5-7, 2-6).
Alex Kulbeck had a huge night for Libby, leading the Loggers in kills (nine), blocks (two) and aces (five).
"She did all right," Libby coach Cindy Ostrem-Johnston said.
"She's our only senior.
"It was a disappointing loss for her, and the other girls felt bad," Ostrem-Johnston added.
"Alyssa Walker passed and dug well.
Heather Bailey shared the Whitefish team high with Olivia Nagler in kills, 12 each. Bailey led in digs with 16 and shared the team lead with Taylor Havens in aces with four each. Nagler had a team-high 15 assists.
Up next for Libby and Whitefish is the divisional tournament next week at Columbia Falls.
Kills - Whitefish 32 (Heather Bailey 12, Olivia Nagler 12), Libby 25 (Alex Kulbeck 9, Kim Tangen 7); Blocks - Whitefish 4 (Kelsey McFadden 2), Libby 4 (Kulbeck 2); Assists - Whitefish 29 (Nagler 15, Taylor Havens 13), Libby 20 (Lexi Hageness 18); Digs - Whitefish 42 (Bailey 16, Madison Tveidt 11), Libby 44 (Alyssa Walker 18); Aces - Whitefish 15 (Havens 4, Bailey 4), Libby 14 (Kulbeck 5, Hageness 4)