Bulldogs defeat Broncs in volleyball
FRENCHTOWN - Whitefish volleyball coach Sarah Scott says it's the best her team has played all season.
The improved play helped the Bulldogs beat the Frenchtown Broncs 26-24, 25-18, 24-26, 25-14 and chalk up their third win in Northern A play on Thursday.
"Frenchtown started out really strong and in that fourth game (we) really came back and cleaned up (our) play quite a bit," Scott said.
She was especially happy with the play of her team's defense which racked up six blocks and 51 digs.
Abby Strellnauer led the way with 19 kills while teammate Emily Sullivan had six kills and three blocks.
Marlow Schulz had 16 digs while Bekah Weaver had 13.
"Collectively, our defense just picked it up," Scott said.
Whitefish (3-3, 3-1) plays at Columbia Falls Saturday.
Kills: Whitefish 38 (Abby Strellnauer 19), Frenchtown 39 (Kaitlynn Indreland 9); Blocks: Whitefish 6 (Emily Sullivan 3), Frenchtown 10 (Kayla Blood 3, Morgan Ray 3); Digs: Whitefish 51 (Marlow Schulz 16), Frenchtown 77 (Abby Indreland 15); Assists: Whitefish 31 (Taylor Havens 31), Frenchtown 33 (Josie Anderson 30); Aces: Whitefish 10 (Lindsey Viscomi 4), Frenchtown 9 (Shana Harlan 4).
Polson 3,
Thompson Falls 2
POLSON - Polson got more than it bargained for in the early going, dropping the first two sets before rallying for a 17-25, 15-25, 25-21, 25-18, 15-11 nonconference victory over Class B Thompson Falls.
"We just couldn't really get anything going offensively," Polson coach Jan Toth said.
"They are big and fast."
Toth said her players started playing their positions in the third set, and with help from a base defense, "things started clicking."
Ashley Johnson had 14 kills and Riley Kenney 13 for the Pirates.
Heidi Rausch and Kenzi Clay both had two blocks for the victors.
Polson (4-2 overall) hosts Libby on Saturday.
Kills - Polson 52 (Ashley Johnson 14, Riley Kenney 13), Thompson Falls NA; Blocks - Polson 6 (Heidi Rausch 2, Kenzi Clay 2), Thompson Falls NA; Assists - Polson 44 (Shalaina Duford 42), Thompson Falls NA; Digs - Polson 90 (Mackenzie Banner 18, Duford 17), Thompson Falls NA; Aces - Polson 8 (Johnson 2, Tina Marquardt 2, Tanisha Matt 2)
Eureka 3, Troy 0
TROY - Eureka swept Troy 25-23, 25-20 and 25-11 in a District 7B matchup.
"Overall, I'm pleased with their performance and how they're really starting to implement a tactic and building a quicker offense," Eureka coach Shauna Baker said. "They're not afraid to try new plays."
Selene Elster had nine kills, Jac Lemer scooped up seven digs and Cassidy Morgan totaled six aces.
"I'm happy all the way around," Baker said. "They moved the ball around really well."
Eureka (4-3, 1-1) hosts Plains Saturday.
Kills - Eureka 30 (Selene Elster 9), Troy 14 (Hannah Tallmadge 4); Blocks: Eureka 3 (Jenna Peterson 1, Nicole Short 1), Troy 2 (Tallmadge 2); Digs: Eureka 25 (Jac Lemer 7), Troy 16 (Jordan Williams 4); Assists: Eureka 21 (Alyssa White 11), Troy 11 (Williams 6); Aces: Eureka 13 (Cassidy Morgan 6), Troy 4 (Katie Miller 1).
Bigfork 3, t. Ignatius 1
ST. IGNATIUS - Melissa VanDerveer had 16 of her team's 32 kills and tied Kianna Wicklund for the team high in digs with 12 as Bigfork dropped St. Ignatius 25-23, 24-26, 25-18, 25-21 in District 7B volleyball action.
Tessa Robertson totaled six of Bigfork's seven blocks and Wicklund also led in aces with five.
Kills - Bigfork 32 (Melissa VanDerveer 16), St. Ignatius 31 (Jenn Larsson 11). Blocks - Bigfork 7 (Tessa Robertson 6), St. Ignatius 4 (Ashley Courville 2). Digs - Bigfork 57 (Kianna Wicklund 12, VanDerveer 12), St. Ignatius 90 (Sydney Allard 15). Assists - Bigfork 24 (Taylor Peck 22), St. Ignatius 26 (Loren Erickson 15). Aces - Bigfork 9 (Wicklund 5), St. Ignatius 9 (Courville 5).