Corvallis spikes C-Falls in state A volleyball opener

by The Daily Inter Lake
| November 9, 2012 12:18 AM

BOZEMAN — Corvallis swept a nervous Columbia Falls team 25-23, 25-18, 25-23 in the first round of the Class A state volleyball tournament at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Thursday.

None of Columbia Falls’ players had participated in a state tournament before, and coach Addy Connelly said that inexperience showed in the Wildkats’ opening-round loss.

“We just played flat tonight,” Connelly said. “We didn’t take care of the ball when we needed to.

“Lots of nerves. Hopefully they got that out of their system and will be ready to go tomorrow.”

Columbia Falls (7-12) led 21-20 late in the third set, but Corvallis (13-5) won five of the last seven points to take the set and the match. The Wildkats gave Corvallis a free ball at 23-22, and Laura Berner smashed a kill to set up match point. Corvallis outside hitter Kelsey Irwin ended it one point later with a kill from the left side.

Hope Burlage tallied 15 of Columbia Falls’ 31 kills.

Joanna Avery led Corvallis with nine kills. Corvallis had 33 kills as a team.

Columbia Falls plays Belgrade (23-2) today at noon in a loser-out match. Belgrade lost a five-set match to Laurel in the opening round.