MCAA Volleyball: Stillwater spikers roll on 1st day

Defending Montana Christian Athletic Association state volleyball champion Stillwater Christian School edged closer to another title Thursday with a pair of victories on the first day of state play at SCS.

The Cougars topped Gallatin Valley Home School 25-9, 25-8, 25-16 and followed with a win over Great Falls Home School 25-13, 26-24, 25-14.

Stillwater (24-0) now faces a semifinal test tonight at 6 versus Yellowtone County Home School, who beat Helena Christian High School 25-22, 25-9, 24-26, 25-18 in a first-round match.

“The girls came out and played well as a team,” Stillwater coach Diane Smith said.

“They were pretty tired, but they rallied together.”

Jordan Danz had a monster game against Great Falls with 22 kills.

Sarah Smith led in digs with nine and tied for team honors in aces with Sarah Paolini, four each.

Smith also had six assists.

Paolini and Danz had seven and six kills, respectively, in the win over Gallatin Valley.

The tournanent ends Saturday with the championship match.

    Stillwater Christian School def. Gallatin Valley Home School, 25-9, 25-8, 25-16

 SCS stats — Kills 24 (Sarah Paolini 7, Jordan Danz 6); Blocks 5 (Paolini 3); Assists 19 (Morgan Paolini 16); Digs 11 (S. Paolini 3, Danz 3); Aces 13 (Zoe Loomis 4, M. Paolini 3).

Stillwater Christian School def. Great Falls Home School  25-13, 26-24, 25-14

SCS stats — Kills 39 (Danz 22, S. Paolini 9); Blocks 5 (S. Paolini 3); Assists 37 (M. Paolini 29, Sarah Smith 6); Digs 39 (Smith 9, M. Paolini 8); Aces 11 (Smith 4, S. Paolini 4).    

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Other first-round scores

    Great Falls Home School  def. Flathead Valley Homeshool 22-25, 25-19, 25-15, 25-23

     Helena Christian High School def.

Foothills Community Christian School 25-13, 25-15, 21-25, 25-16    

     Yellowstone County Home School def.

Helena Home School 25-19, 25-18, 25-14

    Yellowstone County Home School def. Helena Christian High School 25-22, 25-9, 24-26, 25-18.