Volleyball: Bigfork part of loaded division

The Bigfork girls are playing their best volleyball of the season, coming off a five-set victory to win the District 7B championship. That win has set the Valkyries up in prime position to make a run at state, holding a top seed in this week’s Western B divisional tournament.

Bigfork opens the tournament at 10 a.m. against Ronan at Florence High School. The Vals beat Ronan in three sets earlier this season.

The top two teams earn an invite to the state tournament in Bozeman.

“We’ve improved a lot,” Bigfork coach Melody Strauss said. “I can only imagine every other team is going to step up its game. To compare teams from the first two weeks of the season is hard but, we know essentially what (the Ronan girls) have.”

The West is possibly the strongest division in the state this season, with five teams that could make a serious run in Bozeman. Along with the Vals, 7B runner-up Thompson Falls and the top three finishers from 6B, Florence, Deer Lodge and Missoula Loyola each have a claim at being the best team in the bracket.

“It’s going to be a very strong divisional,” Strauss said. “Anyone can win on a good day.

“We expect to see high-quality volleyball, knowing some of the best teams (in the state) will be there.”

Bigfork had a tough run to get to this point, fighting back to win the 7B championship in five sets. The Vals had taken a two set lead on Thompson Falls but needed a tiebreaking set to clinch the title.

That adversity has helped the team, Strauss said.

“To come back and have to battle back, watching the girls shake off mistakes was a growing point,” Strauss said.

“Had we just marched through and won three in a row, it would’ve been harder knowing (the strength of the division). We are totally believing we have ability to compete with them.”

The Vals share their side of the bracket with Deer Lodge and Plains, and would play the winner of that contest if they get past Ronan in the first round. On the other side, Florence plays Plains and Thompson Falls plays Loyola.

At Florence

Top two advance to state

Thursday

10 a.m. – Bigfork (10-8) vs. Ronan (8-10)

11:30 a.m. – Deer Lodge (12-5) vs. Plains (7-13)

1 p.m. – Florence (16-1) vs. Troy (5-14)

2:30 p.m. – Thompson Falls (11-8) vs. Loyola Sacred Heart (11-6)

6 p.m. – Bigfork-Ronan winner vs. Deer Lodge-Plains winner

7:30 p.m. – Florence-Troy winner vs. Thompson Falls-Loyola winner