Western B divisional volleyball: Bigfork beats Ronan, falls to Deer Lodge

FLORENCE — Bigfork earned a split in Thursday’s Western B divisional volleyball action.

The District 7B tournament champions opened with a 26-24, 23-25, 16-25, 25-19 victory over Ronan, but fell to Deer Lodge 25-19, 22-25, 25-18, 25-23 in the next session.

Deer Lodge (14-5) and Florence (18-1), the 6B tournament champs, are the two unbeaten teams. They play tonight at 6 with the winner moving on to Saturday’s championship match at noon.

Bigfork drops into loser-out action today at 2:30 p.m. The Valkyries will play the winner of an 11:30 a.m. loser-out battle between 7B foes Troy and Thompson Falls.

The top two teams advance to the state tournament Nov. 14-16 in Bozeman.

Western B divisional

At Florence

Thursday

Second Round

Deer Lodge def. Bigfork, 3-1

Deer Lodge def. Bigfork, 25-19, 22-25, 25-18, 25-23.

Kills – Deer Lodge 32 (Dani Walker 16), Bigfork 30 (Marissa Hiza 10). Blocks – Deer Lodge 6 (Shayla Therriault 4), Bigfork 8 (Lana Berg 4). Digs – Deer Lodge 52 (Lacie Thomas 15), Bigfork 72 (Hiza 15, Josie Spoklie 15). Assists – Deer Lodge 25 (Bailee Senecal 23), Bigfork 29 (Spoklie 22). Aces – Deer Lodge 12 (Thomas 4), Bigfork 6 (Alanis Stallknecht 3).

Florence def. Loyola Sacred Heart, 3-0

Florence def. Loyola, 25-20, 25-11, 25-13.

Kills – Loyola 17 (Sierra Tiede 10), Florence 25 (Sabrina Hopcroft 11). Blocks – Loyola 2 (Tiede 1, Shannon Eppard 1), Florence 4 (Megan Byrne 1.5). Digs – Loyola 15 (Olivia Round 8), Florence 68 (Kristyne Drozdz 37). Assists – Loyola 14 (Sadie Crippen 13), Florence 25 (Rylie Hawkins 23). Aces – Loyola 2 (Round 1, Crippen 1), Florence 14 (Hopcroft 5).

First Round

Bigfork def. Ronan, 3-1

Bigfork def. Ronan, 26-24, 23-25, 16-25, 25-19.

Kills – Ronan 48 (Sydnee Clairmont 12), Bigfork 47 (Marissa Hiza 15). Blocks – Ronan 8.5 (Rymi Clairmont 3.5), Bigfork 6 (Tessa Robertson 3, Laura Berg 3). Digs – Ronan 103 (Danielle Richwine 23, Christine Robinson 23), Bigfork 98 (Alanis Stallknecht 25). Assists – Ronan 35 (Robinson 31), Bigfork 42 (Josie Spoklie 40). Aces – Ronan 6 (Sydnee Clairmont 3), Bigfork 12 (Stallknecht 4, Abby Amidon 4).

Deer Lodge def. Plains, 3-0

Deer Lodge def. Plains, 25-23, 25-11, 25-20.

Kills – Plains 21 (Felicia Earhart 6), Deer Lodge 24 (Lacie Thomas 8). Blocks – Plains 5 (Leah Thompson 2, Hailey Phillips 2), Deer Lodge 4 (Shayla Therriault 2). Digs – Plains 55 (Kimberly Earhart 14), Deer Lodge 43 (Thomas 12). Assists – Plains 11 (F. Earhart 8), Deer Lodge 21 (Bailee Senecal 19). Aces – Plains 3 (3 tied with 1), Deer Lodge 12 (Natalie Padovich 4).

Florence def. Troy, 3-0

Florence def. Troy, 25-14, 25-21, 25-8.

Kills – Troy 10 (Katie Lundin 4, Kellie Lundin 4), Florence 44 (Sabrina Hopcroft 23). Blocks – Troy 3 (Katie Lundin 2), Florence 7 (Hopcroft 2, Megan Kowalski 2). Digs – Troy 30 (Taylor Brown 8), Florence 46 (Kristyne Drozdz 20). Assists – Troy 10 (Brenna Garrison 10), Florence 39 (Rylie Hawkins 31). Aces – Troy 5 (Megan Hight 2), Florence 9 (3 tied with 2).

Loyola Sacred Heart def. Thompson Falls, 3-1

Loyola def. Thompson Falls, 25-13, 25-23, 16-25, 25-23.

Kills – Loyola 35 (Sierra Tiede 11), T. Falls 36 (Shasta Wilson 10, Logan Beckman 10). Blocks – Loyola 7 (Sierra Tiede 5.5), T. Falls 12 (Shey Hannum 7). Digs – Loyola 40 (Olivia Round 17), T. Falls 84 (Madison Fitchett 15, Beckman 15). Assists – Loyola 32 (Sadie Crippen 28), T. Falls 34 (Erica Sorlie 32). Aces – Loyola 12 (Kristen Elliott 8), T. Falls 4 (Hannum 2).

Frenchtown, C-Falls spikers the favorites at NWA divisional

The Daily Inter Lake

Last year’s Northwestern A divisional volleyball tournament was filled with surprises.

There were upsets galore.

Frenchtown and Columbia Falls both went 2-6 in league play during the regular season, but wound up finishing 1-2, respectively, at the divisional tournament.

Frenchtown went on to place second at state, forcing two championship matches with Laurel in the double-elimination event.

Columbia Falls was eliminated in two matches.

This year ... who knows what will transpire at the divisional and what two teams will advance to state.

Frenchtown and Columbia Falls would appear to be the heavy favorites as they finished 1-2 during the regular season with marks of 8-0 and 6-2, respectively.

Whitefish, last year’s regular-season champion, Libby and Polson were all 2-6 in league play.

All three have the underdog roles this time.

Action begins today at Polson High School with a play-in match between Libby and Polson at 11 a.m.

Frenchtown will play that winner at 3 p.m.

Columbia Falls and Whitefish meet at 1 p.m.

Northwestern A divisional

Today/Saturday

At Polson

Top Two Finishers Advance To State

Today

Play-in Match

11 a.m. — Libby vs. Polson

Opening Round

1 p.m. — Columbia Falls vs. Whitefish

3 p.m. — Frenchtown vs. Libby/Polson Winner

Loser Out Match

5 p.m. — Libby/Polson loser vs. Whitefish/Columbia Falls loser

Semifinal

7 p.m.

————

Saturday

Loser Out

Noon

Third Place

2 p.m.

Championship Match

4 p.m.