Volleyball: Wildkats divisional champs, again
LIBBY — Columbia Falls repeated as Northwestern A Divisional volleyball champions on Saturday, downing Frenchtown 23-25, 26-24, 25-17, 25-13 in the championship match.
The Wildkats finished the two-day tournament with a three victories.
Columbia Falls went 8-0 versus its Northwestern foes during the regular season and beat Frenchtown in semifinal play on Friday, 3-1.
“It’s been a great season,” Columbia Falls coach Josie Brown said.
“We’re looking forward to state.”
The Wildkats (15-1)will be making their third-straight trip to the Class A state tournament, which begins Thursday in Bozeman.
Frenchtown moved on to the championship match by downing Libby 3-1 in the third-place match earlier in the day.
“Frenchtown came in fired up,” Brown said for the title match.
“They just beat Libby.”
Brown said she changed her rotation a little bit and her players settled down to pull out the win in the second set.
“We got into the flow of things, then things took off,” Brown said.
“They played fantastic.”
Again, Columbia Falls had a balanced attack with Ciera Finberg totaling 16 kills and Carla Nicosia and Winter Kemppainen both had 11.
Finberg also led in aces with four.
Kemppainen led in blocks with six and Cydney Finberg had five.
Kemppainen was second in digs with 14 and aces with two.
“Ciera Finberg had a phenomenal weekend,” Brown said.
“Both (Finberg and Kemppainen) of them did. They both played really well.”
Frenchtown also advances to state for the third-straight season.
Championship Match
Columbia Falls def. Frenchtown
23-25, 26-24, 25-17, 25-13
Kills — Columbia Falls 52 (Ciera Finberg 16, Carla Nicosia 11, Winter Kemppainen 11), Frenchtown NA; Blocks — Columbia Falls 12 (Kemppainen 6, Cydney Finberg 5), Frenchtown NA; Assists — Columbia Falls 44 (Cydney Finberg 37), Frenchtown NA; Digs — Columbia Falls 74 (Shaylene Fishel 23, Kemppainen 14), Frenchtown NA: Aces — Columbia Falls 12 (Ciera Finberg 4, Fishel 2, Kemppainen 2, Keavyn Baker 2), Frenchtown NA.
Third Place
Frenchtown def. Libby 9-25, 25-12, 25-16, 25-23
Kills — Frenchtown NA, Libby 46 (Devon Gallagher 14, Hailey Craig 9, Hailley Moe 8, Staci Regh 7); Blocks — Frenchtown NA, Libby 5 (Moe 2); Assists — Frenchtown NA, Libby 32 (Hannah England 30); Digs — Frenchtown NA, Libby 57 (Mahalah Wedel 15, Craig 12, Moe 11); Aces — Frenchtown NA, Libby 11 (Regh 4).
Loser Out
Libby def. Polson 25-20, 25-18, 25-23
Kills — Libby 44 (Hailley Moe 14, Devon Gallagher 9, Hailey Craig 8), Polson 21 (Haley Fyant 12); Blocks — Libby 3 (Staci Regh, Cierra Stewart, Moe), Polson 7 (Fyant 2, Taylor Rost 2); Assists — Libby 44 (Hannah England 39), Polson 16 (Jaiden Toth 16); Digs — Libby 85 (Mahalah Wedel 24, Moe 17), Polson 65 (Libby Clay 15, Lydia Dupuis 12); Aces — Libby 12 (England 5), Polson 3.
Western B Divisional
Saturday at Ronan
Second Championship Match
Florence def. Loyola Sacred Heart
25-22, 25-15, 25-17
Kills – Florence 46 (Sabrina Hopcroft 14), Loyola 27 (Sierra Tiede 15). Blocks – Florence 8 (Hopcroft 3), Loyola 5 (Tiede 4). Digs – Florence 83 (Kristyne Drozdz 30), Loyola 50 (Olivia Round 12, Sam Tiede 11). Assists – Florence 46 (Rylie Hawkins 46), Loyola 27 (Kelcey Daily 14, Sadie Crippen 13). Aces – Florence 4 (Hopcroft 3), Loyola 1 (Kristen Elliott).
First Championship Match
Florence def. Loyola Sacred Heart
25-22, 25-21, 26-24
Kills – Florence 43 (Sabrina Hopcroft 25), Loyola 26 (Sierre Tiede 11). Blocks – Florence 6 (Jessica Dufresne 4), Loyola 9 (S. Tiede 4). Digs – Florence 130 (Kristyne Drozdz 40), Loyola 101 (Samantha Tiede 27). Assists – Florence 42 (Rylie Hawkins 42), Loyola 26 (Sadie Crippen 15). Aces – Florence 7 (Jessica Dufresne 2), Loyola 7 (Sam Tiede 2).
Third Place
Florence def. Thompson Falls
27-25, 25-17, 25-22
Kills – Tho. Falls 32 (Madison Fitchett 8, Shey Hannum 8, Autrey Hannum 8), Florence 47 (Sabrina Hopcroft 25). Blocks – Tho. Falls 9 (S. Hannum 5), Florence 5 (Megan Kowalski 2). Digs – Tho. Falls 54 (Sierra Sorlie 10, Logan Beckman 9), Florence 62 (Kristyne Drozdz 30). Assists – Tho. Falls 25 (Beckman 25), Florence 46 (Rylie Hawkins 46). Aces – Tho. Falls 3 (Logan Beckman 2), Florence 5 (Five with one).