Volleyball roundup: Stillwater moves on to MCAA semis, Bigfork sweeps Eureka

Stillwater Christian School advanced to semifinal play by posting two victories on Thursday during first-day action at the Montana Christian Athletic Association state volleyball tournament at Stillwater.

Stillwater defeated Great Falls Homeschool 25-22, 25-17, 25-13 in the opening session, then the Cougars played Yellowstone County Homeschool in the second round and won 22-25, 26-24, 25-23, 25-13.

Against Great Falls for Stillwater, Alyssa Venman had six aces, Ramey Metzger totaled 26 assists, Dorothy Smith and Helena Hashley had 10 kills each, Smith had 12 digs and Venman 11.

In the Yellowstone match, Hashley had 13 kills, Smith and Metzger both had one block, Smith collected 17 digs, Metzger had 19 assists and Venman had four aces.

Stillwater will face Foothills Christian School in the semifinals tonight at 6.

The tournament ends Saturday.

Bigfork 3, Eureka 0

BIGFORK — Bigfork won it second-straight District 7B contest, stopping Eureka 25-22, 25-22, 25-18 in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Miranda Campbell led Bigfork in kills (seven) and blocks (two).

Lana Berg also had two blocks for Bigfork (2-6 in league play) and a team high three aces.

Amanda Peterson had nine kills and 14 digs for Eureka. Kaylee Kronsperger was next with eight kills and 14 digs.

“We played great,” Bigfork coach Schuyler Baird said.

“It was a complete team effort. Our outside hitters are coming right along.”

Wilson Vogt, who moved up to varsity from the JV ranks, turned in another solid performance. She had 15 of Bigfork’s 50 digs.

“She’s playing her heart out,” Baird said of Vogt.

“That’s what we need.”

Up next for Bigfork, the fourth seed in 7B, is a district tournament play-in game on Oct. 31 in Thompson Falls at 10 a.m. versus No. 5 seed Troy. That winner advances to the tournament, which starts later in the day. Eureka (9-8 overall, 4-4), the third seed, will play Libby, the second seed, at noon in tournament play.

Kills — Eureka 25 (Amanda Peterson 9, Kaylee Kronsperger 8); Bigfork 30 (Miranda Campbell 7), Blocks — Eureka 4 (Kassi Peterson 2), Bigfork 5 (Campbell 2, Lana Berg 2); Assists — Eureka 22 (Liz Pacella 13, Ashlyn Waldo 8); Bigfork 27 (Kalia Wicklund 27); Digs — Eureka 69 (A. Peterson 14, Kronsperger 14); Bigfork 50 (Wilson Vogt 15); Aces — Eureka 3; Bigfork 4 (Berg 3).

Loyola 3, Polson 0

MISSOULA — It was all Missoula Loyola as the Heartbreakers dropped Polson 25-18, 25-15, 25-21 in a nonconference matchup.

Haley Fyant had eight kills and three aces, both hits for Polson.

Sierra Tiede had 18 of Loyola’s 29 blocks and led in digs with 14.

Kills — Polson 15 (Haley Fyant 8), Loyola 29 (Sierra Tiede 18); Blocks — Polson 6 (Kaelyn Smith 2), Loyola 3 (3 with 1); Digs — Polson 24 (Lydia Dupuis 12), Loyola 56 (Tiede 14); Assists — Polson 20 (Erin Sampson 14), Loyola 29 (Jacy Job 29); Aces — Polson 5 (Fyant 3), Loyola 8 (Maddie Kaleva 4).