Stillwater girls battle back, win state volleyball title

The Stillwater Christian School girls volleyball team may have been a little down after Friday’s semifinal loss at the Montana Christian Athletic Association state volleyball tournament at Stillwater.

But the Cougars were never out.

Not for one minute.

Stillwater battled back to beat Yellowstone County Homeschool 25-18, 25-23, 22-25, 20-25, 19-17 in a loser-out contest, then followed by dumping Foothill Christian School from Great Falls 25-22, 25-27, 25-16, 18-25, 15-13 and 25-14, 29-27, 25-18 to claim the state championship in the double-elimination event.

“What an incredible team effort,” Stillwater coach Diane Smith said.

“One-hundred percent effort was made by each one of the girls.

“Great leadership from our senior Alisa Venman and juniors Dorothy Smith and Adrianna Lambert to push our four freshman to step up and dominate the final match,” she continued.

“Freshman setter Ramey Metzger stayed steady and consistent, Helen Hashley was unstoppable at the net and game-changing defense came from Cora Boll and Claire Mackay. Right side Kelsey Hughes stepped up and put the ball to the floor just when the team needed it.”

Stillwater finished the seson with a 16-12 overall mark. The team was 6-0 in league matches.

In the first championship match with Foothills, Venman had six of the team’s 16 aces, Metzger totaled 33 of the 41 assists, Venman had 22 of the 77 digs, Hashley led with five of the team’s seven blocks and Smith and Hashley both had 17 kills. The team kill total was 48.

In the second championship match, Venman had five aces and Metzger four. The team totaled 16.

Metzger had 18 of the 21 assists; Venman totaled 14 of the 52 digs by Stillwater, Hashley had three of the five blocks and Hashley led in kills with 11 while Smith added eight. The team had 26.

Flathead Valley Homeschool went 1-2 in state tournament play.

Thursday

Heritage Christian def. FVHS

25-18, 20-25, 25-22, 25-22

Kills — FVHS 41 (Jessica Loyda, 16); Blocks — FVHS 4 (Loyda, 2); Digs — FVHS 103 (Loyda, 29); Assists — FVHS 41 (Leah Ehlers, 21); Aces — FVHS 13 (Ehlers, 5)

Friday

FVHS def. Billings Christian

26-24, 25- 20, 25-14

Kills — FVHS 41 (Loyda, 21); Blocks —FVHS 5 (Loyda, 5); Digs — FVHS 85 (Loyda 18); Assists — FVHS 24 (Ehlers 19); Aces — FVHS 15 (Loyda, 7).

Yellowstone County Homeschool

def. FVHS (scores not available)

Kills — FVHS 25 (Loyda, 13)  Yellowstone, NA

Blocks — FVHS 5 (Loyda, 4) Yellowstone, NA

Digs — FVHS 58 (Elizabeth Hemingway 13); Assists — FVHS 19 (Ehlers, 18); Aces — FVHS 7 (Loyda, 6)