VOLLEYBALL: Wildkats flawless at Tip-Off tournament
<p>Whitefish junior Cailyn Ross stuffs the ball at the net for a point against Hamilton during the Northwest vs. Southwest Tip-Off tournament in Whitefish on Saturday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
WHITEFISH — Defending Class A state volleyball champion Columbia Falls stormed through the two-day Northwest vs. Southwest Tip-Off event, finishing with a perfect 10-0 record and claiming the tournament title on Saturday.
The Wildkats defeated Butte Central in the championship match to conclude an unblemished weekend.
Columbia Falls went 6-0 on Friday.
Whitefish posted the second-best record at the 10-team tournament, going 8-2, but the host Bulldogs were beaten by Corvallis — representing the Southwest — in the third-place match.
Polson and Eureka both went 3-7.
Northwest vs. Southwest Tip-Off tournament
At Whitefish High School
Saturday’s Results
#5 SW Hamilton def. #5 NW Frenchtown
#4 NW Polson def. #4 SW Dillon
#3 SW Stevensville def. #3 NW Eureka
#2 SW Corvallis def. #2 NW Whitefish
#1 NW Columbia Falls def. #1 SW Butte Central
Final Standings
Northwest
1. Columbia Falls 10-0
2. Whitefish 8-2
3. Eureka 3-7
4. Polson 3-7
5. Frenchtown 0-10
Southwest
1. Butte Central 6-4
2. Corvallis 6-4
3. Stevensville 5-5
4. Dillon 5-5
5. Hamilton 4-6
Polson Statistical Leaders
Saturday
Kills — Haley Fyant 13, Lauren Lefthand 13, Hannah Fryberger 7; Aces — Laurel Bitterman 3, Paige Noyes 2, Kaelyn Smith 2; Assists — Smith 31, Bitterman 6, Kyler Kundeen 6; Digs — Lundeen 10, Fyant 6, Bitterman 4
Friday
Kills — Fyant 18; Blocks — Fyant, Lefthand, Mikaela Ducharme 3; Digs — Bitterman 21; Assists — Smith 23; Aces — Fryberger 6.
Glacier starts with sweep
Glacier opened the season with a pair of victories on its home court, taking down both Great Falls schools.
The Wolfpack (2-0) defeated Great Falls High 25-11, 25-18, 25-15 in the morning, then came back to beat Great Falls C.M. Russell 19-25, 25-16, 26-24, 25-21 to round out the day.
“Good opening day,” Glacier coach Christy Harkins said.
“It’s great to be able to play someone else besides each other and it’s great to see where you stack up.”
Nikki Krueger led the Wolfpack with nine kills in the first match, with Kali Gulick adding five blocks.
Gulick put down 14 kills against the Rustlers and Abi Fiske added four blocks.
Glacier def. Great Falls 25-11, 25-18, 25-15
Kills — Glacier 24 (Nikki Krueger 9). Blocks — Glacier 8 (Kali Gulick 5). Digs — Glacier 41 (Brietta Russell 13). Assists — Glacier 22 (Ashley Montini 13). Aces — Glacier 7 (Krueger 4).
Glacier def. Great Falls C.M. Russell 19-25, 25-16, 26-24, 25-21
Kills — Glacier 45 (Kali Gulick 14). Blocks — Glacier 11 (Abi Fiske 4). Digs — Glacier 60 (Brietta Russell 22). Assists — Glacier 37 (Ashley Montini 20). Aces — Glacier 3 (Anna Schrade 2).
Flathead falls twice
Flathead senior Alyssa Wisher was injured in the first match of the day at Glacier High School and the Bravettes dropped a pair of matches to open the season.
Great Falls C.M. Russell beat Flathead in five games and Great Falls High knocked off the Bravettes in four.
Flathead coach Courtney Baker took some positives out of the day.
“It was awesome to see younger girls get in and step up,” she said.
“But just kind of a sad day for the team.”
No other information on the matches was available.