Florence wins Western B volleyball; Bigfork 3rd

ANACONDA — Florence captured the Western B divisional volleyball championship on Saturday by defeating Thompson Falls 20-25, 25-23, 25-19, 23-25, 15-10 in a wild, marathon title match.

Florence went 4-0 in the three-day tournament by downing, in order, Thompson Falls, Eureka, Bigfork and Thompson Falls, again, in the double-elimination event.

Florence was the top seed from 6B for the tournament while Thompson Falls was the fourth seed from 7B.

Thompson Falls earned a second shot at Florence by dropping Bigfork earlier in the day in another dramatic five-set affair 27-25, 18-25, 8-25, 26-24, 16-14.

Bigfork had 66 kills versus just 35 for Thompson Falls. Bigfork was led by Abby Ellison with 27 and Abbie Fraley with 24.

Bigfork also held an edge statistics wise in digs 72-64, assists 60-31 and aces 11-5.

Both teams had seven blocks.

Bigfork was the second seed from 7B for the divisional.

Florence and Thompson Falls both advance to the Class B state tournament in Bozeman, which begins Thursday in Brick Breeden Fieldhouse at Montana State University.

Northern B and Southern B divisionals both advance three teams to state play.

Western B divisional

Saturday

Championship Match

No stats for Thompson Falls

Florence — Kills 57 (Autumn Round 19). Assists 52 (Shay Waldbillig 47). Aces 10 (Hudsyn Doty-DiBrito 3). Digs 49 (Doty-DiBrito 14). Blocks 13 (Round 3, Megan Kowalksi 3).

Loser Out

Third Place

Thompson Falls 3, Bigfork 2

Thompson Falls — Kills 35 (Ember Schwindt 18). Assists 31 (Haley Wilson 31). Aces 5 (Sierra Sorlie 2). Digs 64 (Megan McKenzie 15). Blocks 7 (NA).

Bigfork — Kills 66 (Abby Ellison 27, Abbie Fraley 24). Assists 60 (Kalia Wicklund 59). Aces 11 (A. Fraley 3, Julia Saunders 3). Digs 72 (Ellison 19, Saunders 16). Blocks 7 (Brooke Fraley 2).

Northern B divisional

Championship Match 2

Choteau def. Fairfield

25-23, 25-21, 14-25, 9-25, 15-7

Choteau — Kills 50 (Molly Salmond 17). Assists 41 (Cassidy Krone 41). Aces 11 (C. Krone 5). Digs 71 (Sophie King 14). Blocks 22 (Megan Krone 10).

Fairfield: Kills 43 (Natalie Klinker 17). Assists 40 (Brooke Poor 36). Aces 10 (Amelia Konan 3). Digs 100 (Allix Goldhahn 19). Blocks 4 (Klinker 2).

Championship Match 1

Fairfield def. Choteau

20-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 15-10

Fairfield —Kills 49 (Natalie Klinker 21). Assists 42 (Brooke Poor 36). Aces 12 (Alexis McWilliams 4). Digs 102 (Allix Goldhahn 18, Amelia Konen 18). Blocks 15 (Goldhahn 6).

Choteau — Kills 50 (Molly Salmond 14). Assists 50 (Cassidy Krone 48). Aces 9 (Krone 4). Digs 77 (Sophie King 22). Blocks 29 (Salmond 7).

Fairfield def. Shelby 25-21, 21-25, 25-19, 25-18

Fairfield: Kills 34 (Natalie Klinker 11). Assists 32 (Brooke Poor 29). Aces 7 (Allix Goldhahn 3). Digs 98 (Goldhahn 26). Blocks 6 (Klinker 4).

Shelby — Kills 38 (Abbey Aklestad 10). Assists 26 (Brittany Brusven 16). Aces 10 (Skyler Martin 3, Brusven 3). Digs 65 (Allisa Buck 19). Blocks 8 (Maddy Hellinger 4, Lexi Robison 4).