STATE VOLLEYBALL: Columbia Falls seeking to defend Class A crown
<p>Columbia Falls senior Morgan Stenger smashes the game-winning shot over Flathead senior Sierra Siblerud in the second set at Flathead on Thursday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<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>
<p>Glacier's Anna Schrade (15) Nikki Krueger (23) and Abi Fiske (16) celebrate a point during the first game against Flathead at Glacier on Thursday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
As buses roll into Bozeman from around the state, one team is rolling better than any other this season.
Columbia Falls (19-0) enters today’s all-class state volleyball tournament having only dropped one set on the way to the Western A division title last weekend. The Wildkats, defending Class A champions, will look to keep that momentum going as their title defense begins at 10 a.m. today at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on the campus of Montana State University.
Columbia Falls opens double-elimination play against Sidney, the fourth seed from Eastern A. Should the Wildkats advance, they would play the winner of the opening round match between Billings Central and Dillon later in the day.
Whitefish, which fought tooth and nail to take a set off Columbia Falls in the Western A championship match, will open against Eastern A third seed Lewistown two matches later at 2 p.m.
A win in the opener would pit the Bulldogs against the winner of Belgrade and Corvallis in the final match of tonight’s opening day of play.
Glacier proved to be the second-best team in the Western AA this season, and earned an early bid and a week break ahead of its trip to Bozeman.
The Wolfpack, the only team to take a set off Class AA title favorite Missoula Sentinel this season, enter as one of the top teams competing for a trophy this season.
Glacier opens its tournament at noon against Eastern AA third seed Billings West. Should the Wolfpack win, it would get a tough second round match later in the day, matching up with either Helena High or perennial state title contender Billings Senior, the top seed from the East.
Sentinel opens against Billings Skyview and Helena Capital plays home team Bozeman on the other side of the bracket.
Bozeman is the defending state champion in Class AA and will again be one of the favorites to be playing on Saturday.
Eureka, Libby and Bigfork fell short of a bid in the divisional round, leaving just Thompson Falls to represent District 7B at the meet.
The top team from the district in the regular season, the Blue Hawks fought back from an early upset at divisionals to claim the second seed from the West. Thompson Falls will open the tournament against Northern B second seed Fairfield at 4 p.m.
With a win, the Blue Hawks would play either Shelby or Southern B champion Huntley Project.
Huntley Project has played in the state title game in 11 of the last 13 seasons winning nine titles.
Western B champion Florence will open against Joliet at noon and would play the winner of a match between powerhouses Choteau and Red Lodge in the second round. Choteau is the Northern B champion and Red Lodge the defending Class B champion.
Class C opens with a match between Eastern C champion Broadus and Great Falls Central, followed by a match between Southern C champion Hobson/Moore/Judith Gap and Gardiner.
Western C champion Ennis will open against Custer Hysham and Northern C champion Belt opens against Circle.
Matches will be played through Saturday. Championship matches are scheduled to start at 1 p.m. on the final day. A second championship is scheduled, if needed for 3 p.m. on Saturday.