STATE VOLLEYBALL: Columbia Falls rolls into semis; Whitefish hangs tough

BOZEMAN — Challenges have been hard to find for the defending Class A state champs.

Columbia Falls has been pushed some by its rival, Whitefish, in a handful of matches, and has dropped a set here and there along the way but, for the most part, the 2016 season and its inevitable march back to the state tournament — and, quite possibly, another state title — has felt like a coronation.

So when Billings Central beat the Wildkats in the first game Thursday night at the all-class state tournament at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, it was an unusual spot for coach Jessy Matthews and her team.

It didn’t mean, however, that the ’Kats didn’t know how to respond.

Columbia Falls finished a 2-0 day with a come-from-behind 27-29, 25-22, 25-17, 25-11 win over the Rams to close within two wins of an undefeated season and a second straight championship.

“It’s good for them,” Matthews said of the slow start against Billings Central. “If we just rolled all the time it would be a different mindset. It’s good to keep them in check a little bit like that and know that when we don’t play to our potential, we’re beatable.”

The Rams led most of the way in game one and were up 23-20 before Columbia Falls nearly pulled off a stunning comeback, even earning a game point at 27-26. Matthews pointed proudly to her team’s resiliency late in that game.

“We came out pretty flat and they were able to just really dig in at the end of that,” she said. “Even though we dropped that first set, it gave us the momentum going into the rest of the match and that’s something.

“We know our skill level but here it’s more about playing with heart and just making sure that we want it more.”

The Wildkats (21-0) beat Sidney to open the day 25-11, 25-16, 25-14.

Morgan Stenger had nine kills, three blocks and eight digs to lead Columbia Falls against Sidney. She put down 19 kills and added six blocks against the Rams.

Whitefish was also in action Thursday and split its two contests. The Bulldogs won a thriller, 25-10, 25-21, 20-25, 22-25, 15-13 against Lewistown in the first round before Belgrade swept Whitefish 25-16, 25-16, 25-19 in the last match of the night.

“I thought our girls fought really hard,” Whitefish coach Jackie Fuller said. “I thought they played as well as they could and never gave up, never gave in.

“That’s something I’m really proud of them for.”

Whitefish sprinted out to a tremendous start against the Golden Eagles, leading after every point in the first two games. Lewistown closed well in the second game, however, and rattled off wins in the next two games to seemingly wrest away control.

But the Bulldogs showed their composure in a wild game five, blowing a 7-2 lead only to come back from down 10-8 to take the fifth game 15-13 and win the match.

“They just never give up,” Fuller said. “They’re going to stick in there and they’re going to play hard no matter what.”

Katie Doorn led the Bulldogs with 16 kills against Lewistown. Libby Nagler handed out 36 assists and Cailyn Ross had four aces.

Whitefish will play a loser-out match today at 2 p.m. against either Sidney or Sidney or Dillon. Columbia Falls is on the court at 6 p.m. against Belgrade.

The tournament concludes on Saturday.

First Round

Columbia Falls def. Sidney 25-11, 25-16, 25-14

Kills - Sidney 21 (N/A), Columbia Falls 33 (Morgan Stenger 9, Kaitlyn Casazza 8). Blocks - Sidney 1 (N/A), Columbia Falls 6 (Kiara Burlage 3, Stenger 3). Assists - Sidney 19 (N/A), Columbia Falls 25 (Cydney Finberg 24). Digs - Sidney 31 (N/A), Columbia Falls 36 (Stenger 8, Burlage 8). Aces - Sidney 1 (N/A), Columbia Falls 8 (Finberg 3, KJ Schweikert 2).

Whitefish def.

Lewistown 25-10, 25-21, 20-25, 22-25, 15-13

Kills - Lewistown 44 (Carley Carpenter 11), Whitefish 48 (Katie Doorn 16). Blocks - Lewistown 5 (Ajiah Ross 3), Whitefish 1 (Cailyn Ross 1). Assists - Lewistown 37 (Mikayla Comes 34), Whitefish 41 (Libby Nagler 36). Digs - Lewistown 80 (Bailey Collins 28), Whitefish 59 (Serena Hemmingson 15). Aces - Lewistown 7 (Collins 3), Whitefish 8 (Ross 4).

Second Round

Columbia Falls def.

Billings Central 27-29, 25-22, 25-17, 25-11

Kills - Columbia Falls 61 (Morgan Stenger 19, Kiara Burlage 17), Billings Central 30 (Sydney Hawbaker 9). Blocks - Columbia Falls 10 (Stenger 6), Billings Central 12 (Olivia Moten-Schell 5). Assists - Columbia Falls 53 (Cydney Finberg 47), Billings Central 26 (Devin Nielsen 25). Digs - Columbia Falls 116 (Kaitlyn Casazza 28), Billings Central 82 (Avery Hadley 27). Aces - Columbia Falls 6 (Casazza 4), Billings Central 11 (Laura Sterup 5).

Belgrade def. Whitefish 25-16, 25-16, 25-19

Kills - Whitefish 24 (Cailyn Ross 7), Belgrade 33 (Bailey Christensen 12). Blocks - Whitefish 3 (Libby Nagler 2), Belgrade 12 (Sydney Lambeth 6). Assists - Whitefish 20 (Nagler 19), Belgrade 24 (Shania Neubauer 20). Digs - Whitefish 48 (Serena Hemmingson 23), Belgrade N/A (Taylor Christensen 16).

Other A Boxes

Billings Central def.

Dillon 21-25, 25-16, 25-11, 25-16

Billings Central: Kills 37 (Sydney Hawbaker 13, Bailey Kufeld 11). Assists 37 (Devin Nielsen 37). Aces 7 (Hailey Keller 5). Digs 15 (Kufeld 21). Blocks 10 (Laura Sterup 5, Hawbaker 5).

Dillon: Kills 25 (Brynley Fitzgerald 10). Assists 24 (Bailey Berriochoa 23). Aces 3 (Fitzgerald 2). Digs 61 (Kylie Christiansen 26). Blocks 10 (Nicole Hritsco 3.5).

Belgrade def.

Corvallis 25-17, 25-16, 20-25, 25-23

Belgrade: Kills 43 (Bailey Christensen 16). Assists 34 (Shania Neubauer 32). Aces 9 (three with three). Digs 57 (Taylor Christensen 16, B. Christensen 14). Blocks 6 (Brooke Gilbertson 2.5).

Corvallis: Kills 37 (Genesis Keith 10). Assists 33 (Kate Hurlbert 30). Aces 9 (Keith 3). Digs 76 (Kenzie Jessop 24). Blocks 5 (Maureen Jessop 24).