Postseason volleyball starts with Big Sky at Flathead
Postseason volleyball action begins tonight with two Class AA play-in matches.
In the Western Division, sixth-seed Flathead hosts seventh-seed Missoula Big Sky at 6 p.m. The winner moves on to play at third-seed Helena Capital later this week. That winner advances to the state tournament in Bozeman on Nov. 10-12.
Seventh-seed Butte plays at Great Falls C.M. Russell at 6 p.m. in the Eastern Division. That winner advances to play at third-seed Billings West later this week for a trip to state.
Flathead and Big Sky split during the regular season. Big Sky prevailed 3-2 in Missoula back on Sept. 20 while Flathead won at home in three on Oct. 4.
The top two teams in both divisions have automatically qualified for state — top-ranked Missoula Sentinel and No. 4 Glacier from the Western and No. 2 Bozeman and No. 3 Billings Senior from the Eastern.
Class AA Volleyball
Coaches Poll
Final, Oct. 31
Here are the results of the weekly AA Montana Volleyball Coaches Poll. The ratings are based on 5 points for each first place vote, 4 points for second place vote, etc. First places votes are in parentheses.
Pts
1. Missoula Sentinel (14) 70
2. Bozeman 50 3. Billings Senior 44
4. Glacier 27
5. Billings West 12
Also receiving votes: Capital (7 pts)
Standings
Western Division
League Overall
W L W L
Missoula Sentinel 12 0 22 0
Glacier 9 3 17 8
Helena Capital 8 4 12 11
Helena High 7 5 13 9
Missoula Hellgate 3 9 7 15
Flathead 2 10 3 18
Missoula Big Sky 1 11 5 18
Eastern Division
Billings Senior 11 1 25 3
Bozeman 11 1 22 3
Billings West 8 4 14 14
Billings Skyview 6 6 16 10
Great Falls High 3 9 11 11
Great Falls C.M. Russell 3 9 7 15
Butte 0 12 1 19
Western A
Columbia Falls hosts this divisional, which begins Thursday.
The Wildkats (14-0 overall, 6-0 Northwest A) are also the defending state champions.
The tournament runs through Saturday.
The top four teams advance to state in Bozeman on Nov. 10-12.
Opening-Round Schedule
Thursday
10 a.m. — Frenchtown vs. Hamilton
Noon — Butte Central vs. Whitefish
2 p.m. — Dillon vs. Polson
4 p.m. — Stevensville vs. Columbia Falls
6 p.m. — Corvallis vs. winner of Frenchtown/Hamilton
Western B
Anaconda hosts the divisional, which also begins Thursday.
The top two teams advance to state.
Libby, Eureka, Bigfork, Thompson Falls are the 1-2-3-4 seeds from 7B.
Florence, Anaconda, Ronan and Deer Lodge are the 1-2-3-4 seeds from 6B.
The tournament ends Saturday.
Opening-Round Schedule
Thursday
10 a.m. — Florence vs. Thompson Falls
Noon — Eureka vs. Ronan
2 p.m. — Libby vs. Deer Lodge
4 p.m. — Anaconda vs. Bigfork.