VOLLEYBALL: Wildkats roar past Bravettes
<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>
Kaitlyn Casazza put down 11 kills and defending Class A state champion Columbia Falls went on the road and rolled through banged-up Flathead 25-14, 25-20, 25-18 Thursday night.
The Wildkats (1-0) are the odds-on favorites to repeat as state champions and have played like it so far this season, going 10-0 at the Whitefish Tip-Off tournament last weekend before Thursday’s demolition of a Bravettes team that won a match at the Class AA state tournament a year ago.
Flathead (0-3) was facing a bit of a rebuild going into this season and the task became even tougher last weekend when senior Alyssa Wisher was lost to an injury.
“Columbia Falls is a great team, you can definitely tell they have state championship confidence,” Flathead coach Courtney Baker said.
“My girls played with a lot of heart, we’re just covering a lot of areas and learning to play without one of our friends.”
The senior-laden Wildkats piled up 39 kills in the win and got 24 assists from all-state setter Cydney Finberg.
“They played really well,” Columbia Falls coach Jessy Matthews said. “They’re starting to play like seniors out on the court, making good decisions with their hitting, and our serving is looking really strong right now. That’s been a good weapon for us.”
Tiana Johnson led Flathead in kills (six), blocks (two) and digs (six). Bailey Nunn dished out 10 assists in a losing effort.
The Bravettes have a week off before returning to the court Thursday against Billings Skyview in Great Falls. Columbia Falls travels to take on Corvallis Saturday at 10 a.m.
Columbia Falls def. Flathead 25-14, 25-20, 25-18
Kills — Flathead 14 (Tiana Johnson 6), Columbia Falls 39 (Kaitlyn Casazza 11). Blocks — Flathead 5 (Johnson 2), Columbia Falls 3 (no leader). Digs — Flathead 24 (Johnson 6), Columbia Falls 39 (Kiara Burlage 8). Assists — Flathead 14 (Bailey Nunn 10), Columbia Falls 30 (Cydney Finberg 24). Aces — Flathead 6 (Abbi Chavez, Nunn 2), Columbia Falls 7 (Casazza, Anna Nicosia 2).