Tough start for spikers at state
The Daily Inter Lake
BOZEMAN — It was a rough first round for area teams at the 2018 All-Class State Volleyball Tournament on Thursday at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse at Montana State University.
Libby was the lone victor, downing Hardin 26-24, 20-25, 25-18, 25-12 in its Class A opener.
Billings Central, on the other hand, defeated Columbia Falls 20-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-14 while Belgrade topped Whitefish in their Class A matchups 25-15, 25-15, 25-5.
In Class AA, Bozeman escaped with a 25-22, 25-22, 25-17 victory over Flathead.
The second round was rougher for Libby, however, as it lost 3-0 to Belgrade (28-2), last year’s state runners-up. The scores: 25-17, 25-18, 25-13.
So it’s loser-out action today for all four: Columbia Falls (15-8), versus Glendive at 10 a.m.; Whitefish (13-9), versus Hardin at noon; Flathead (19-12), versus Great Falls C.M. Russell at noon; and Libby (22-6) vs. the Columbia Falls/Glendive winner at 2 p.m.
The double-elimination event ends Saturday.
Bozeman held a big edge in kills, 44-27, on the Bravettes and in digs, 69-45.
Bozeman had plenty of power and balance at the net, led by Sasha Hathaway’s 10 kills. Mara Lynch was next with nine and Bella Wanderer added eight.
Madde Boles registered 10 for Flathead.
Flathead’s Sierra Wilhelm led the Bravettes in assists with 21 and digs with 14.
Hannah O’Dell had seven of Flathead’s eight blocks.
Libby, on the other hand, had a positive start.
“I feel like we’re ready to go now,” Libby coach Cindy Ostrem-Johnston said after the Loggers opening win.
“We were down (12-10) in the fourth set when Linsey Walker went back to the service line. She was still back there when it was 25-12. She served that many in a row, along with the help of the team.
“Jessika (Jones) came on strong for us in the fourth set.”
Jones finished with nine kills, behind Mehki Sykes, who had a monster performance with 25, and Jayden Winslow with a steady 16.
“All three were pretty efficient,” Ostrem-Johnston said.
Libby had 57 kills to 40 for Hardin.
“I was putting a lot of pressure on the back row,” Ostrem-Johnston said for the opener.
“They stepped up to the challenge, responded well.”
“Emma (Gruber) had 27 digs. They were all doing good things all the way around.”
Libby totaled 78 digs. Winslow was second with 18 and Walker added 16.
“We dropped the second set to them,” Ostrem-Johnston said.
“It’s not what we wanted to do. But they bounced back strong in the third and fourth set. It’s always good to get that first win.”
In Class B, Choteau (21-1) suffered its first loss as Roundup pulled the upset, 26-24, 25-16, 25-21.
Huntley Project (32-0) advanced to the semifinals tonight at 6 against Florence-Carlton by topping Wolfpoint 3-1 and Fairfield 3-0. Huntley Project has won 65 straight matches.
All-Class State Volleyball
Thursday
At Bozeman
Class AA
First Round
Billings West def.
Missoula Hellgate 25-21, 25-19, 25-15
Billings West — Aces 3 (Tayler Larsen 1, Madeline Dawson 1, Molly Nault 1); Kills 39 (Kaitlyn Grossman 9); Assists 38 (Larsen 22, Jessica Oswalt 12); Blocks 9 (Ellie Scherffios 4); Digs 60 (Kinzee Koch 14, Dawson 10).
Missoula Hellgate — Aces 6 (Maiti Anderson 4); Kills 24 (Hannah Worden 8); Assists 20 (Liza Littig 20); Blocks 8 (Gillian Sherrill 4); Digs 42 (Jessica Eichenlaub 11, Anderson 11).
Helena High def.
Billings Senior 25-20, 25-9, 25-11
Helena High — Aces 6 (Emily Feller 3, Jamie Pickens 2); Kills 34 (Pickens 13, Taylor Hudi 8); Assists 34 (Feller 34); Blocks 5 (Elizabeth Heulser 2, Pickens 2, Emily Pizzini 2); Digs 37 (Heulser 6, Vanessa Walsh 6, Pickens 6, Feller 6).
Billings Senior — Aces 1 (Jensen Keller 1); Kills 17 (Karli Steiner 4, Olivia Easton 3, Anika Kotter 3, Olivia LaBeau 3); Assists 13 (Tavy Findon 9, Keller 3); Blocks 10 (Carlyn Whitney 3, Findon 3); Digs 32 (Steiner 11, Hallie George 6).
Helena Capital def.
Great Falls C.M. Russell 25-18, 25-14, 25-19
Helena Capital — Assists – 38 (Audrey Hofer 26), Kills – 38 (Sarah Ashley 11, Paige Bartsch 9), Digs – 40 (Dani Bartsch 9, Ashley 7), Blocks – 8 (P. Bartsch 7), Aces – 15 (Hofer 4, P. Bartsch 4)
Great Falls CMR: Assists – 12 (Tennisen Hiller 12), Kills – 15 (Allie Olsen 8, Anna Broquist 2, Maddie Mohler 2), Digs – 42 (Lauren Lindseth 14, Ally Dube 8, Olsen 7), Blocks – 4 (Mohler 3, Olsen 1, Reagan Taylor 1, Broquist 1, Hiller 1)
Bozeman def. Flathead 25-22, 25-22, 25-17
Bozeman — Assists 36 (Emma Fox 35), Kills 44 (Sasha Hathaway 10, Mara Lynch 9, Bella Wanderer 8), Digs 69 (Ayla Embry 23, Lynch 15, Sydney O’Connor 7), Blocks 4 (JoJo Radick 2, Savannah Gara 2), Aces 6 (Lynch 3)
Flathead — Assists 24 (Sierra Wilhelm 21), Kills 27 (Madde Boles 10), Digs 45 (Wilhelm 14), Blocks 8 (Hannah O’Dell 7), Aces 3 (Jenna Johnson 1, Maddie Lindbom 1, Mayson Moore 1)
Second Round
Billings West def. Helena High 25-27, 25-18, 25-14, 18-25, 15-13
Billings West — Assists 42 (Jessica Oswalt 17), Kills 48 (Kaitlyn Grossman 14), Digs 124 (Kinzee Koch 30), Blocks 14 (Shauna Stene 6, Ellie Scherffius 6), Aces 9 (Molly Nault 4)
Helena High — Assists 40 (Emily Feller 37), Kills 48 (Jamie Pickens 17), Digs 86 (Vanessa Walsh 22, Elizabeth Heuiser 15, Amelia Stoner 15), Blocks 12 (Pickens 8, Heuiser 4), Aces 9 (Heuiser 3, Katie Jenneskens 3)
Helena Capital def.
Bozeman 25-19, 26-24, 20-25, 19-25, 15-10
Stats not available by press deadline
Class A
First Round
Corvallis def. Glendive 25-21, 25-14, 25-9
Corvallis — Aces 11 (Hannah Hutchison 3, Casey Fison 3); Kills 35 (Maureen Jessop 12); Assists 35 (Hannah Martin 30); Blocks 13 (Charlotte Powell 7); Digs 48 (Martin 12, Fison 10).
Glendive — Aces 1 (Kayla Brown); Kills 23 (Meadow Torres 9, Karsen Murphy 7); Assists 23 (Bailey Pearcy 23); Blocks 3 (Murphy 2); Digs 62 (Torres 17, Pearcy 13).
Billings Central def.
Columbia Falls 20-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-14
Billings Central — Aces 5 (Christy Cox 2, Avery Hadley 2); Kills 37 (Olivia Motten-Schell 18, Blayne Meyer 6, Cindy Grey 5); Assists 32 (Sierra Schuster 30); Blocks 9 (Grey 4, Meyer 4); Digs 98 (Hadley 31, Schuster 17, Motten-Schell 15).
Libby def. Hardin 26-24, 20-25, 25-18, 25-12
Libby — Assists 51 (Alli Collins 51), Kills 57 (Mehki Sykes 25, Jayden Winslow 16, Jessika Jones 9), Digs 78 (Emma Gruber 27, Winslow 18, Linsey Walker 16), Blocks 7 (Sykes 6, Winslow 2), Aces 8 (Collins 4, Sykes 2, Walker 2)
Hardin — Assists 36 (Natalie Edgar 32, Katie Murdock 2, Mariah Simmons 1), Kills 40 (Nicole Green 15, Demi Uffleman 12, Simmons 8), Digs 71 (Uffleman 18, Murdock 15, Edgar 13), Blocks 6 (Simmons 25, Alyssa Pretty Weasel 2, Edgar 1), Aces 1 (Uffleman 1)
Belgrade def. Whitefish 25-15, 25-15, 25-5
Belgrade — Assists 23 (Jaiden Blakely 13, Olivia Cook 7), Kills 26 (Bailey Christensen 8, Cook 5, Cassidy Catron 5), Digs 31 (Taylor Christensen 9, Cook 6, Blakely 5), Blocks 9 (McKenna Carlson 5 1/2, B. Christensen 3, Reini Gordon 1/2), Aces 16 (B. Christensen 7, Catron 4, Delanee Hicks 4)
Whitefish — Assists 9 (Lauren Schulz 5), Kills 10 (Marlee Bender 3, Payton Reisinger 3), Digs 40 (Kaiah Moore 15), Blocks 2 (Bender 2), Aces 2 (Jasmine Matern 2)
Second Round
Billings Central vs. Corvallis 23-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-20
Billings Central — Assists 45 (Sierra Schuster 44), Kills 46 (Olivia MottenSchell 25, Blayne Meyer 5, Taylor Bourbon 5, Kristina Schafer 5), Digs 109 (Christy Cox 26, Avery Hadley 24, MottenSchell 23), Blocks 14 (Lindy Grey 7, MottenSchell 6, Meyer 6), Aces 5 (MottenSchell 2, Cox 2)
Corvallis — Assists 47 (Hannah Martin 44), Kills 49 (Maureen Jessop 16), Digs 105 (Casey Fison 30), Blocks 11 (Charlotte Powell 4), Aces 9 (Martin 5)
Belgrade def. Libby 25-17, 25-18, 25-13
Libby — Aces 2 (Emma Gruber 2), Kills 21 (Mehki Skykes 11, Jayden Winslow 5), Assists 21 (Alli Collins 19), Blocks 3 (Mckenzie Proffitt 2), Digs 52 (Linsey Walker 14, Gruber 12, Winslow 10.
Belgrade — Stats not available
Class B
First Round
Roundup def. Choteau 26-24, 25-16, 25-21
Roundup — Aces 5 (Blythe Sealey 2, Brennan Larson 2); Kills 36 (Meghan Eiselein 13, Chloe Cota 10); Assists 30 (Sealey 21,Celsa Castrp 6); Blocks 7 (Eiselein 2 ½); Digs 67 (Lrson 20, Sealey 15).
Choteau — Aces 3 (Christine Funk 3); Kills 30 (Nicole Krone 10, Ellie Lee 7); Assists 28 (Katie Bieler 25); Blocks 10 (Krone 5, Lee 3); Digs 61 (Funk 19, Michaela Gunderson 13).
Florence-Carlton def. Joliet 25-20, 26-24, 25-21
Florence — Aces 4 (Shannon Byrne 2); Kills 41 (Sarah Hopcroft 16); Assists 36 (Halle Christophersen 36); Blocks 11 (Jacklyn Belford 4, Emma Stensrud 4); Digs 97 (Byrne 25, Sarah Berard 21, Holpcroft 21).
Joliet — Aces 7 (Shayla Webber 3, Makenna Bushmnan 2); Kills 37 (Bushman 14, Webber 8, Joelle Luoma 8); Assists 33 (Webber 17, Merrin Schwend 11); Blocks 3 (Skylar Wright 1 ½, Bushman 1); Digs 66 (Wright 19, Bushman 11, Luoma 10).
Huntley Project
def. Wolf Point 23-25, 25-9, 25-12, 25-4
Huntley Project — Assists 42 (Addy Hultgren 42), Kills 48 (Emily Poole 17, Alana Graves 13, Mollee Krum 11), Digs 73 (Poole 15, Maggie Taylor 14, Hultgren 9), Blocks 8 (Krum 4), Aces 7 (Sara Sumner 3, Hultgren 2).
Wolf Point: Assists 17 (Lindsay Netzger 17), Kills 17 (Imani Bighorn 6), Digs 41 (Semarah Wells 11), Blocks 8 (Bighorn 4, Abby Juve 4), Aces 3 (Wells 1, Netzger 1, Bighorn 1).
Fairfield def. Deer Lodge 25-15, 25-18, 25-17
Fairfield — Assists 18 (Alexis McWilliams 13), Kills 21 (Kenna Pitcher 6, Kyler Bake 5, Chesney Rogers 4), Digs 72 (Rogers 23, Pitcher 13, Reegan Carper 13), Blocks 32 (Bake 13), Aces 6 (Cheyenne Maddox 3, Pitcher 3)
Deer Lodge — Assists 14 (Kamryn Scully 14), Kills 18 (Sophia Burton 7, Alyssa Lamb 7, Jessie Gravely 3), Digs NA, Blocks – 6 (Amy Fjell-Hugani 3, Gravely 2, Katie Logan 1) Aces 3 (Burton 1, Scully 1, Josee Applegate 1)
Second Round
Florence-Carlton def. Roundup 25-19, 25-9, 25-12
Florence — Assists 32 (Halle Christopherson 31), Kills 34 (Sarah Hopcroft 16), Digs 58 (Hopcroft 15, Sarah Berald 13), Blocks 3 (Rilee Mangun 2), Aces 11 (Hopcroft 5)
Roundup — Assists 18 (Blythe Sealey 9, Celsa Castro 8), Kills 18 (Chloe Cota 9, Meghan Eiselein 6), Digs 54 (Brennan Larson 12, Cota 10, Castro 10) Blocks 4 (Ashley Ring 2), Aces 0
Huntley Project def. Fairfield 25-16, 25-16, 25-10
Stats not available by press deadline
Class C
First Round
Manhattan Christian
def. Plentywood 25-11, 17-25, 26-24, 21-25, 15-9
Manhattan Christian — Aces 15 (Kellie Vankirk 7); Kills 34 (Ellie Kuperos 11); Assists 31 (Taylor Devries 15, Kiersten Vankirk 15); Blocks 16 (Alexa Vandkyen 2 ½); Digs 57 (Vankirk 15).
Plentywood — Aces 5 (Bryn Fawcett 2, Donn Longan 2); Kills 39 (Liv Wangerin 17, Longan 8); Assists 30 (Brenna Osksa 14, Ashtyn Curtiss 8); Blocks 6 (Osksa 4); Digs 70 (Mikayla Stevens 17, Wangerin 12).
Simms def.
Bridger 25-23, 13-25, 25-19, 12-25, 15-8
Simms — Aces 10 (Taylor Jones 3, Maddie Bloom 3); Kills 34 (Lissy Willekes 15, Janessa Willekes 7); Assists 28 (Bloom 28); Blocks 9 (L. Willekes 5, J. Willekes 4); Digs 10 (Bloom 4, Maddi Cicon 3).
Bridger — Aces 9 (Emily Adkins 5, Kyra Kroll 2); Kills 48 (Adkins 16, Jenna Kallevig 13); Assists 44 (Adkins 22, Sami Fusco 19); Blocks 10 (Adkins 4, Desiree Jones Scott 3); Digs 60 (Kroll 15, Adkins 13).
Belt def.
Hobson-Moore-Judith Gap 25-21, 25-15, 22-25, 25-15
Belt — Assists 44 (Kolby Pimperton 40), Kills 51 (Kylie Marquis 15, Morgan Cooper 14, Abby Gliko 14), Digs 130 (Adelle Meissner 34, Cooper 26, Marquis 26), Blocks 6 (Shelby Paulson 4), Aces 4 (NA).
Hobson-Moore-Judith Gap — Assists 24 (Josilyn Kriskovich 17, Sami Connerton 7), Kills 24 (Brianna Bergum 8, Kristen Vincent 4, Chloe Derks 4), Digs 52 (Bergum 13, Vincent 11, Derks 9), Blocks– 5 (Bergum 2, Sierra Stahl 2, Connerton 1), Aces – 1 (Kriskovich 1).
Ennis def. Scobey 25-18, 18-25, 25-20, 25-14
Ennis — Assists 45 (Whitney McKitnick 26, Riley Robinson 13), Kills 49 (Jourdain Klein 29, McKitnick 7, Shelbey Klein 5), Digs 33 (McKitnick 8, J. Klein 6, Landri Paladichuk 6), Blocks 9 (J. Klein 5, McKitnick 2, S. Klein 2), Aces 9 (J. Klein 2, McKitnick 2, Paladichuk 2)
Scobey — Assists 25 (S. Danielson 11, K. Lamb 10), Kills 30 (K. Cook 11, K. Nelson 10), Digs 54 (Nelson 14, Danielson 11, G. Lekvold 7), Blocks 1 (A. Boze 1), Aces 3 (Cook 1, Boze 1, Lekvold 1)
Second Round
Simms def. Manhattan Christian 25-16, 21-25, 25-16, 27-25
Simms — Assists 48 (Maddie Bloom 42, Madison Wiegand 3), Kills 49 (Lissy Willekes 25, Draylen Sawyer 11, Janessa Willekes 11), Digs 18 (Madi Cicon 6, J. Willekes 4, Bloom 3), Blocks 3 (Wiegand 2), Aces 7 (J. Willekes 4)
Manhattan Christian — Assists 33 (Taylor DeVries 17), Kills 38 (Taylor VanKirk 14), Digs 69 (Maddie Liuclahl 19), Blocks 5 (Kelsey Heidema 2), Aces 1 (Kiersten VanKirk 3)
Belt def.
Ennis 25-11, 19-25, 17-25, 25-13, 17-15
Stats not available by press deadline
Today’s Schedule
Class AA
Loser Out
10 a.m. — Missoula Hellgate vs. Billings Senior
Noon — Flathead vs. Great Falls CMR
2 p.m. — Bozeman vs. 10 a.m. winner
4 p.m. — Helena High vs. noon winner
Semifinal
6 p.m. — Billings West vs. Helena Capital
Class A
Loser Out
10 a.m. — Columbia Falls vs. Glendive
Noon — Whitefish vs. Hardin
2 p.m. — Libby vs. 10 a.m. winner
4 p.m. — Corvallis vs. noon winner
Semifinal
6 p.m. — Billings Central vs. Belgrade
Class B
Loser Out
10 a.m. — Choteau vs. Joliet
Noon — Wolf Point vs. Deer Lodge
2 p.m. — Fairfield vs. 10 a.m. winner
4 p.m. — Roundup vs. noon winner
Semifinal
6 p.m. — Florence-Carlton vs. Huntley Project
Class C
Loser Out
10 a.m. — Plentywood vs. Bridger
Noon — Hobson/Judith Gap/Moore vs. Scobey
2 p.m. — Ennis vs. 10 a.m. winner
4 p.m. — Manhattan Christian vs. noon winner
Semifinal
6 p.m. — Simms vs. Belt