Unbeaten CMR wins state AA volleyball crown
BOZEMAN — Great Falls C.M. Russell capped off an unbeaten season and claimed the state AA volleyball title with a win over Billings West on Saturday.
The Rustlers were runner-up last year and third the year before that. Its CMR’s first state title since 2000.
West beat Billings Senior in the third place game to get back to the final for the first time since 2010, where West was runner-up. The Golden Bears led CMR 2-1 in the match before the Rustlers won the last two sets — but the final set wasn’t without its own drama. It took getting to championship point eight times before CMR won 19-17.
Billings Central knocked off Polson and Havre twice Saturday to repeat as the Class A champion. The Blue Ponies were upset by Havre in the quarterfinal round, putting their hopes for a second straight championship in jeopardy. But four wins in two days got them back in the winner’s circle.
Class B Huntley Project won a historic 13th title Saturday with a win over Jefferson, who had to beat Townsend that morning to get to the championship.
Huntley’s 13 championships overtakes Billings Senior’s record of 12. The Red Devils have won four of the last five Class B titles, their first came in 2003.
Manhattan Christian beat Plentywood twice for the Class C title, the school’s second since 2019. The Eagles worked their way back to the title game with a win over White Sulphur Springs Saturday morning.
State Volleyball
Saturday
Class AA
Championship
CMR def. West 25-18, 14-25, 19-25, 25-15,19-17
Aces — West 6 (Addie Allen 2, Madi Ramsey 2, Sidney Strieff 1, Sydney Pierce 1), CMR 8 (Lauren Lindseth 4, Tennisen Hiller 2, Rosie Burke 1, Norah Allen 1). Kills — West 55 (Kaitlin Grossman 22, Pierce 19, Strieff 8), CMR 60 (Lindseth 28, Ella Cochran 13, Lexi Thornton 7). Assists — West 53 (Allen 51, Strieff 2), CMR 53 (Hiller 48, Avarey Stuff 2, Allen 2). Blocks — West 13 (Allen 6, Haylee Haarr 4, Strieff 3, Pierce 3), CMR 9 (Natalie Bosley 7, Thornton 2, Abby Carpenter 2, Hiller 2). Digs — West 91 (Grossman 27, Nienaber 17, Pierce 14, Allen 14), CMR 90 (Stuff 27, Lindseth 23, Allen 17).
Third place game
Billings West def. Billings Senior 28-26, 25-19, 25-9
Aces — West 8 (Kaitlyn Grossman 3, Addie Allen 2), Senior 5 (Addie Falls Down 2, Leah Champlin 2, Ella Kincaid 1). Kills — West 44 (Sidney Streff 15, Grossman 11, Sydney Pierce 10), Senior 18 (Lelah Ormsby 4, Izzy Ping 4). Assists — West 36 (Allen 34), Senior 15 (Rylee Kogolshak). Blocks — West 3 (Sydney Strieff 2), Senior 12 (Lelah Rader 6, Ormsby 5, Kogolshak 3). Digs — West 35 (Allen 9, Katie Neinaber 9, Streiff 9).
Class A
Championship
Billings Central def. Havre 19-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-21
Aces — BC 16 (Zi-onna Leikam-Morton 4, Maddie Yochum 4), Havre 4 (Lizzi Haney 2, Alyssa Oliver 2). Kills — BC 48 (Mya Hansen 14, Alexa Williams 12, Leikam-Morton 9), Havre 31 (Avery Carlson 10, Yelena Miller 9, Kyanna Jarus 7). Assists — 46 (Maria Stewart 38, Ally Foster 5), Havre 28 (Molly Huse 27, Emilee Chambliss 1). Blocks — BC 14 (Alaina Woods 7, Hansen 1.5, Williams 1.5), Havre 13 (Miller 5, Huse 4, Maddie Columbus 2). Digs — BC 82 (Foster 25, Williams 15, Taylor Moore 12), Havre 78 (Oliver 24, Hhuse 17, Carlson 12).
Third place game
Billings Central def. Polson 25-12, 25-22, 25-15
Aces — BC 11 (Zi-onna Leikam-Morton 3, Alexa Williams 3, Maria Stewart 2, Ally Foster 2, Maddie Yochum 2), Polson 1 (Grace Simonich 1). Kills — BC 31 (Liekam-Morton 8, Williams 8, Mya Hansen 5), Polson 32 (Camilla Foresti 10, Kenna Hanson 9). Assists — BC 28 (Stewart 22, Foster 5), Polson 30 (Avery Starr 21). Blocks — BC 7 (Alaina Woods 3.5, Hansen 2.5), Polson 2 (Simonich 2, Starr 1). Digs — BC 37 (Stewart 10, Williams 7, Taylor Moore 7), Polson 33 (Starr 8, Foresti 8, Liz Tolley 7).
Class B
Championship
Huntley Project def. Jefferson 25-15, 25-17, 25-20
Aces — HP 6 (Rylie Wadman 4), Jefferson 0. Kills — HC 45 (Josie Hasler 15, Greta Peterson 12, Cearra Oblander 11), Jefferson 23 (Dakota Edmisten 11, Rachel Van Blavicom 10, Baylee Toney 2).
Assists — HP 39 (Macee Murphy 39), Jefferson 16 (Sydney Mace 8, Gracie Livia 8). Blocks — HP 6 (Murphy 3, Peterson 2), Jefferson 5 (Van Blavicom 2, Toney 2, Sophie Livesay 1). Digs — HP 100 (Hasler 21, Kirra Bern 20, Murphy 15), Jefferson 56 (Emma McCauley 24, Edmisten 20, Van Blavicom 11).
Third place game
Jefferson def. Townsend 28-26, 23-25, 25-23, 25-18
Aces — Jefferson (no leaders), Townsend 5 (Havyn Vandenacre 3, Luci Horne 1, Alleigh Burdick 1). Kills — Jefferson 56 (Dakota Edmiston 29, Rachel Van Blavicom 24), Townsend 50 (Trinity Wilson 21, Kennedy Vogl 14, Vandenacre 4, Sienna Everett 4). Assists — Jefferson 48 (Gracie Levia 29, Sydney Mace 19), Townsend 47 (Emily Bird 44). Blocks — Jefferson 9 (Sophie Livsay 6, Edmisten 1, Van Blavicom 1), Townsend 7.5 (Vogl 3, Wilson 2, Reese Wolfgren 1.5). Digs — Jefferson 65 (Emma McCauley 21, Edmisten 15, Van Blavicom 8, Mace 8), Townsend 113 (Burdick 28, Horne 26, Bird 18).
Class C
Championship
Manhattan Christian def. Plentywood 30-28, 22-25, 25-19, 25-15
Third place game
Manhattan Christian def. White Sulphur Springs 25-17, 25-20, 26-28, 25-16