Polson spikers win 2nd straight divisional title
Members of the Polson Pirates pose with their second straight Western A Divisional volleyball championship trophy. Front row: Sierra Perez, Clara Todd, Julia Barnard, Grace Simonich, Lucy Violett, Samantha Rensvold and manager Tiana Walker. Back row: Assistant Bonnie Klein, head coach Lizzy Cox, Avery Starr, Hannah Simpson, Vivian Lazaro, Carli Maley, Mckenna Hanson, Izzy Fyant, Mgr. Gabriella Llac, Mgr. Kellyn Nelson and assistant Mariah Newell. (photo courtesy of Bob Gunderson)
Turns out Polson isn’t just a football town, because the Pirates volleyball team is 16-2 and owner of back-to-back Western A championships.
The latest divisional title came in five sets over Stevensville Saturday, at East Helena High School. The Yellowjackets led two sets to one before the Pirates pulled out the 23-25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-22, 15-11 win.
This happens every 11 years, apparently: Polson went back-to-back as Northwest A champs in 20010-11. Not that it’s ever easy. Hamilton took the Pirates to five sets in Friday’s winner’s bracket semifinal as well.
“I thought we played really well against Hamilton,” fifth-year Polson coach Lizzy Cox said. “Lucy Violett, our middle, was amazing that night. I think she had 17 kills. Clara Todd blocked well, and Avery (Starr) passed well.
“I thought we played better against Hamilton than against Stevensville. But they’re really pretty good about keeping the faith when things aren’t going great.”
It’s worth noting that Polson’s two losses came in the early season against Hamilton and Stevi.The Pirates lost to the Broncos at Hamilton’s Tip-off Tournament in August; in that match Mckenna Hanson was lost to a torn ACL.
“I had an idea of what the season was going to look like,” Cox said. “And when Mckenna went down it all had to kind of shift.
“Samantha Rensvold, our sophomore outside hitter, had to kind of fill Kenna’s role. And she’s done an amazing job.”
Rensvold averaged seven kills for Polson’s four divisional wins. Violett averaged over nine.
Hansen, for her part, has been an extra assistant for Cox, and is one of several Pirates that are juniors or younger. The senior leaders are Todd — she had 11 kills against Hamilton — Violett and setter Grace Simonich; Starr is a junior; Hannah Simpson, who had 11 kills in the title match, is a junior.
Last season Polson finished third at state, which is believed to be the program’s first trophy. The next match is Thursday at 10 a.m., at the State A tournament at Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman.
The Pirates play either Corvallis or Billings Central. The Blue Devils and two-time defending champion Rams have a play-in match Wednesday in Livingston.
Whoever shows up will get a Polson squad a year wiser and tougher.
“I always tell the kids, ‘If we can serve tough and pass well, we should be able to win most games,” Cox said.
Stevensville and Hamilton head to State as well, along with Ronan – the 11-8 Maidens, with seniors Leina Ulutoa and Kylie Fetui and sophomore Lauryn Buhr leading the way at the net, are making their third straight trip to Bozeman.
Western A Divisional
Nov. 3-5, East Helena
Stevensville 3, Columbia Falls 1
Hamilton 3, Ronan 0
Whitefish 3, Dillon 1
Polson 3, Corvallis 0
Hamilton 3, Stevensville 0
Polson 3, Whitefish 0
Friday
Ronan 3, Columbia Falls 2, lo
Corvallis 3, Dillon 2, lo
Ronan 3, Whitefish 1
Stevensville 3, Corvallis 1
Polson 3, Hamilton 2, sf
Stevensville 3, Ronan 0, loser fourth
Saturday
Corvallis 3, Whitefish 1,winner is fifth
Stevensville 3, Hamilton 2, loser third
Polson 3, Stevensville 2, championship
Seeds to State: 1, Polson; 2, Stevi; 3, Hamilton; 4, Ronan
Corvallis will play Billings Central (No. 4 seed in East) Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Livingston for a berth into the State A tournament.