Top seeds Polson, Bigfork, T-Falls upset at state volleyball

The first day of the All-Class State Volleyball Tournament at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Thursday saw a few top seeds unexpectedly fall in the first round.

Thompson Falls, the Western B divisional champion, was ousted by Townsend, the fourth seed from the south, and Bigfork, the second Western B seed fell to Shepherd.

Two-time Western A champion Polson opened its tournament with a loss in four games to Billings Central, a fourth-ranked Eastern seed.

Class A Billings Central 3, Polson 1

Ally Foster led the Rams with 28 assists, 12 digs, 12 kills and two aces in their upset of top-ranked Polson.

Polson forced a fourth game with a win in the third, but the Rams bounced back to snuff the comeback.

Avery Starr had 20 assists and two aces for Polson and Clara Todd came up with nine kills and three blocks. Lucy Violett added 11 digs.

The Pirates play again today at 10 a.m. in a loser-out game against Hamilton.

Billings Central def. Polson 25-9, 25-16, 17-25, 25-11

Aces – Billings Central 8 (Ruby Gray 2, Ally Foster 2, Nathalia Arzubi 2); Polson 4 (Avery Starr 2). Assists – Billings Central 41 (A. Foster 28, Annie Hanser 10), Polson 24 (Starr 20). Digs – Billings Central 61 (A. Foster 12, Emma Bohrer 12, Kaitlyn Foster 11); Polson 47 (Lucy Violett 11, Julia Barnard 9, Grace Simonich 9). Kills – Billings Central 42 (Gray 12, Kamryn Reinker 11, Alexa Williams 9); Polson 31 (Clara Todd 9; Samantha Rensvold 7). Blocks – Billings Central 5 (Gray 2, Reinker 2); Polson 5 (Todd 3).

Class B Shepherd 3, Bigfork 0

The Mustangs made quick work of the Valkyries, topping them handily in three games.

Aubrie Allison led Shepherd with 11 kills, 12 digs and 2.5 blocks, and Ashlyn Murdock added 27 assists and 10 digs.

Bigfork’s Inga Turner had 12 kills, Piper Linson had 18 assists and Tessa Troyer added two aces and 13 digs.

The Valkyries move to loser out play, where they take on Choteau at noon today.

Shepherd def. Bigfork 25-14, 25-13, 25-15

Aces — Shepherd 7 (Aubrie Allison 2, Ramzie Smith 2, Grace Geness 2); Bigfork 5 (Tessa Troyer 2, Ellie Jordt 2, Zoey Albert 1). Kills — Shepherd 30 (Allison 11, Brianna Olstad 7, Abby Beddes 7); Bigfork 22 (Inga Turner 12, Ava Davey 4, Jordt 3). Assists — Shepherd 29 (Ashlyn Murdock 27); Bigfork 19 (Piper Linson 18, Turner 1). Blocks — Shepherd 12 (Paige Goodell 5.5, Allison 2.5, Kayda Parker 2); Bigfork 4 (Davey 1, Jordt 1, Turner 1). Digs — Shepherd 54 (Allison 12, Geness 12, Beddes 10, Murdock 10), Bigfork 61 (Albert 13, Davey 13, Troyer 13).

Townsend 3, Thompson Falls 0

The Bulldogs pulled off an upset with their three-set win over Western B champion Thompson Falls.

Emily Bird led Townsend with an ace, 21 assists and 13 digs.

For Thompson Falls, Ellie Baxter had 10 assists, seven digs, one block and four kills. Avery Burgess added seven assists, 10 kills, a block and nine digs.

The Blue Hawks face Glasgow at 10 a.m. today in loser out play.

Townsend def. Thompson Falls 25-8, 25-17, 25-22

Aces – Townsend 2 (Emily Bird 1, Holly Newman 1); Thompson Falls 4 (Cheyla Irvine 3, Natalie Roberts 1). Assists – Townsend 23 (Bird 21); Thompson Falls 18 (Ellie Baxter 10, Avery Burgess 7, Blakely Lakko 1). Digs – Townsend 48 (Bird 13, Alleigh Burdick 10, Luci Horne 7); Thompson Falls 43 (Irvine 9, Burgess 9, Baxter 7). Kills – Townsend 25 (Trinity Wilson 9, Sienna Everett 4, Kaitlyn Noyes 3); Thompson Falls 21 (Burgess 10, Baxter 4). Blocks – Townsend 7 (Wilson 5); Thompson Falls 5 (Burgess 1, Baxter 1, Natalie Roberts 1.)