Volleyball: Florence tops Eureka for West B title

EUREKA — Florence won its first Western B Divisional title since 2019 and continued its impressive run of state volleyball appearances with a four-set win over Eureka Friday.

The Falcons are headed to the State B tournament, which begins Thursday at Montana State University, for the 13th time in 14 seasons.

Runner-up Eureka, meanwhile, is making its first trip since 2017. The Lions actually sealed it by making Thursday’s unbeaten semifinal, which they lost to Florence.

They then beat Deer Lodge Friday in three sets, leaving the Wardens with the Western B’s third and final berth into State. In that match Kara Stanger had 19 kills; she and Aubrey Casazza had 11 kills each in the championship loss to Florence.

Sophie Vaughn totaled 42 digs in the Lions’ two Friday matches; Katelyn Singer had four aces against Deer Lodge.

Western B

Eureka

Thursday

Game 7: Deer Lodge def. St. Ignatius 25-17, 25-18, 23-25, 25-21, loser-out

Game 8: Thompson Falls def. Plains, 25-10, 25-13, 25-15, loser-out

Game 9: Deer Lodge def. Missoula Loyola 20-25, 23-25, 25-16, 25-18, 15-12, loser-out

Game 10: Thompson Falls def. Anaconda 25-16, 18-25, 25-20, 25-23, loser-out

Game 11: Florence def. Eureka 20-25, 25-17, 25-17, 26-24, undefeated semifinal

Game 12: Deer Lodge def. Thompson Falls 25-19, 21-25, 25-22, 25-20, loser fourth

Friday

Game 13: Eureka def. Deer Lodge 25-10, 27-25, 25-20, loser third

Game 14: Florence def. Eureka 25-16, 25-22, 22-25, 25-18, championship