Wildkat spikers fall short of qualifying for state

By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News

Columbia Falls won two of four matches in the Northwest A Divisional Volleyball Tournament last week at the Ronan Events Center, falling short of qualifying for the state tournament.

The fourth-seeded Wildkats opened by earning a 25-20, 22-25, 25-19, 25-14 victory over No. 5 Ronan last Thursday (Nov. 1). But top-seeded and eventual divisional tourney champion Libby sent the Kats to the consolation bracket with a 25-21, 25-20, 25-14 sweep later in the day.

CFHS stayed alive with a 25-15, 25-18, 23-25, 25-18 win over Polson on Friday (Nov. 2). In a loser-out match at noon Saturday (Nov. 3), third-seeded Bigfork eliminated the Kats, 16-25, 25-17, 25-12, 25-21.

In the championship match on Saturday, Libby rallied from a two-game deficit to top defending class A state champion Whitefish 20-25, 17-25, 25-9, 25-18, 15-7. Libby and Whitefish advance to the All-Class State Volleyball Tournament Thursday through Saturday at Brick Breedon Fieldhouse on the Montana State University-Bozeman campus.

In the battle against Bigfork, the Kats won the first game against the much taller Vals, 25-16. But Bigfork won the next three to advance in the consolation bracket.

Kats coach Addy Hines was pleased with how her team played in the first game.

"We were really fired up," Hines said, "but we let our guard down. We really didn't finish."

Six-foot-2 senior middle hitter Alyssa Fierro gave the Kats fits at the net. She accounted for 22 of Bigfork's 42 team kills.

CFHS had 26 kills, led by 5-5 junior Alyssa Ladenburg's six. Senior Sarah Marcille had 22 set assists. Senior libero Staci Pence was busy in the back row with 15 digs. Pence and senior Auttem Osborne each had three service aces. Sophomore Shiloh Knudsen had two blocks.

Tourney-opening win

After each team won a game, the Kats won games 4 and 5 against Ronan in the opener. The Maidens had beaten CFHS on Ronan's home court during the league season, but not this time.

"It's always tough to play Ronan down there," Hines said. "I'm really pleased with the girls. They were motivated and fired up."

Hines said the Kats' hitting was pretty consistent, with limited errors.

Pence, Ladenburg and Marcille each served three aces.

"When our serving is on we tend to do pretty well," Hines said. "That helps keep our team motivated."

Osborne paced the Kats with 10 kills. Junior Amanda Millard and Knudsen each had six, and Knudsen had two blocks. Marcille dished out 23 assists. Pence had 10 digs, and Ladenburg added eight.

CFHS led Libby late in the first game, but got stuck on the Kats' 21st point and the Loggers rallied for the win.

"We got off to a great start against Libby," Hines said. "I was very pleased with our first two games. They [the Loggers] just have that factor when they turn it on."

In the match, Libby had 40 kills compared to just 16 for the Kats. Jackie Mee led Libby with 12 kills.

Osborne had five kills for CFHS. Senior Michelle Murphy and junior Cedar Smith each had four. Pence had two aces and 13 digs. Marcille gave out a dozen assists.

Both CFHS and Polson had 27 kills in Friday's consolation match, but the Kats made fewer errors than the Pirates.

"They were very, very scrappy," Hines said of Polson. "They were getting great ups. That made us work a little harder to find those holes."

Ladenburg led the Kats with nine kills and three aces, and added seven digs. Pence was the leader in digs with 14. Marcille had 20 assists.

Hines pleased with Kats

"Overall, I'm pretty pleased with their tournament play," Hines said of the Kats, adding that she was proud that they got in four matches at the divisional tourney.

Hines summarized the season.

"Those girls were out there giving it their all," the coach said, and spoke of the players who will be returning next season. "They know what they need to work on. We'll get them in the gym."