Kats take third at divisional tourney
<p>Wildkat Taylor Peterson bumps the ball during the divisional tournament last week.</p>
The Columbia Falls volleyball team won more games in the Northwest A divisional tournament than they did all season.
The Kats opened the tournament Nov. 4 with a win against Frenchtown, 26-24, 23-25, 25-22, 14-25, 15-11, but later in the day lost to top-ranked Polson, 25-22, 25-16, 20-25, 25-15.
In the consolation bracket the next day, the Kats faced the Lady Broncs again and beat them 23-25, 25-19, 18-25, 25-14, 15-9. But the Kats' season ended when they lost to Whitefish in loser-out action in straight games, 25-20, 25-20, 25-13.
Sophomore Haley Belgarde had a nice tournament for the Kats, with 37 kills on the weekend. The two wins were one more than the Kats had won all season. Their lone regular season win also came against the Lady Broncs.
Coach Addy Connelly was pleased with the girls' performance.
"Our goal was to have no regrets and play as hard as we could," she said.
The program will lose six seniors to graduation - Gabrielle Stenger, Erika Nelson, Jaylynn Cantu, Niki Birky, Ashley Hanson and Shaun Rowe.
Columbia Falls def. Frenchtown 26-24, 23-25, 25-22, 14-25, 15-11
Kills - Columbia Falls, 34 (Hope Burlage 9, Gabrielle Stenger 8, Haley Belgarde 7), Frenchtown 41(Kayla Blood 10, Kaitlyn Indreland 10). Assists - Columbia Falls 23 (Burlage 13, Erika Nelson 9), Frenchtown 31 (Josie Anderson 31). Blocks - Columbia Falls 6 (Belgarde 2), Frenchtown 13 (Blood 4, Tori Stavish 3). Digs - Columbia Falls 113 (Shaun Rowe 33, Burlage 20), Frenchtown 65 (Jadan Ross 16, Indreland 9). Aces - Columbia Falls 9 (Taylor Peterson 4, Burlage 3, Nelson 1), Frenchtown 10 (Sami Schmautz 5, Vanessa Stavish 2).
Polson def. Columbia Falls 25-22, 25-16, 20-25, 25-15
Aces - Polson 11 (Heidi Rausch 4), Columbia Falls 5 (Erika Nelson); Kills - Polson 43 (Riley Kenney 12), Columbia Falls 29 (Haley Belgrade 8); Assists - Polson 31 (Shalaina Duford 33), Columbia Falls 21 (Burlage 14); Blocks - Polson 4 (Kenzie Clay 2), Columbia Falls 7; Digs - Polson 64 (Kenney 15), Columbia Falls 83.
Whitefish def. Columbia Falls 25-20, 25-20 25-13
Kills - Whitefish 43 (Emily Sullivan 20, Abby Sullivan 11), Columbia Falls 21 (Haley Belgarde 10, Hope Burlage 4); Assists - Whitefish 40 (Taylor Havens 39), Columbia Falls 17 (Burlage 14), Blocks - Whitefish 3 (Brooke Silliker 1, Baylee Tveidt 1, Emily Sullivan 1), Columbia Falls 7 (Jessie Gist 3, Belgarde 3); Digs - Whitefish 23 (Marlow Schulz 8, Shelia Murphy 5), Columbia Falls 55 (Shaun Rowe 19, Gabrielle Stenger 10), Aces - Whitefish 8 (Kelsey McFadden 3, Taylor Haves 2, Tveidt 2), Columbia Falls 5 (Taylor Peterson 2).
Columbia Falls def. Frenchtown 23-25, 25-19, 18-25, 25-14, 15-9
Kills - Columbia Falls 43 (Haley Belgarde 12, Jessie Gist 10, Hope Burlage 9), Frenchtown 36 (Kaitlyn Indreland 9, Morgan Ray 8), Assists - Columbia Falls 34 (Hope Burlage 24), Frenchtown 31 (Josie Anderson 27), Blocks - Columbia Falls 7 (Gist 4), Frenchtown 10 (Morgan Ray 2.5, Tori Stauish 2.5); Digs - Columbia Falls 122 (Shaun Rowe 30, Burlage 19) Frenchtown 56 (Shana Harlan 13, Jodan Ross 9); Aces - Columbia Falls 8 (Taylor Peterson 3), Frenchtown 9 (Abby Indreland 3, Sami Schmautz 3).