Wildkats drop two close matches

Columbia Falls dominated the numbers in their Sept. 2 volleyball match against cross-valley rival Whitefish, but it wasn't enough to get the Northwest A conference win.

In one of the most entertaining showdowns in recent years between the teams, the Lady Bulldogs outlasted the Wildkats 3-2 in a fifth set that see-sawed back and forth to the end.

The Kats finished ahead in kills with 33, digs with 82, assists with 28 and aces with 10. But the Lady Bulldogs led in blocks, 12-5, and got the points when they were needed.

"We missed some key serves that we needed to have," Columbia Falls coach Addy Connelly said. "I can see clearly in my mind some blocks that came down in front of us when we should have been pressing over the net."

Connelly said the Kats ruled the second set, while the Lady Bulldogs were stronger in the first and third sets.

"We figured it out in sets two and four," she said. "Five was close. It just wasn't quite enough."

The fourth set was a knock-down, drag-out fight, with Columbia Falls ahead 18-12 but the Lady Bulldogs battling back to tie the set at 24 and going ahead one for match point. The Kats came back after Whitefish was caught in the net and won the set.

Hope Burlage led all hitters with 10 kills for Columbia Falls. Taylor Peterson added nine kills, three blocks and 15 digs. Shaun Rowe had 20 digs and five aces.

"The girls played really hard - it's the hardest I've seen them play at Whitefish," Connelly said. "It's hard to come here and play. They have a loud crowd, and the girls did really well shutting that out and coming together as a team."

Whitefish def. Columbia Falls, 25-18, 13-25, 25-15, 26-28, 15-10.

Kills - Columbia Falls 33 (Hope Burlage 10), Whitefish 27 (Abby Strellnauer 9). Blocks - Columbia Falls 5 (Taylor Peterson 3), Whitefish 12 (Brooke Silliker 4, Baylee Tveidt 4). Digs - Columbia Falls 82 (Shaun Rowe 20), Whitefish 52 (Bekah Weaver 15). Assists - Columbia Falls 28 (Erika Nelson 16), Whitefish 25 (Marlow Schulz 14). Aces - Columbia Falls 10 (Rowe 5), Whitefish 7 (Weaver 3).

Kats vs. Loggers

Selinna Maesau led the Loggers to a 3-2 conference win over Columbia Falls on Saturday, 11-25, 25-20, 25-19, 14-25, 15-9.

Maesau collected nine kills, five blocks and five aces - all team highs for the Lady Loggers. Joining her were Alyssa Walker with 25 digs and Lexie Hageness with 13 assists and three aces.

Columbia Falls had the better numbers against Libby in the home match - 47-31 for hits, 38-25 for assists and 88-65 for digs. But after battling back in the third and fourth sets, the Wildkats "let a few balls drop, and our passing wasn't' quite as crisp," Connelly said.

Jesse Gist had 12 kills for the Wildkats, followed by Peterson with 10. Peterson also had a block and 22 digs. Rowe added 18 digs and served three aces. Burlage had 23 assists.

"It comes down to the mental toughness," Connelly said about the loss. "It's not that they don't have the skills."

Libby def. Columbia Falls, 11-25, 25-20, 25-19, 14-25, 15-9.

Kills - Libby 31 (Selinna Maesau 9), Columbia Falls 47 (Jesse Gist 12). Blocks - Libby 7 (Maesau 5), Columbia Falls 3 (Taylor Peterson, Haley Belgarde). Digs - Libby 65 (Alyssa Walker 25), Columbia Falls 88 (Peterson 22). Assists - Libby 25 (Lexie Hageness 13), Columbia Falls 38 (Hope Burlage 23). Aces - Libby 14 (Maesau 5), Columbia Falls 9 (Shaun Rowe 3).