Kats can't get past Dogs
<p>Wildkat Hope Burlage sets the ball for teammate Jessie Gist during the match against Whitefish last week.</p>
They just can't get over the hump.
The Columbia Falls volleyball team was tied at one game apiece against Whitefish at home on Sept. 24, but the Wildkats couldn't seal the win as the remaining games were marked by several unforced errors, bad serves and bad hits.
The Lady Bulldogs won the first game 25-14, but the Kats came back and took the second 25-17. The Columbia Falls crowd was really into the match, and it looked like the momentum would shift the Wildkat way. But the Lady Bulldogs won the third game 25-20, and in the last game, the Kats simply made too many errors and lost 25-15.
"We're not quite getting there," coach Addy Connelly said. "We've got to work out some kinks and work on our confidence."
Statistically, it was a fairly even match, although Columbia Falls had 62 digs to the Bulldogs 33 - an indication Whitefish's serves were dropping in while the Kats were having a tougher time.
"It didn't seem like any one position was ready to go at any one time," Connelly said.
Hope Burlage had 14 assists and four aces. Gabrielle Stenger had six kills.
Kills - Whitefish 33 (Emily Sullivan 9, Abby Strellnauer 9), Columbia Falls 28 (Gabrielle Stenger 6). Blocks - Whitefish 12 (Baylee Tveidt 6), Columbia Falls 8 (Taylor Peterson 3, Haley Belgrade 3). Digs - Whitefish 33 (Marlow Schulz 6), Columbia Falls 62 (Shaun Rowe 17). Assists - Whitefish 30 (Taylor Havens 30), Columbia Falls 25 (Hope Burlage 14). Aces - Whitefish 13 (Tveidt 4), Columbia Falls 7 (Burlage 4).