Spikers go 2-2 at state volleyball tournament
<p>Photo by Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez / Bozeman Daily Chronicle</p><p>Columbia Falls' Haley Belgarde attempts a kill against Miles City during the state Class A volleyball tournament at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman.</p>
The Columbia Falls volleyball team went .500 at the state Class A tournament in Bozeman on Nov. 14-15, good enough for fourth place.
The Wildkats opened the tournament at the Brick Breeden Field House at Montana State University by hammering Miles City in three sets, 25-9, 25-18, 25-15. But the Kats lost to Lewistown in the quarterfinals later that day, 25-20, 25-21, 25-14.
Columbia Falls stayed alive in loser-out action the next day, dropping Belgrade in four sets, 25-16, 12-25, 25-22, 25-23, but Billings Central got the best of them in the next game, dropping the Kats in four, 25-8, 25-22, 21-25, 25-22.
Billings Central was strong at the net. The Lady Rams had 53 kills to the Wildkats’ 27.
Senior Haley Belgarde had a nice tournament, with 38 kills over the course of four games.
The Kats have nothing to hang their heads over — the team featured seven freshmen and promises to be better next year. This was their first winning season in years, as they took the Northwest Class A crown. The Kats finished the season 13-10.
Coach Josie Brown said a highlight was how well the Kats played together as a team, making some tough adjustments as they remained competitive — particularly against Billings Central.
“We had some fantastic blocking and great defense over the weekend,” she said.
Conference rival Frenchtown went 0-2 at the tournament. Brown said coming back to beat Belgrade after Belgrade beat Frenchtown was key for the Kats. Corvallis won the tournament, and Lewistown took second.
The future looks bright for the team. The Kats will lose two seniors in Belgarde and Tiffany Hummer, but most of the squad will be back.
“We’re excited for next year,” Brown said.
Loser Out 1
Kills - Columbia Falls 59 (Haley Belgarde 16, Carla Nicosia 8, Ciera Finberg 7), Belgrade 49 (Taylor Woolman 16, Madi Page 15, Paige Schladetsch 8). Assists - Columbia Falls 47 (Cydney Finberg 46), Belgrade 42 (Olivia Kleinsasser 41). Aces - Columbia Falls 5 (Winter Kemppainen 2), Belgrade 6 (Jamie Woolman 3, Tanna Holliday 2). Blocks - Columbia Falls 8 (Kemppainen 6, Cydney Finberg 4, Ciera Finberg 2), Belgrade 10 (Taylor Woolman 5, Holliday 2, Schladetsch 2). Digs - Columbia Falls 65 (Tiffany Hummer 17, Belgarde 10, Kemppainen 10), Belgrade 72 (Kyra Fisher 18, Page 15, Kaitlin Marcelin 11).
Fourth place
Columbia Falls - Kills: 27 (Winter Kemppainen 8, Haley Belgarde 6, Cydney Finberg 5). Digs: 61 (Cydney Finberg 15, Cierra Finberg 12). Blocks: 10 (Kemppainen 5). Aces: 7 (Carla Nicosia 2, Belgarde 2, Kemppainen 2). Assists: 19 (Cydney Finberg 18).
Billings Central - Kills: 53 (Justyn Juhl 22, Erika Kuehn 10, Casey Tehle 8). Digs: 89 (Miranda Clarin 24, Juhl 23, Kuehn 11). Blocks: 8 (Baylee Hadley 4, Jenny Garber 3). Aces: 14 (Hadley 5, Kuehn 3, Tehle 2). Assists: 49 (Hadley 49).