Wildkats split games at home opener

The defending Northwest Class A champion Wildkats won one and lost one for their seasonal volleyball opener at home.

The first match-up was against Corvallis, the defending Class A state champs. Columbia Falls forced the Blue Devils to five sets and then came back to down Hamilton.

Corvallis defeated Columbia Falls 21-25, 25-18, 16-25, 25-22, 15-10. Carla Nicosia led the Kats with 12 kills and shared the ace lead with Cydney Finberg — both had two. Ciera Finberg had seven blocks.

“It was a good day, a good way to start at home,” Columbia Falls coach Josie Brown said. “We came out solid and played great defense, which allowed us to have a fast offense. We were right there the whole way. Our defense kind of fell apart, and it took us too long to get it back together.”

The Kats ralled for the second match-up and downed Hamilton 14-25, 25-15, 25-16, 25-18.

“We played a lot more consistent against Hamilton,” Brown said. “Our defense was better.”

Cydney Finberg had nine kills against the Lady Broncs, along with 30 assists and 11 digs. Ciera Finberg finished with 11 digs and two blocks.

Columbia Falls is back on the court Friday and Saturday at the Northwestern A vs. Southwestern A Tournament in Frenchtown.

C-Falls 3, Hamilton 1

Columbia Falls def. Hamilton 14-25, 25-15, 25-16, 25-18

Kills — Hamilton 26 (Caitlin Gillespie 6, Shannon Casale 6), Columbia Falls 43 (Cydney Finberg 9); Blocks — Hamilton 5 (Enarie Majors 5), Columbia Falls 6 (Ciera Finberg 2); Assists — Hamilton 22 (Makayla Horvath 22), Columbia Falls 34 (Cydney Finberg 30); Digs — Hamilton 57 (Kloie Nye 21), Columbia Falls 61 (Cydney Finberg 11, Ciera Finberg 11); Aces — Hamilton 10 (Casale 5), Columbia Falls 6 (Carla Nicosia 2).

Corvallis 3, C-Falls 2

Corvallis def. Columbia Falls 21-25, 25-18, 16-25, 25-22, 15-10

Kills — Columbia Falls 42 (Nicosia 12); Blocks — Columbia Falls 16 (Ciera Finberg 7); Assists — Columbia Falls 28 (Cydney Finberg 27); Digs — Columbia Falls 59 (Shaylene Fishel 12); Aces — Columbia Falls 6 (Nicosia 2, Cydney Finberg 2).