Spikers look to build on last year’s success
Sadie Cheff encourages teammate Annika Reid to do pushups during the first day of volleyball practice Friday. The Wildkats kickoff the season at the tip-off tournament at home Aug. 25. (Chris Peterson photo)
The Columbia Falls volleyball team will look to improve this season. Last year the Kats started several sophomores and three juniors.
They went 0-2 at the Western A Divisional tourney to end the year.
Still, it was valuable varsity experience for the squad.
This year the Kats will look for good things from Maddie Moultray, Emalee Alton, Sadie Cheff, Kierra Kemppainen, Elle Stutsman, Demye Rensel and Lucy Love to name a few.
Moultray and Alton were second-team all-conference last season.
The Wildkats were 9-8 last year and 8-2 in conference play in the regular season.
“I’m excited,” said coach Jolandie Brooks. “They practice so well. They take what I tell them and make immediate changes (which is good). They’re just a good group of girls.”
They open the season at home for a change, as the Wildkats host the Northwest-Southwest A Tip-Off tourney Friday and Saturday.
They open against Hamilton Friday at 11 a.m. They then face Butte Central at 1 p.m., Dillon at 3 p.m. and Frenchtown at 6 p.m.
On Saturday they play Stevensville at 9 a.m. and Corvallis at 11 a.m.