Hamilton drew a first-round bye at the Southwest A tournament that was held at the MAC in Butte and didn’t begin their tournament until Friday when they met up with Anaconda. Anaconda defeated Corvallis on Thursday and had a bit of momentum going for them. The Copperheads took the first game of the Hamilton match, 23-25. But then the Lady Broncs found their groove and came back to win the next three games and the match. Sophomore Penny Gwynn had 19 kills and Rhayne Ransier had three blocks for Hamilton. Gwynn also had four aces.
Hamilton def. Anaconda, 23-25, 25-20, 25-14, 25-23.
Kills – Anaconda 25 (Brooke Chapman 15), Hamilton 47 (Penny Gwynn 19). Blocks – Anaconda 2 (Abby Stanberry, Mia Estes), Hamilton 3 (Rhayn Ransier 3). Digs – Anaconda 39 (Jayme Stergar 23), Hamilton 72 (Rebecka Hood 19). Assists – Anaconda 31 (Stergar 29), Hamilton 41 (Mary Conwell 35). Aces – Anaconda 6 (Chapman 3, Jacqueline Verlanic 3), Hamilton 5 (Gwynn 4).
With the win, Hamilton advanced to the undefeated match where they met up with Butte Central who had defeated Stevensville to advance. Hamilton was not challenged until the third game where they won by two points. Gwynn had 11 kills and a block. Conwell had 24 assists, a block and two aces.
Hamitlon def. Butte Central 25-18, 25-14, 25-23
Kills – Hamilton 29 (Penny Gwynn 11), Butte Central 30 (Mariah Cooney 8). Blocks – Hamlton 2 (Gwynn, Mary Conwell), Butte Central 5 (Annie Ossello 2). Digs – Hamilton 68 (Kennedy Chadwick 16), Butte Central 69 (Danika Neumann 23). Assists – Hamilton 25 (Conwell 24), Butte Central 27 (Shannon McLaughlin 15). Aces – Hamilton 7 (Colleen McGibben 2, Conwell 2). Butte Central 5 (McLaughlin 3).
With the win, Hamilton advanced to the championship match where they met up with valley rival, Corvallis. Corvallis began their quest with a loss but rallied back to battle the Lady Broncs in the championship. Corvallis won the first game but Hamilton came back to take the next three and the championship. Gwynn and Rebecka Hood combined for 31 kills. Gwynn also had three aces. Corvallis’ Whitney Jessop and Alex Ewing each had 13 kills.
Kills – Hamilton 51 (Penny Gwynn 16, Rebecka Hood 15), Corvallis 39 (Whitney Jessop 13, Alex Ewing 13). Blocks – Hamilton 10 (Rebecca Lyons 7, Conwell 5), Corvallis 2 (Price 1, Joanna Avery 1).Digs – Hamilton 116 (R. Hood 37, Chadwick 27), Corvallis 139 (Berner 32, Julia Battisti 31). Assists – Hamilton 45 (Mary Conwell 40), Corvallis 33 (Berner 20, Alex Price 13). Aces – Hamilton 10 (Gwynn 3, Kennedy Chadwick 3), Corvallis 2 (Laura Berner 1, Katie Patterson 1).
Anaconda swept Corvallis in the opening match of the tournament. Although the match was close, Corvallis couldn’t gain enough momentum to stop the Copperheads. Ewing had seven kills. Jessop and Julia Battisti each had two aces.
Anaconda Def. Corvallis 25-23, 25-15, 25-23.
Kills – Anaconda 13 (Brooke Chapman 7), Corvallis 20 (Alex Ewing 7). Blocks – Anaconda 4 (Jayne Stergar 2, Jacqueline Verlanic 2), Corvallis 9 (Alex Price 4). Digs – Anaconda 29 (Karli King 15), Corvallis 90 (Julia Battisti 21). Assists – Anaconda 14 (Stergar 14), Corvallis 18 (Price 16). Aces – Anaconda 2 (King 2), Corvallis 4 (Whitney Jessop 2, Battisti 2).
After the loss, Corvallis had to take on Stevensville in loser out action. The Blue Devils had Stevensville’s number this season and this match was more of the same. Afte dropping the first game, Corvallis came back to defeat Stevensville and advance.
Stevensville was led by senior standout Britney Chilcott who had 17 kills and four blocks. Kyla Paulsen added 19 digs. Jessop and Ewing combined for 20 kills and Joanna Avery had six blocks for the Blue Devils.
Corvallis def. Stevensville 22-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-20
Kills – Corvallis 36 (Alex Ewing 10, Whitney Jessop 10), Stevensville 50 (Britney Chilcott 17). Blocks – Corvallis 16 (Joanna Avery 6), Stevensville 7 (Chilcott 4). Digs – Corvallis 72 (Julia Battisti 24). Stevensville 64 (Kyla Paulsen 19). Assists – Corvallis 30 (Alex Price 17), Stevensville 48 (Michaila Funkhouser 45). Aces – Corvallis 8 (Jessop 2, Gianna Schrock 2, Katie Patterson 2), Stevensville 11 (Molly Brewer 4).
Corvallis had to get by Butte Central before they could meet up with Hamilton. The Maroons gave the Blue Devils a run but they won, 3-1. Avery had 15 aces and Brooke Heckeroth had two blocks. Corvallis didn’t let many balls hit the floor and finished with 115 digs.
Corvallis def. Butte Central, 26-24, 19-25, 25-21, 25-17.
Kills – Corvallis 44 (Joanna Avery 15), Butte Central 41 (Angela Piazzola 10). Blocks – Corvallis 4 (Brooke Heckeroth 2), Butte Central 7 (Mariah Cooney 3). Digs – Corvallis 115 (Julia Battisti 26), Butte Central 85 (Danika Neumann 30). Assists – Corvallis 35 (Alex Price 23), Butte Central 33 (Shannon McLaughlin 15, Carlee Norbeck 15). Aces – Corvallis 9 (Whitney Jessop 4), Butte Central 4 (McLaughlin, Brynne Kambich, Norbeck, Cooney).
Stevensville lost to Butte Central, 3-1, in their first match of the tournament. Chilcott finished with three blocks and 18 kills but the Yellowjackets couldn’t contain the Maroons. Paulsen had 21 digs and two aces.
Butte Central def. Stevensville, 25-11, 21-25, 29-27, 25-18
Kills – Butte Central 52 (Mariah Cooney 18), Stevensville 47 (Britney Chilcott 18). Blocks – Butte Central 6 (Cooney 3), Stevensville 6 (Chilcott 3). Digs – Butte Central 71 (Danika Neumann 24), Stevensville 83 (Kyla Paulsen 21). Assists – Butte Central 48 (Carlee Norbeck 25), Stevensville 45 (Michaila Funkhouser 44). Aces – Butte Central 11 (Neuman 4, Shannon McLughlin 4), Stevensville 3 (Paulsen 2). 