The two-day teachers’ break was not a break for many of the valley volleyball teams. Hamilton, Corvallis and Stevensville all had two matches each on Thursday. Stevensville coach Lindsey Day said these games come at a great time, right before Divisionals. The non-conference games give the teams a chance to build up their confidence and get mentally prepared for more than one match a day.
Stevensville played Frenchtown and Polson. The Lady ‘Jackets were coming off of an upset win over Corvallis last Tuesday night and kept that momentum rolling as they rolled over Frenchtown, 3-1.
“I’m really proud of the girls,” said Day after the Frenchtown match. “We were in kind of a slump. We were trying to fight back after a couple of tough loses. That’s exactly what we needed to do was go out there and play solid for the whole time. We actually played the toughest defense we’ve played all year in this game and against Corvallis.”
Mackinzie Zimmerman led the Lady Yellowjackets with strong play at the net as a middle blocker. Day said as Zimmerman’s confidence grows; the number of ‘stuffs’ or blocks goes up too.
Stevensville did struggle in one aspect against Frenchtown. The Broncs were laying down quite a few tips right behind the front line. It took several time outs and a few points too before the young team was able to make the adjustments to defend the tip. “But they didn’t quit,” concluded Day. “They plugged away the whole time.”
Stevensville def. Frenchtown, 25-21, 25-21, 21-25, 25-14.
Kills – Frenchtown 37 (Morgan Ray 12), Stevensville 38 (Mackinzie Zimmerman 13). Blocks – Frenchtown 12 (Vanessa Starish 6), Stevensville 13 (Zimmerman 6). Digs – Frenchtown 64 (Jaden Ross 18), Stevensville 42 (Kyla Paulson 10). Assists – Frenchtown 28 (Josie Anderson 16), Stevensville 27 (Trayln Gardner 19). Aces – Frenchtown 4 (four with 1), Stevensville 10 (Zimmerman 3).
Stevensville also played Polson on Thursday. The Pirates took the match in three games. Zimmerman had two aces, two blocks and seven kills.
Polson def. Stevensville, 25-16, 25-16, 25-16.
Kills – Polson 33 (Heidi Rausch 12), Stevensville 15 (Mackinzie Zimmerman, Kyla Paulson 7). Blocks – Polson 3 (three with 1), Stevensville 2 (Zimmerman 2). Digs – Polson 60 (Mackenzie Banner 17), Stevensville 28 (Carly Vercruyssen 10). Assists – Polson 27 (Shalaina Duford 25), Stevensville 11 (Trayln Gardner 6). Aces – Polson 16 (Chelsea Charning 8), Stevensville 3 (Zimmerman 2).
Corvallis took on a couple of powerhouses from the north, Whitefish and Columbia Falls. Whitefish topped the Blue Devils, 3-1. Kelsey Raynal had three blocks and four aces for Corvallis.
Whitefish def. Corvallis, 25-22, 25-14, 10-25, 25-15.
Kills – Whitefish 40 (Emily Sullivan 15), Corvallis 32 (Kelsey Irwin 19). Blocks – Whitefish 2 (Bekah Weaver, Kelsey McFadden), Corvallis 4 (Kelsey Raynal 3). Digs – Whitefish 49 (Sullivan 11), Corvallis 71 (Katie Patterson 23). Assists – Whitefish 38 (Weaver 38), Corvallis 27 (Alex Price 19). Aces – Whitefish 10 (Ryan Chauner 5), Corvallis 6 (Raynal 4).
Corvallis won the first two games against Columbia Falls but the WildKats came back to take the final three and the match. Kelsey Irwin had six kills and a block to lead the Blue Devils.
Columbia Falls def. Corvallis, 20-25, 17-25, 25-14, 25-16, 15-11.
Kills – Corvallis 37 (Kelsey Irwin 16). Blocks – Corvallis 2 (Irwin, Hannah Capko). Digs – Corvallis 78 (Katie Pattterson 23). Corvallis 29 (Alex Price 26). Aces – Corvallis 12 (Kelsey Raynal 3, Price 3).
Hamilton also played Columbia Falls and Whitefish. Columbia Falls won the match, 3-1. Penny Gwynn had 23 kills and six aces for Hamilton. Kennedy Chadwick had 11 digs and six aces as well.
Columbia Falls def. Hamilton, 25-19, 25-12, 16-25, 20-25, 17-15.
Kills – Columbia Falls 47 (Hope Burlage 18, Haley Belgarde 18), Hamilton 37 (Penny Gwynn 23). Blocks – Columbia Falls 14 (Winter Kemppainean 5), Hamilton 3 (Amber Powell 2). Digs – Columbia Falls 93 (Tiffany Hummer 23), Hamilton 28 (Kennedy Chadwick 11). Assists – Columbia Falls 40 (Alli Dierenfield 24), Hamilton 32 (Val Tayler 27). Aces – Columbia Falls 9 (Hummer 2, Dierenfield 2, Burlage 2, Kemppainean 2), Hamilton 16 (Chadwick 6, Gwynn 6).
Whitefish defeated Hamilton in three games. Gwynn had 12 kills and Amber Powell had a couple of blocks.
Whitefish def. Hamilton, 25-11, 25-23, 25-19.
Kills – Whitefish 34 (Emily Sullivan 11), Hamilton 23 (Penny Gwynn 12). Blocks – Whitefish 1 (Sullivan), Hamilton 3 (Amber Powell 2). Digs – Whitefish 36 (Ryan Chauner 10), Hamilton 30 (Kennedy Chadwick 14). Assists – Whitefish 30 (Bekah Weaver 30), Hamilton 21 (Val Tayler 18). Aces – Whitefish 5 (Marlow Schulz 2), Hamilton 8 (Chadwick 5).
Florence continued their winning ways with a three game sweep of St. Ignatius. With a balanced attack, the Lady Falcons controlled every aspect of the game. Mackenzie Bauck had 18 assists and six aces.
Florence def. St. Ignatius, 25-15, 25-7, 25-16.
Kills – Florence 37 (Casey Mann 10), St. Ignatius 10 (Stephanie Levandowski 5). Blocks – Florence 8 (Melody Maki 3), St. Ignatius 6 (Sara Nerby 3). Digs – Florence 66 (Karli Cotton 20), St. Ignatius 43 (Levandowski 12). Assists – Florence 33 (Makenzie Bauck 18), St. Ignatius 7 (Loren Erickson 6). Aces – Florence 14 (Bauck 6), St. Ignatius 1 (Levandowski).
Darby picked up a 3-0 win over Alberton behind the kills of Keely Ehmann who had seven and the serves of Sydney Bergren who had six aces.
Darby def. Alberton, 25-3, 25-23, 25-12.
Kills – Alberton 15 (Priya Jopek 3), Darby 24 (Keely Ehmann 7). Blocks – Alberton 2 (Jopek 2), Darby 1 (Brianna Massey). Digs – Alberton 14 (Delani Hanely 3), Darby 24 (Sydney Bergren 7). Assists – Alberton 6 (Shawnda Rohrbach 3), Darby 20 (Ehmann 9). Aces – Alberton 6 (Rohrbach 3), Darby 8 (Bergren 6).
The Lady Tigers fell to Drummond in three games. Brianna Massey had seven kills for Darby.
Drummond def. Darby, 25-17, 25-21, 25-13.
Kills – Drummond 20 (Frankie Bignell 9), Darby 19 (Brianna Massey 7). Blocks – Drummond 9 (Bignell 5), Darby 5 (Jessica Campbell 4). Digs – Drummond 7 (Michaela Wight 2), Darby 27 (Sydney Bergren 7). Assists – Drummond 17 (Sarah Angelo 16), Darby 15 (Keely Ehmann 8). Aces – Drummond 11 (Paige Fickler 6), Darby 1 (Bergren)
Victor fell to Lincoln, 3-1. Desiree Charlton had 11 kills and Skye Mitcham had 21 digs for the Lady Pirages.
Lincoln def. Victor, 24-26, 25-15, 25-21, 25-21.
Kills – Lincoln 23 (Katie Menard 14), Victor 23 (Desiree Charlton 11). Blocks – Lincoln 5 (Menard 4.5), Victor 0. Digs – Lincoln 30 (Abby Erickson 9), Victor 50 (Skye Mitcham 21). Assists – Lincoln 20 (Shelby Maughan 19), Victor 18 (Lianna Burdett 12). Aces – Lincoln 16 (Erickson 9), Victor 14 (Adrienne Cox 5).