Last week at the Western A Divisional, Corvallis handed Columbia Falls a tough loss in three games and took the championship after defeating Butte Central. The road to the championship at the state Class A tournament in Bozeman for Corvallis was through Columbia Falls again this week.
After defeating Hardin in three games in their opening match, Corvallis went on to face Columbia Falls. The WildKats were ready for the Blue Devils. The taller Columbia Falls team kept Corvallis off their game. Corvallis won the second game but that was it. Columbia Falls went on to win and advance to the undefeated game. Corvallis was now on the loser’s side of the bracket.
The interesting thing about a double elimination tournament like volleyball is that even with a loss, a team can come back to the championship match. Corvallis had their work cut out but they were up to the challenge. They first played Whitefish, another team they had played this season. Although the Bulldogs were tough in the third game, they were no match for the Blue Devils. Seniors Hannah Capko and Taia Tully kept their team going with kills and aces; and the Blue Devils won in three games.
They then had to face Billings Central at 8pm on Friday night. After dropping the first game, Corvallis came back to win the next three. Capko had 19 kills while Genesis Keith held her own at the net with blocking and dropped in four aces.
The win set the Blue Devils up with another match against another rival from the west, Butte Central at 11am on Saturday. Last week, Corvallis had to play Butte Central twice to take the championship, and they defeated the Maroons both times. This match was just as tough. Corvallis won the first but then lost the second. Corvallis won the third but then dropped the fourth game by 14 points. It all came down to game five which was back and fourth with Corvallis coming out the victor in a 16-14 game. Keith had 17 kills and Tully had 33 digs.
That set up the championship game against Columbia Falls, who hadn’t played since Friday night. The game was at 1pm and Corvallis had to quickly regroup. But their legs were tired after five matches in three days. Columbia Falls went on to take the championship in three games. Ashley Davis had 16 digs. Holly Wilson, the setter, handled the offense well all week and had 21 assists.
Corvallis def. Hardin, 25-23, 25-16, 25-18.
Kills – Corvallis 32 (Hannah Capko 10), Hardin 27. Blocks – Corvallis 9 (Olivia Smart 3.5), Hardin 10. Digs – Corvallis 68 (Ashley Davis 16), Hardin 62. Assists – Corvallis 29 (Holly Wilson 27), Hardin 17.Aces – Corvallis 13 (Wilson 5), Hardin 2.
Columbia Falls def. Corvallis, 25-20, 19-25, 25-16, 25-23.
Kills – Columbia Falls 52, Corvallis 45 (Capko 16). Blocks – Columbia Falls 5, Corvallis 6 (Maureen Jessop 6). Digs – Columbia Falls 86, Corvallis 104 (Davis 26). Assists – Columbia Falls 46, Corvallis 36 (Wilson 31). Aces – Columbia Falls 6, Corvallis 11 (Taia Tully 5).
Corvallis def. Billings Central, 17-25, 25-17, 27-25, 25-17.
Kills – Corvallis 49 (Capko 19), BC 37. Blocks -Corvallis 4 (Genesis Keith 1.5), BC 8. Digs – Corvallis 89 (Tully 21), BC 99. Assists – Corvallis 42 (Wilson 36), BC 40. Aces – Corvallis 9 (Keith 4), BC 6).
Corvallis def. Butte Central, 25-22, 18-25, 25-22, 11-25, 16-14.
Kills – Central 47, Corvallis 51 (Keith 17). Blocks – Central 18, Corvallis 3 (Capko 1.5). Digs – Central 102, Corvallis 127 (Tully 33). Assists – Central 37, Corvallis 48 (Wilson 45). Aces – Central 4, Corvallis 7 (Wilson 2, Capko 2).
Championship game
Columbia Falls def. Corvallis, 25-17, 25-22, 25-15.
Kills – Columbia Falls 33, Corvallis 25 (Capko 10). Blocks – Columbia Falls 13, Corvallis 6 (M. Jessop 3.5). Digs – Columbia Falls 54, Corvallis 68 (Davis 16). Assists – Columbia Falls 29, Corvallis 22 (Wilson 21). Aces – Columbia Falls 6, Corvallis 7 (Tully 5).