The match between Darby and Victor on the volleyball court Saturday night had everyone on the edge of their seats. Earlier in the season, Darby had downed Victor in three games. However, three weeks have passed and Victor’s coach, Jodi Bush, has had three weeks to work on technique and creating a winning attitude. This is something that the Darby team was aware of. Bush was their head coach last year.
Victor has struggled to complete a match with a victory, especially against the top half teams in the conference according to Bush. But she said the team has been improving each game and felt this might be their breakout game.
The two teams battled back and forth each game with the lead changing often. There were several long volleys with neither team giving up and scrapping for the points. Darby won the first game, 20-25. But Victor came back and reversed the score in the second game to win that one, 25-20.
Darby’s Kylie Fisher stepped up her defense and had four blocks in the match but it was the third game that Darby really kept their offense moving. Victor was tired but played tough. However Darby won the third game, 22-25. Then it was on to the crucial fourth game with Victor in a must win situation. With the student sections carrying on, the two teams battled and were within a point throughout the first half of the game. But then Jamie Burdette stepped up to serve. Earlier in the day, Burdette had been crowned homecoming queen. Sometimes when you are queen, it just works. That was the case for Burdette. She served up three aces in a row to swing the momentum to Victor. The Lady Pirates when on to win, 25-14, setting up game five.
Game five was also close with Darby jumping out to an early lead. Game five of a match is only played to 15 points. Once momentum starts building, it’s difficult for the team that is behind to regain the lead. Although Darby had an early lead, the Lady Pirates fought for every point and clawed their way back into the game. Trailing by one point, Ali Elliott of Victor stepped up to serve. She served up all three points and Victor won game five, 15-13.
Victor def. Darby 20-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-14, 15-13
Kills – Darby 18 (Lindsey Lewis 9), Victor 28. Blocks – Darby 8 (Kylie Fisher 4), Victor 1. Digs – Darby 116 (Braydin Golden 42), Victor 27. Assists – Darby 11 (Kendall Bergren 7), Victor 28. Aces – Darby 8, Victor 7.
Friday night, Victor lost to Seeley-Swan, 25-15, 25-22, 25-21
Seeley-Swan def. Victor, 25-15, 25-22, 25-21
Kills – Seeley 31, Victor 20. Blocks – Seeley 7, Victor 2. Digs – Seeley 55, Victor 23. Assists – Seeley 23, Victor 15. Aces – Seeley 6, Victor 7.
Florence continued to run through their opponents, picking off Class A Frenchtown in three games and then topping conference foe Deer Lodge in three games. Megan Kowalski had two blocks and five aces in the match.
Florence def. Frenchtown, 25-20, 25-20, 25-15.
Kills – Frenchtown 14, Florence 35 (Kourtney Kohlman 8, Autumn Round 8). Blocks – Frenchtown 6, Florence 2 (Megan Kowalski 2). Digs – Frenchtown 29, Florence 22 (Hunter Doty-DiBrito 6, Hudsyn Doty-DiBrito 6). Assists – Frenchtown 9, Florence 31 (Shay Waldbillig 31). Aces – Frenchtown 2, Florence 8 (Kowalski 5).
The Doty-DiBrito sisters played a tough match for Florence against Deer Lodge. Hudsyn Doty-DiBrito had nine of the 28 kills Florence laid down. Hunter Doty-DiBrito had six of the 15 digs that Florence picked up. Kowalski added five blocks and Shannon Byrne knocked down five aces.
Florence def. Deer Lodge 25-12, 25-20, 25-9
Kills – Florence 28 (Hudsyn Doty-DiBrito 9), Deer Lodge 20. Blocks – Florence 10 (Megan Kowalski 5), Deer Lodge 12. Digs – Florence 15 (Hunter Doty-DiBrito 6), Deer Lodge 15. Assists – Florence 25 (Shay Waldbillig 20), Deer Lodge 28. Aces – Florence 19 (Shannon Byrne 5), Deer Lodge 2.
Butte Central handed Corvallis their first loss of the season, topping the Blue Devils in five games. Genesis Keith had 23 kills for the Blue Devils and two blocks.
Butte Central def. Corvallis 25-21, 14-25, 25-20, 21-25, 15-12
Kills – Corvallis 53 (Genesis Keith 23), BC 45. Blocks – Corvallis 4 (Keith 2), BC 5. Assists – Corvallis 48 (Kate Hurlbert 45), BC 46. Digs – Corvallis 134 (Kenzie Jessop 38, Maureen Jessop 30), BC 97. Aces – Corvallis 8 (Ashley Hornaday 3), BC 3.
Dillon topped Hamilton in four games on Thursday night, 25-18, 25-22, 19-25, 25-19.
Dillon def. Hamilton, 25-18, 25-22, 19-25, 25-19
Kills – Dillon 39, Hamilton 35 (Hayley Hudgins 9, Tristy Searle 8). Blocks – Dillon 2, Hamilton 6 (Kacia Guisinger 4). Digs – Dillon 73, Hamilton 75 (Hennesy Meyer 16, Brooke Huxtable 14). Assists – Dillon 25, Hamilton 31 (Caitlin Dillon 30). Aces – Dillon 9, Hamilton 11 (Dillon 4).