It took two championship games in the double elimination tournament at Butte Central over the weekend for the Blue Devils to take the championship. Corvallis started out strongly but faltered in the semi final game on Friday against Libby and had to work their way back through the bracket to take on the Loggers again in the championship games.
Corvallis opened up the tournament against Polson, the No. 4 seed from the Northwest. The Blue Devils quickly took control of the match and won in three games. Sophomore Hannah Hutchison had 13 kills to lead her team at the net.
Corvallis def. Polson, 25-13, 25-9, 25-14
Corvallis: Kills 39 (Hannah Hutchison 13). Blocks 2. Digs 42 (Maureen Jessop 8, Casey Fison 8). Assists 38 (Kate Hurlbert 34). Aces 12 (Ashley Hornaday 6).
Polson- Polson: Kills 11 (Kaelyn Smith 4). Kills 11 (Kaelyn Smith 4). Blocks 4. Digs 30 (Kyler Lundeen 15). Assists 11 (Laurel Bitterman 11). Aces 2 (Bitterman 2).
Columbia Falls was the next opponent on Corvallis’ list. Again, the Blue Devils came out and quickly established their game. They only allowed six points in the first game. But Columbia Falls came back to challenge in the third game but couldn’t stop the Blue Devils. Maureen Jessop had 10 kills and two blocks.
Corvallis defCorvallis def. Columbia Falls, 25-6, 25-15, 25-23
Corvallis: Kills 39 (Jessop 10, Hutchison 9). Blocks 3 (Jessop 2). Digs 61 (Hurlbert 16). Assists 34 (Hurlbert 26). Aces 8 (Hutchison 3).
C. Falls – Kills 22 (Trista Cowan 7, Ryley Kehr 6). Blocks 5 (Kiera Brown 2). Digs 60 (Angellica Street 18). Assists 20 (Hannah Schweikert 20). Aces 4 (Four with 1).
The win over Columbia Falls put Corvallis into the semi final match where they met up with Libby, the No. 1 seed from the Northwest. The Loggers won the first two games before Corvallis was able to notch a win. They also won the fourth game but Libby came back to win the fifth game and the match. Hutchison had 19 kills and 21 digs. Ashley Hornaday continued to knock down aces for Corvallis too.
Libby Def. Corvallis 25-12, 25-20, 20-25, 27-27, 15-10
Corvallis – Kills 48 (Hutchison 19). Blocks 15 (Charlotte Powell 5.5). Digs 84 (Hutchison 21). Assists 45 (Hurlbert 40). Aces 5 (Hornaday 2).
Libby – Kills 48 (Jayden Winslow 17). Blocks 21 (Mehki Sykes 10). Digs 92 (Emma Gruber 33). Assists 45 (Alli Collins 45). Aces 5 (Emma Gruber 3).
With the loss, Corvallis dropped to the loser’s side of the bracket and had to play Whitefish. Although it was a close match, Corvallis won in three games and kept their hopes of a championship alive. It was Hutchison and Jessop controlling the net again. Hutchison had 10 kills and Jessop had five. She also had 3.5 blocks and Charlotte Powell had two blocks.
Corvallis Def. Whitefish 25-22, 25-17, 25-18
Whitefish – Kills 28 (Ross 13, Bender 6). Blocks 4 (Bender 2, Ross 1, Annisa Brown 1). Digs 48 (Matern 15, Grove 8, Hemmingson 8). Assists 28 (Catina 19), Aces – 8 (Catina 2, Ross 2, Brown 2).
Corvallis – Kills 30 (Hutchison 10, Jessop 5). Blocks 9 (Jessop 3.5, Powell 2). Digs 47 (Casey Fison 14, Hurlbert 9). Assists 26 (Hurlbert 24.)( Aces 4 (Hornaday 2).
In a double elimination tournament, after sustaining a loss, a team must win two championship matches to actually win the championship. Corvallis’ opponent in the championship match was Libby, the team that had handed them their first loss. Corvallis came out strongly and won the first two games before Libby came back to win the next two. Corvallis edged out Libby in the fifth and final game for the win. Jessop had 12 kills and 19 digs. Powell had 11 kills and three blocks.
First Championship
Corvallis def. Libby 25-19, 25-20, 12-25, 12-25, 15-13.
Corvallis – Kills 49 (Jessop 12, Powell 11). Blocks 7 (Powell 3, Isabell Evans 2). Digs 68 (Jessop 19). Assists 44 (Hurlbert 41). Aces 2 (Hurlbert 1, Hornaday 1).
Libby – Kills 52 (Rainer 19, Sykes 16). Blocks 10 (Rainer 3). Digs 67 (Winslow 21), Assists 49 (Collins 47). Aces 9 (Sykes 3).
Corvallis’ Kate Hurlbert was determined to power her team to the win in the second championship game. The 5’6” senior notched 2.5 blocks, 40 assists and three aces in the win. It took the Blue Devils four games to win the championship. Hutchison and Jessop continued their tough play at the net, combining for 27 kills.
Second Championship
Corvallis def. Libby 25-21, 25-16, 22-25, 25-13
Corvallis – Kills 48 (Hutchison 17, Jessop 10). Blocks – 14 (Evans 5.5, Hurlbert 2.5). Digs 78 (Jessop 22, Fison 17). Assists 41 (Hurlbert 40). Aces 9 (Hurlbert 3).
Libby – Kills 46 (Rainer 20, Winslow 10). Blocks 14 (Mossberg 3, Sykes 3). Digs 69 (Winslow 25, Gruber 16). Assists 43 (Collins 43). Aces 4 (Rainer 2, Jones 2).
Corvallis will play at the state tournament at 4pm on Thursday against Dawson County, the No. 4 seed from the Eastern Conference.
Stevensville will also be making the trip to the state tournament. They will play Billings Central at 10 am. Billings Central is the No. 1 seed from the East.
Stevensville opened their tournament play against Whitefish and although the match was close, Whitefish won in five games. Angel Richards had 19 kills and 6.5 blocks.
Whitefish def. Stevensville, 25-19, 24-26, 21-25, 25-16, 16-14
Stevensville – Stevensville: Kills 52 (Angel Richards 19).Kills 52 (Angel Richards 19). Blocks 12.5 (Richards 6.5). Digs 53 (Mikayla Hall 18). Assists 43 (Quinn Larson 43). Aces 10 (Prestley Robinson 3).
Whitefish: Kills 55 (Cailyn Ross 26). Blocks 9 (Marlee Bender 4). Digs 86 (Lauren Schulz 18). Assists 53 (Becca Catina 35). Aces 8 (Ross 5).
After losing to Whitefish, Stevensville took on Frenchtown and topped them in three games. Richards again controlled the net with 12 kills and 1.5 blocks. She also had four aces.
Stevensville def. Frenchtown 25-17, 25-20, 25-18
Stevensville – Kills 33 (Richards 12), Blocks 5.5 (Richards 1.5, Mikayla Newman 1.5). Digs 60 (Cassi Kopsa 19). Assists 25 (Larson 25). Aces 8 (Richards 4).
Next up for Stevensville was Columbia Falls. The Yellowjackets were on a roll and, after a tight first game, went on to win in three games. Richards had 12 kills and Hall had 14 digs.
Stevensville def. Columbia Falls, 27-25, 25-16, 25-23
Columbia Falls – Kills 28 (Cowan 8, Kehr 8). Blocks 11 (Cowan 3.5, Kehr 2.5, Brown 2.5). Digs 51 (Cowan 13, Street 13, Sova 10, Ellis 10). Assists 24, (Schweikert 24). Aces 5 (Bistodeau 2).
Stevensville – Kills 31 (Richards 12). Blocks (Newman 3). Digs 47 (Hall 14). Assists 31 (Larson 21). Aces 7 (Prestley Robinson 3).
The win assured Stevensville a trip to the All Class State tournament in Bozeman this weekend. Their next opponent was Whitefish, again. The first game was a long one with Whitefish winning, 29-27. Stevensville won the third game but couldn’t get past the Bulldogs. They finished fourth.Kopsa dropped in five aces for the Yellowjackets.
Whitefish def Stevensville 29-27, 25-15, 17-25, 27-25 (loser takes fourth)
Whitefish – Kills 55 (Ross 35). Blocks 3 (Ross 2). Digs 93 (Catina 20). Assists 52 (Catina 33). Aces 7 (Brown 3).
Stevensville – Kills 37 (Prestley Robinson 12). Blocks 9 (Richards 4). Digs 56 (Hall 16). Assists 32 (Larson 31). Aces 11 (Kopsa 5).
Hamilton played Columbia Falls in their first game of the divisional tournament and lost in four games. Hayley Hudgins and Tristy Searle each had 11 kills for the Lady Broncs.
Columbia Falls def Columbia Falls def.Hamilton, 25-19, 25-23, 18-25, 25-22
Columbia Falls – Kills 48 (Cowan 17). Blocks 9 (Brown 4). Digs 101 (Street 37). Assists 38 (Schweikert 37). Aces 10 (Schweikert 4).
Hamilton – Kills 47 (Hayley Hudgins 11, Tristy Searle 11).Kills 47 (Hayley Hudgins 11, Tristy Searle 11). Blocks 5 (Royal Beyer 2). Digs 75 (Caitlin Dillon 21). Assists 34 (Dillon 29). Aces 9 (Dillon 3, Hudgins 3).
Next up for Hamilton was Polson. The Lady Broncs won in four games. Searle and Royal Beyer combined for 21 kills. Caitlin Dillon had three aces.
Hamilton def. Polson 25-18, 25-15, 20-25, 25-17
Polson – Kills 30 (Smith 14, Ducharme 7). Blocks 2. Digs 55 (Lundeen 29, Bitterman 9). Assists 29 (Bitterman 26). Aces 4.
Hamilton – Kills 41 (Tristy Searle 12, Royal Beyer 9). Blocks 5 (Beyer 2, Hayley Hudgins 2). Digs 70 (Caitlin Dillon 18, Sophia Doyle 12). Assists 27 (Dillon 22). Aces 10 (Dillon 3).
Hamilton’s final match was against Whitefish. Hamilton won the first game but Whitefish came back to win the match. Dillon had 27 assists and three aces.
Whitefish def. Hamilton 21-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-17
Whitefish – Kills 59 (Ross 29, Schulz 9). Blocks 5 (Bender 3, Ross 1). Digs 112 (Matern 26, Grove 18). Assists 55 (Catina 34, Schulz 18). AceAcdss 6 (Catina 4).
Hamilton – Kills 33 (Searle 13). Blocks 6 (Searle 4). Digs 85 (Carriann Kunkel 23, Brooke Huxtable 17). Assists 27 (Dillon 27). Aces 9 (Dillon 3, Beyer 3).