The Corvallis Blue Devils used a team effort to advance to Saturday morning where they lost to Belgrade and finished third in the Class A tournament. Coach Kasey Arceniega said that everyone contributed to the team’s success from the back row to the front row hitters and blockers.
Corvallis opened against Dawson County and won in three games. Hannah Hutchinson stepped up at the net and had 10 kills. Kate Hurlbert and Maureen Jessop each had three aces.
Corvallis def. Dawson 25-17, 25-21, 25-8
Corvallis – Kills 32 (Hannah Hutchison 10). Blocks – 2 (Charlotte Powell 1.5). Digs – 61 (Maureen Jessop 13). Assists – 31 (Kate Hurlbert 26). Aces – 15 (Hurlbert 3, Jessop 3).
Dawson County – Kills 19 (Karson Murphy 6). Blocks 2 (Murphy 1, Kayla Kelly 1). Digs 58 (Thea Robson 19). Assits 19 (Jaley Wise 12). Aces 1 (Robson).
The Blue Devils then played Belgrade, the No. 2 team from the East. Corvallis gave the Panthers a run, winning the first game and the third game but just could not pull through in the final two games. Jessop had 15 kills and four blocks.
Belgrade def. Corvallis 21-25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-10, 15-9
Belgrade – Kills 66 (Bailey Christensen 30). Blocks 7 (Brooke Gilbertson 4). Digs 77 (Taylor Christensen 24). Assists – 55 (Jaiden Blakely 53). Aces 7 (T. Christensen 5).
Corvallis – Kills 47 (Jessop 15). Blocks 9 (Jessop 4). Digs 90 (Hurlbert 21). Assists 43 (Hurlbert 36). Aces 5.
Corvallis was then in the loser’s bracket and had to win every match in order to keep playing. They did just that in their game against Fergus County, winning in three games. Sophomore Casey Fison stepped up with 15 digs and three aces. Arceniega said she was very pleased with all the underclassmen’s play.
Corvallis def. Fergus County 25-21,25-22, 25-15
Corvallis – Kills: 27 (Hutchison 12). Blocks: 11 (Charlotte Powell 5). Digs: 49 (Fison 15). Assists: 25 (Kate Hurlbert 22). Aces: 7 (Casey Fison 3).
Lewistown: Kills: 30 (Ana Zimmer 13). Assists: 24 (Becca Bawden 23). Aces: 8 (Hayden Potter 4). Digs: 49 (Collins 17). Blocks: 4 (Collins 3).
Corvallis then had to take on their nemesis from the West, Libby. The two teams have battled all season including the divisional tournament. It took five games but Corvallis came out on top, winning in five games. Another youngster, Isabel Evans had five blocks. Arceniega said Evans is 6’3” and really alters play at the net. Evans had five blocks.
Corvallis def. Libby 25-22, 17-25, 21-25, 25-13, 15-11
Corvallis: Kills: 48 (Jessop 14). Blocks 10 (Isabel Evans 5). Digs 80 (Casey Fison 19). Assists: 47 (Hurlbert 39). Aces: (Hurlbert 3).
Libby: Kills: 56 (Sykes 20). Blocks: 4 (Emily Mossburg 3). Digs: 86 (Gruber 23). Assists: 54 (Alli Collins 54). Aces: 11 (Collins, Emma Gruber 3).
The win against Libby put Corvallis into the third place game and a chance to play in the championship. Their opponent once again was Belgrade. Corvallis had a difficult time getting going and lost in three games, finishing third. Hutchison had 12 blocks and Hurlbert had 15 assists and an ace.
Arceniega said that although it takes a team to make a play from the digging to the passing to the hitting, the setter really runs the game and Hurlbert has been outstanding at that position.
Third place
Belgrade def. Corvallis 25-10, 25-16, 25-18
Belgrade: Kills: 38 (B. Christensen 16). Assists: 31 (Blakely 30). Aces: 11 (Blakely 3). Digs: 45 (T. Christensen 19). Blocks: 6 (McKenna Carlson 4).
Corvallis: Kills: 22 (Hutchison 12). Blocks: 2 (Jessop 1.5). Digs: 50 (Jessop 10). Assists: 19 (Hurlbert 15). Aces: 5 (Hurlbert, Jessop 2).