by Scott Sacry, Sports Editor
The volleyball teams from Hamilton, Florence and Stevensville traveled to Butte on Friday, Oct. 10, and Saturday, Oct. 11, to play in the 2025 Blocktober Classic. Kudos to Butte for coming up with a clever name for the tournament.
The annual Blocktober Classic included 25 Montana volleyball teams (mostly Class A, but some Class B). The teams were divided into three pools and on Friday teams played other teams within their pool for one game to 25 points.
Then based on their record in pool play, teams were funneled into three Saturday brackets. The top teams went to the Championship Bracket, the middle teams went to the Consolation Bracket and the lower teams went into the Copper Bracket.
Teams then played three-set matches within each bracket in a double elimination mini-tournament to crown the top four places in each bracket.
Hamilton
Hamilton continues to prove they’re one of the top Class A volleyball teams in the state. The Broncs went 7-0 and took first place in pool play on Friday. This sent them to the Championship Bracket on Saturday where they finished in 3rd place.
In their opening game in bracket play, they lost to Florence 1-2 (25-20, 12-25, 14-16), this sent them to the loser’s side of the bracket where they defeated Jefferson 2-1 (25-22, 15-25, 15-10), then defeated Frenchtown 2-0 (25-20, 25-23), and finally in the consolation game, they defeated Florence 2-1 (21-25, 25-22, 15-9).
Florence
Florence did exceptionally well considering they were one of the few Class B teams at the tournament. The Falcons went 6-2 and finished 3rd in pool play on Friday. This sent them to the Championship Bracket on Saturday, where they took 4th place overall.
In the first round of bracket play, they defeated Fergus 2-0 (25-18, 25-23), then they defeated Hamilton 2-1 (20-25, 25-12, 16-14), then they lost their semifinal game to Havre 1-2 (24-26, 25-17, 10-15), this sent them to the losers bracket where they defeated Bigfork 2-0 (25-19, 25-23). Finally, they played Hamilton again in the consolation game and Florence lost in a tough match 1-2 (25-21, 22-25, 9-15) and took 4th.
Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, Oct. 7, Florence hosted Darby and won 3-0 (25-10, 25-9, 25-8). For Florence, Dia Jenkins and Reese Briney each had 4 aces, Taylor Pyette had 4 aces and 8 digs, Emory Ralston had 17 kills, Maggie Schneiter had 15 assists, and Alex Nelson and Kendyl Meinhold each had a block.
Darby’s Austin Hackel (#14) passes the ball in Darby’s game against Florence on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Florence defeated Darby 3-0. Photo by Stephanie K Geiser Photography.
Then on Thursday, Oct. 9, Florence hosted Arlee and won 3-0 (25-0, 25-16, 25-3). For Florence, Dia Jenkins had 11 aces, Emory Ralston had 15 kills, Maggie Schneiter had 17 assists, and Taylor Pyette had 12 digs.
Stevensville
The Stevensville girls went 1-6 and took 8th in pool play on Friday in Butte. This sent them to the Copper Bracket on Saturday, where they took 2nd place. In the Copper Bracket, they played Butte Central in their opening game and won 2-0 (25-15, 25-21), then defeated Park 2-0 (25-17, 25-19), which sent them to the championship game where they lost to Lockwood 0-2 (25-21, 25-21).
Earlier in the week Stevensville played at Corvallis on Thursday, October 9 and won 3-1 (24-26, 25-17, 25-23, 25-21).
Volleyball roundup
Victor
The Victor volleyball team hosted Seeley-Swan on Thursday, Oct. 9. The Pirates played tough early, but ran out of steam late and fell to the Blackhawks 1-3 (22-25, 25-21, 13-25, 11-25).
Victor’s Kadyn Allred (#2) sets the ball as Jacquia McLeod (#14) looks on during Victor’s game against Seeley on Thursday, Oct. 9. The Pirates lost 1-3 (22-25, 25-21, 13-25, 11-25). Photo by Scott Sacry.
Darby
The Darby volleyball team played at Florence on Tuesday, Oct. 7 and lost 0-3 (10-25, 9-25, 8-25). Then on Thursday, Oct. 9 they played at Missoula Loyola and fell 0-3 (11-25, 7-25, 7-25).
Corvallis
The Corvallis volleyball team hosted Stevensville on Thursday, Oct. 9 for their Homecoming game. The Blue Devils won a tough first set 26-24, then faltered over the next three sets and lost 1-3 (26-24, 17-25, 23-25, 21-25).