by Scott Sacry
The volleyball teams from Hamilton, Corvallis, Florence, and Stevensville traveled to Butte on Friday, Oct. 9, and Saturday, Oct. 10, to play in the 2026 Blocktober Classic.
The annual Blocktober Classic included 26 Class A and B Montana high school volleyball teams. 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. The following are the results for each Bitterroot team.
Hamilton
Hamilton finished 2nd in pool play with a 5-2 record and secured a spot in the Championship Bracket. In pool play, they defeated Hardin (25-13), Laurel (25-21), Ronan (25-18), Corvallis (25-13), and Whitefish (25-21). They lost to Jefferson (23-25) and Bigfork (24-26).
In the main Championship Bracket, Hamilton lost to Havre 0-2 (22-25, 17-25) in the first round. Then in the loser-out bracket they defeated Bigfork 2-1 (25-22, 13-25, 15-9), lost to Jefferson 1-2 (18-25, 27-25, 11-15), and were eliminated from the bracket.
Stevensville
Stevensville finished 6th in pool play with a 3-5 record and earned a spot in the Consolation Bracket. In pool play, they defeated Powell County (25-20), Lockwood (26-24), and Browning (25-10). They lost to East Helena (18-25), Havre (22-25), Sidney (17-25), Frenchtown (19-25), and Polson (7-25).
In the Consolation Bracket, Stevensville opened with a 0-2 loss to Park (18-25, 19-25). Then in the loser-out bracket they defeated Bitterroot neighbor Florence 2-1 (25-22, 11-25, 15-11), then they lost to Ronan 1-2 (16-25, 25-21, 8-15), and were eliminated from the bracket.
Florence
Florence finished 4th in pool play with a 5-3 record and earned a spot in the Consolation Bracket. In pool play, they defeated Dillon (25-17), Butte Central (26-24), Park (25-21), Anaconda (25-20), and Libby (25-18). They lost to Miles City (18-25), Columbia Falls (18-25), and Billings Central (23-25).
In the Consolation Bracket, Florence lost to Hardin 0-2 (22-25, 22-25). Then in the loser-out bracket, they met Bitterroot neighbor Stevensville and lost 1-2 (22-25, 25-11, 11-15) and were eliminated from the bracket.
Corvallis
Corvallis finished 8th in pool play with a 1-6 record and went to the Copper Bracket. In pool play, they defeated Ronan (25-22). They lost to Hardin (14-25), Laurel (10-25), Jefferson (13-25), Whitefish (22-25), Hamilton (13-25), and Bigfork (17-25).
In the Copper Bracket, Corvallis opened with a 2-1 win over Anaconda (25-14, 17-25, 15-10), then defeated Lockwood 2-0 (25-19, 25-22). Finally, in the Copper Bracket championship match, Corvallis was defeated by Whitefish 0-2 (18-25, 22-25).
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