Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Sports at a Glance

All stories by Jean Schurman

Florence not done yet Third place for Blue Devils

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You wouldn’t have known who won by the celebration at the end of the championship game. The Lady Falcons were jumping up and down yelling and laughing as if they had just won the championship while the Loyola Heartbreakers were just standing around. But it was Loyola who took the Western B championship and it was Florence who lost. But the Florence girls still had something to celebrate – they are headed to the State All Class volleyball tournament in Bozeman this week. It will be the first time that Florence has participated at state in at least 15 years, if not ever.

“It’s a big deal for Florence,” said senior setter Kayla Daniels. “That was one of our main goals this year. When we beat Thompson Falls, nothing could be better.”

Florence only had two losses in the tournament, both to Loyola. They met the Breakers in the undefeated game on Friday night where they took Loyola to five games before losing momentum. It was the same on Saturday night in the championship when Florence came out and won the first two games before Loyola even knew what was going on. But Loyola hadn’t played and had fresh legs where the Lady Falcons had already played a tough match against Thompson Falls.

Florence plays a tough game but they do better when they are loose and relaxed. Coach Kelly Daniels likes to see them having fun out there on the court because then she knows they are relaxed as well.

“The girls were in the locker room after getting to state,” said coach Daniels. “And said, who really cares, lets just go out there and play and have a good time. They were so jazzed up. The first two games, that’s exactly what they did. Game three, they started getting more focused on the game and things on hand. I kept telling them they do so much better when they are having fun, they are looser, and they just transition better.”

But a strong team like Loyola will take advantage of any weakness. As the Florence team began to tighten up, Loyola came alive and won the last three games to take the championship.

None of the games were easy for either team. The two played neck and neck throughout the first game before a serve by Chayla Pederson and a kill by Katie Niemeier put the Lady Falcons on top for Game 1, 25-27. Game 2 ended when the ball rebounded off a backrow player for Florence and went into Loyola’s court where it was hit into the net. But then Loyola came back to win the final three games and the championship.

Florence opened their tournament against Thompson Falls, a team that had beaten them during the regular season. But this time the Lady Falcons were ready for anything. Thompson Falls took the lead early in the game but a couple of tough outside kills from Lindsey Bauck of Florence put them right back in the mix. Then Kayla Daniels stepped up to serve and jump-served eight points. It was too much for Thompson Falls to overcome.

Game 2 was closer but a couple of kills by Bauk and a missed pass by Thompson Falls gave Florence the win. That took the wind out of the Bluehawks’ sails and Florence cruised through to win Game 3.

“We had a good day today, Florence got off to a slow start but just kept chipping away at the Lions and took the 25-18 win in the first game. Katie Niemeier had 11 kills in the 3-0 win over Eureka.

That win set up the semi final game against Loyola. Jo Johnston finished the match with 17 kills. Loyola came back and won Game 2 but Florence wasn’t done. With Johnston, Odessa Conley, Bauk and Niemeir at the net and Amanda Heffner holding down the back row, the Lady Falcons took game three. Once again Loyola had to rally and they did, behind the play of Abbie Mansch. They went on to take Game 5 and the match as well.

“I think they were playing not to lose,” said coach Daniels of her team. “You’ve got to close it out.”

The loss set up a rematch against Thompson Falls on Saturday morning. Coach Daniels described the Bluehawks’ as being a scrappy team that would keep digging up balls until they got a point. That is exactly what they did against Florence in the consolation game. Florence won the first game but Thompson Falls came back and won the second. Florence won Game 3 but Thompson Falls won Game 4.

Coach Daniels told her team “don’t get yourself in a hole. Don’t panic. Play to win,” and then added that by the fifth game, there isn’t a lot more to say.

The platitudes work encouragement worked as Florence pulled out the 15-10 win and advanced to the championship game.

Florence will play Manhattan Christian, the No. 1 seed from the south in their opening game at state. That game is at 10 a.m. on Thursday at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman.

“I so badly wanted to extend their season for another week,” said coach Daniels. “Last year we barely missed going to state. I’m not ready to be done with it.”

Darby lost to Thompson Falls and Eureka. Mariah Cress had outstanding games in both matches.

Thursday

Florence 3, Thompson Falls 0

Florence def. Thompson Falls 25-20, 25-23, 25-13

Kills – Florence 35 (Jo Johnston 10), Thompson Falls 22, Blocks – Florence 6, Thompson Falls 5. Digs – Florence 58 (Amanda Heffner 15), Thompson Falls 45. Assists – Florence 32 (Kayla Daniels 32). Thompson Falls 18. Aces – Florence 7 (Daniels 3, Honston 3). Thompson Falls 4.

Florence 3, Eureka 0

Florence def Eureka 25-18, 25-21, 25-18

Kills – Florence 37 (Katie Niemeir 11), Eureka 28. Blocks – Florence 6, Eureka 8. Digs – Florence 52 (Amanda Heffner 20), Eureka 41. Assists – Florence 29 (Kayla Daniels 29), Eureka 22. Aces – Florence 10 (three with 3), Eureka 8.

Eureka 3, Darby 0

Eureka def. Darby 25-12, 25-20, 25-16

Kills – Darby 23 (Mariah Cress 12), Eureka 39. Blocks – Darby 6 (Cress 3, Nakita Center 3), Eureka 4. Digs – Darby 37 (Lindsey Trowbridge 10), Eureka 31. Assists - Darby 19, Cara Sullivan 10), Eureka 33. Aces – Darby 6 (Trowbridge 3), Eureka 13.

Friday

Thompson Falls 3, Darby 0

Thompson Falls def. Darby 25-15, 25-9, 25-18

Kills – Thompson Falls 29 , Darby 16 (Mariah Cress 8). Blocks – Thompson Falls 5, Darby 7 (Cress 5). Digs – Thompson Falls 28, Darby 27 (Cress 10). Assists – Thompson Falls 27, Darby 7 (Tara Sullivan 5). Aces – Thompson Falls 14, Darby 3 (Cress, Brianna Morris, Rachel Wetzsteon).

Undefeated Game

Loyola 3, Florence 2

Loyola def. Florence 22-25, 25-17, 24-26, 25-23, 15-7

Kills – Loyola 56, Florence 54 (Jo Johnston 17). Blocks – Loyola 7, Florence 9 (Johnston 2, Odessa Conley 2). Digs – Loyola 32, Florence 75 (Amanda Heffner 25). Assists – Loyla 48, Florence 42 (Kayla Daniels 40). Aces – Loyola 14. Florence 2.

Saturday

Consolation

Florence 3, Thompson Falls 2

Florence def Thompson Falls 25-19, 19-25, 25-14, 19-25, 15-10

Kills – Thompson Falls 46, Florence 51 (Jo Johnston 16, Katie Niemeir 16). Blocks – Thompson Falls 12, Florence 0. Digs – Thompson Falls 71, Florence 77 (Amanda Heffner 240. Assists – Thompson Falls 41, Florence 45 (Daniels 44). Aces – Thompson Falls 3, Florence 0.

Championship

Loyola def. Florence 3-2

Loyola def. Florence 25-27, 24-26, 25-16, 25-14, 15-7

Kills – Loyola 51, Flroence 35 (Lindey Bauk 11). Blocks – Loyola 6, Florence 12 (Jo Johnston 4). Digs – Loyola 53, Florence 60 (Amanda Heffner 17). Assists – Loyola 41. Florence 18 (Kayla Daniels 18). Aces –Loyola 18, Florence 10 (Brittany Heinz 3).

Although it wasn’t what they wanted, the Corvallis Blue Devils came home with a third place trophy from the Southwestern A tournament in Anaconda. After battling back through the loser’s bracket, Anaconda won the championship and Dillon finished second.

Corvallis began their quest for a state berth with a familiar foe, the Hamilton Broncs. The two teams had close battles this season and nothing was a given. Although Corvallis won in three games, they were close games with the Lady Broncs playing tough, scrappy ball. Ali Bierer had 11 kills for Corvallis while Hamilton’s Ashley Albert tallied six kills and two blocks in a battle at the net.

Thursday

Corvallis 3, Hamilton 0

Corvallis def. Hamilton, 25-20, 25-17, 25-18

Kills – Hamilton 12 (Ashley Albert 6), Corvallis 35 (Ali Bierer 11), Blocks – Hamilton 5 (Albert 2), Corvallis 3 (Whitney Henderson 2). Digs – Hamilton 28 (Samantha Wood 8), Corvallis 21 (Henderson 4, Callie Ward 4, Whitney Phinney 4). Assists – Hamilton 18 (Tiffani Kemig 6, Mary Conwell 6), Corvallis 29 (Henderson 27). Aces – Hamilton 8 (Presley Chadwick 2, Wood 2), Corvallis 10 Kim Gilder 3, Amber Bradshaw 3).

Next up for the Blue Devils was Dillon. With one of the state’s top players, Grace Zitzer, on the court, the Beavers were a tough team to handle. Corvallis lost in three close games. Kim Gilder had nine kills, seven digs and four aces for the Devils.

Dillon 3, Corvallis 0

Dillon def. Corvallis 25-21, 25-21, 25-22

Kills – Corvallis 25 (Kim Gilder 9, Ali Bierer 6), Dillon 37. Blocks – Corvallis 0, Dillon 1. Digs – Corvallis 38 (Whitney Henderson 7, Gilder 7), Dillon 55. Assists – Corvallis 21 (Whitney Henderson 20), Dillon 30. Aces – Corvallis 7 (Gilder 4, Lairen Phinney 2, Henderson). Dillon 10.

After losing to Dillon on Friday morning, Corvallis then had to face Stevensville. As with any rivalry, the outcome of is always in question. Stevensville took Corvallis to 28 points in the first game before bowing out. The Devils came back to win the second game 25-14 and then the final game, 25-20. Gilder had 12 kills and Amber Bradshaw contributed with four blocks and four aces for the Blue Devils. Stevensville’s Jessi Brunett had six kills and four aces.

Corvallis 3, Stevensville 0

Corvallis def. Stevensville 28-26, 25-14, 25-20

Kills – Corvallis 28 (Kim Gilder 12), Stevensville 20 (Jessi Brunett 6). Blocks – Corvallis 6 (Amber Bradshaw 4), Stevensville 8 (Maddie Jones 3). Digs – Corvallis 62 (Callie Ward 19), Stevensville 31 (josie Clark 6). Assists – Corvallis 15, Whitney Henderson 14), Stevensville 16 (Christina Boberg 9). Aces – Corvallis 9 (Amber Bradshaw 4), Stevensville 12 (Jessi Brunett 4).

Next up for Corvallis was Frenchtown. The loser of this game finished fourth in the tournament. Frenchtown came out strongly and won the first two games, forcing Corvallis to dig deep and get back on track. They won the next two games handily but Frenchtown again took them to the wall in Game five, forcing Corvallis to a 17-15 win. Bierer had 16 kills in the game for Corvallis.

Saturday

Corvallis 3, Frenchtown 2 (loser takes 4th)

Corvallis def. Frenchtown 18-25, 23-25, 25-12, 25-12, 17-15

Kills – Corvallis 43 (Ali Bierer 16), Frenchtown 38. Blocks – Corvallis 0, Frenchtown 0. Digs – Corvallis 77 (Callie Ward 16), Frenchtown 43. Assists – Corvallis 28 (Whitney Henderson 28), Frenchtown 34. Aces – Corvallis 8 (Henderson 3), Frenchtown 8.

Corvallis then had to play Anaconda to make it to the championship game. Corvallis played the Copperheads closely but just couldn’t get their momentum going. Gilder finished with 14 kills and four blocks. Whitney Henderson had 25 assists.

Anaconda 3, Corvallis 1 (loser takes 3rd)

Anaconda def. Corvallis 25-19, 25-23, 22-25, 25-13

Kills – Corvallis 32 (Kim Gilder 14), Anaconda 45. Blocks – Corvallis 4 , Anaconda 6. Digs – Corvallis 41 (Angie Henderson 8), Anaconda 71. Assists – Corvallis 26 (Whitney Henderson 25), Anaconda 30. Aces – Corvallis 5 (Gilder 4), Anaconda 6.

Stevensville lost to Frenchtown in their opening game of the tournament. The Lady Yellowjackets played tough ball in the first game and won that game by two points. They continued to play tough but Frenchtown controlled the net and took the next three games to win the match. Milli Thorson had six kills and Maddie Jones dug up 12 balls and had four aces for Stevensville.

Frenchtown 3, Stevensville 1

Frenchtown def. Stevensville 23-25, 25-14, 25-20, 25-21

Kills – Stevensville 15 (Milli Thorson 6), Frenchtown 35. Blocks – Stevensville 6 (Maddie Jones 3), Frenchtown 7. Digs – Stevensville 38 (Jones 12), Frenchtown 39. Assists – Stevensville 11 (Christina Boberg 7), Frenchtown 24. Aces – Stevensville 10 (Jones 4), Frenchtown 14.

Hamilton lost to Frenchtown in loser out action on Friday. Hamilton took the first two games but the Broncs from up north came back to win the final three games and end Hamilton’s season. Ashley Albert had 14 kills, two blocks, and nine kills to finish her prep career.

Frenchtown 3, Hamilton 2

Frenchtown def. Hamilton 21-25, 17-25, 25-18, 25-22, 15-9

Kills – Frenchtown 36. Hamilton – 37 (Ashley Albert 14). Blocks – Frenchtown 4, Hamilton 2 (Albert 2). Digs – Frenchtown 66. Hamilton 39 (Keimig 9, Albert 9). Assists – Frenchtown 19, Hamilton 35 (Tiffani Keimig 17, Mary Conwell 15). Aces – Frenchtown 11, Hamilton 10 (Samantha Wood 3, Keimig 3).