Wildkat spikers ousted from Divisional Tourney

By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News

Every volleyball team wants to carry momentum into post-season play, and Columbia Falls High School did just that.

The Wildkats capped the regular season with a sweep of rival Whitefish. But when the teams met in the first round of the Northwestern A Divisional Tournament last Thursday in Polson, it was Whitefish that emerged with the victory. After the Bulldogs won the first two very tight games — 25-21, 25-22 — the Kats forced a deciding set with solid 25-7, 25-18 wins. However, Whitefish rebounded with a 15-12 win in the fifth game.

On Friday, Bigfork — which was upset by Polson in the second round — eliminated the Kats. CFHS could never get untracked in that match as the Valkyries advanced in the consolation bracket with a 5-12, 25-15, 25-14 sweep.

Bigfork, however, failed to qualify for this week's state tournament in Bozeman as the Vals were ousted by Polson. Libby won the divisional tourney title in a five-set, two-hour battle with Polson. Scores were 21-25, 25-23, 25-15, 22-25, 15-11.

After the win over CFHS, Whitefish was swept by Libby in the second round. The Bulldogs were eliminated by Ronan, 15-25, 27-25, 25-16, 25-19. It was the first win this season over a Northwestern A Conference team. For the first time since 1998, Whitefish failed to qualify for the state tournament.

CFHS jumped to a 12-2 lead over Whitefish in the third game of their match, after the Bulldogs won the first two. The momentum carried through the fourth game, but the Kats fell just short in the deciding set.

"The first two games we were really slow," Kats head coach Addy Hines said. "It was a nice comeback. They (Whitefish) had just a little more to pull it out."

Hines said the Kats shook off early nervousness and communication problems due to the loud gym to play well in the last three games.

"Everybody was really playing well together," Hines said. "We led in every statistical category. They (Whitefish) were able to get the ball down when it really counted for them."

Shiloh Knudsen turned in her best match of the season for the Kats. The 5-foot-9 junior registered 13 kills and had three blocks. Sophomore Kayla DeWit added 11 kills. Junior Cassidee Skiles dished out 33 assists. Alyssa Ladenburg, one of only three seniors on the team, hustled for 28 digs.

As a team, the Kats had 74 digs to go along with 41 kills.

McCara Cullen led Whitefish with 16 kills. Jade Hansen had 25 assists.

Bigfork had 38 kills to the Kats' 22 in Friday's loser-out match.

"They played pretty tight," Hines said. "They were more concerned about losing than winning. We worked on that all season.

"It was a disappointment for everyone," Hines said of the loss. "They knew they were capable of doing it (winning the match)."

A plus for the Vals was their serve receive as the Kats had just one service ace.

Junior Brooke Cady led the Kats with eight kills. Skiles had 17 assists, and Ladenburg had 15 digs.

Roxy Thurman paced Bigfork with 13 kills, and Emily Hardman had 11.

"We were definitely playing some off our best ball later (in the season)," said Hines, who completed her fourth year as head coach. "We had a lot of adversity to come through. Those girls developed some really strong friendships."

In addition to Ladenburg, Hines will lose seniors Amanda Milliard and libero Cedar Smith.

"Most games at least one of them were leaders in statistical categories," Hines said. "Each of them had a different role … They made the younger players feel welcome."

Ladenburg, Milliard and Smith were the top three servers.

Hines said she hopes the players who will return will get involved in other sports and work on their volleyball skills with off-season training.