Spikers 10th in Tip Off Tournament
Columbia Falls head coach Addy Hines continues to see improvement on the volleyball court as the Wildkats won six of 13 sets in the Tip Off Tournament last weekend in Anaconda. The tourney matched teams from the Northwestern A and Southwestern A conferences against each other in two-set matches.
On Friday in pool play, the Kats had their best success against Hamilton, sweeping the Broncs, 25-10, 25-12. C-Falls split with Corvallis 15-25, 25-23; Frenchtown 22-25, 25-20; and Stevensville 25-13, 17-25; and lost to Dillon 20-25, 20-25.
To wrap up pool play, the Kats split with eventual tournament champion Anaconda 16-25, 25-24.
“They’re capable of beating any team they put their mind to,” Hines said of the last-set win over Anaconda.
With a 6-6 pool play record, C-Falls was pitted against Dillon in the match for ninth and 10th place. The Beavers came out on top in the rematch, 25-23, 26-24.
“As the tournament went on we diminished our errors,” Hines said, with the Kats committing only two service errors against Anaconda. C-Falls had 11 service errors in the final match, however.
“That makes a difference in a game,” Hines said of serving, “just getting back there and focusing.”
Cassidee Skiles handling the setting chores for the Kats, although she sat out awhile due to a shoulder injury. Junior Kayla Stratton filled the role in Skiles’ absence.
“She did really well. I’m very pleased with what she was able to do for us,” Hines said of Stratton.
Hines had praise for Lexie Bartkoski, Danielle Gilley and Renae Nelson for their play during the tournament. “They’re really coming around. They’re stepping up and starting to play aggressive,” the coach said.
Kayla DeWit and Brooke Cady led the Kats attack.
Blocking needs work, according to Hines. “That’s a focus we’re going to get back to,” she said.
Anaconda won the tourney title with a 15-25, 25-22, 25-22 win over Polson. The Pirates from the Northwestern A went 11-1 in pool play, their only set loss to Frenchtown. Anaconda was 8-4 in pool sets.
Libby finished in third place. Bigfork was fifth, and Whitefish came in eighth.
Golfers edge Whitefish
Senior Tanner Lineberry’s sizzling 78 led the Columbia Falls High School boys golf team to a one-stroke victory over Whitefish (357-358) at Meadow Lake on Sept. 8. The Libby boys finished third at 403.
It was Lineberry’s best competitive score on his home course and was one stroke behind top finisher Joe Blakemore of Whitefish. Wildcat sophomore Parker Johnson posted a strong 88 for fourth place while junior Mike Cotton’s 94 and senior Ian Gordon’s 97 landed them in the top 10. Also competing for the Wildcats were Jordan Mueller (98), Nick Emerson (99) and Brian Marcille (101).
“Tanner’s been looking forward to competing at Meadow Lake this year,” coach Gene Marcille said. “His score shows he’s worked hard on improving his golf game for his senior season.”
On the girls side of the tournament Taylor Barton of Libby shot a 106 to take top honors while Wildkat junior Courtney Tamburelli’s 126 was tops for the host team. Also competing for Columbia Falls High School were Olivia Williams (138) and Michele Hagen (140). None of the three schools competing fielded a complete girls team due to scheduling conflicts.
The Columbia Falls High School golf teams are back in action Thursday (today) again at Meadow Lake hosting Polson and Ronan in a varsity triangular and then head for Libby on Saturday.