C-Falls spikers regrouping with new offense

When you find a need to generate more offense in volleyball, you change your attack.

Columbia Falls went from a one-setter offense to a two-setter scheme after being swept by Browning last Thursday in a non-conference match. Every set went down to the wire as the scores were 25-20, 25-21, 25-22.

The Wildkats ran a 6-2 offense, with the setter coming from the back row, against league-leading Polson on Saturday in Polson. The Pirates won in a sweep, 25-11, 25-17, 25-17.

With the loss, the Wildkats dropped to 1-2 in the Northwestern A. They play today (Thursday) at Libby.

"We had a lot of really great touches," C-Falls coach Addy Hines said, as the Kats slowed down the Polson attack.

Hines singled out Danielle Gilley for her play at the net in trying to block Nicole Davey, Breanne Kelley and other Pirates hitters. "She's coming around and playing more aggressive," the coach said of Gilley. Meanwhile, Brooke Cady did a good job of digging from the back row, according to Hines.

"I was pretty pleased with our passing and what I saw," Hines said. "We didn't have many service errors."

Polson was quick to cover the court as well as the Pirates had 54 digs.

"The girls were a lot more comfortable in their new positions," Hines said of the new offense, as Cassidee Skiles and Grilley shared setting duties. "It gives us another hitting option…I think it's going to work well for us."

The Pirates had 27 kills to 15 for C-Falls. Kelsey DeWit led the Wildkats with seven kills and two aces. Cady had 11 digs and Renae Nelson added nine. Shay Grilley served two aces.

Davey led Polson with nine kills and Kelley had seven.

"We didn't play well against Browning at all," Hines said, although the Kats came out on top in digs (52-40), assists (21-18), service aces (11-8) and blocks (5-2). Browning had 26 kills to C-Falls' 24.

"You're not sure when the ball is coming over," Hines said of Browning's inconsistent attack. "They were good diggers and we weren't getting the ball down."

DeWit had 11 kills to lead the Kats' offense. Skiles had 21 assists and four aces. Cady recorded 16 digs, and Nelson had 12.