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Dogs 2nd at divisional, head to state

by Matt Baldwin / Whitefish Pilot
| November 9, 2011 10:19 AM

Steady improvement all season has led

to the Lady Bulldog volleyball team peaking at just the right

time.

They reached one of their season-long

goals Saturday when they punched their ticket to the Class A state

tournament in Bozeman. Whitefish earned their spot with a

second-place finish at the divisional tournament, held last weekend

in Whitefish.

“A trip to state was a season-long

goal,” Whitefish coach Sarah Scott said. “Last week we stepped up

to a level of play we haven’t seen all season. I saw a fight in

their eyes that it took a season to cultivate.”

The Bulldogs knocked off a scrappy

Libby team 3-1 in the second round of divisional play on Friday.

Power hitters Emily Sullivan and Abby Strellnauer each had 16

kills, while Kelsey McFadden rounded up 12 digs and served six

aces. Taylor Havens hit 41 assists.

Whitefish fell to the loser-out bracket

after Polson handed them a 1-3 defeat later that night. Sullivan

led the team with 15 kills, but it wasn’t enough to get past the

top-rated Pirates.

Saturday, the Bulldogs took care of

business against Columbia Falls with a 3-0 sweep in the

loser-takes-third match. Sullivan had 20 kills and Havens put up 39

of the team’s 40 assists. Kelsey McFadden had three aces.

In the championship match, Whitefish

needed to top Polson twice to earn the divisional title. While the

Bulldogs played Polson toe-to-toe, the Pirates came away with the

title after a 3-1 victory. Strellnauer put down 17 kills to lead

the team. Baylee Tveidt had four aces and three stuff blocks.

Coach Scott says for Whitefish to

overcome a top team like Polson they need to play with more

consistency. Yet, despite the two losses to Polson, she’s glad they

faced them twice prior to the state tournament.

“It put that level of play we’ll see at

state front and center,” she said. “I think we have all the skill

that we need, we have the heart and drive. Now it’s a matter of

bringing it all together at once.”

She noted the play of senior Abby

Strellnauer.

“Abby has stepped up and become that

go-to player we need her to be,” Scott said. “She knew she would

have to play her best.”

She also commended senior Baylee Tveidt

and junior Kelsey McFadden.

“Baylee was incredible this weekend,”

Scott said. “She really played smart.”

“Kelsey is a real offensive weapon for

us.”

Whitefish opens the tourney in Bozeman

against volleyball power Fregus on Thursday at 4 p.m.

 

Championship match

Polson def. Whitefish, 25-18, 23-25,

25-17, 25-23.

Kills - Whitefish 44 (Abby Strellnauer

17), Polson 57 (Ashley Johnson 13). Blocks - Whitefish 3 (Taylor

Havens, Baylee Tveidt, Emily Sullivan), Polson 9 (Kenzie Clay 3).

Digs - Whitefish 47 (Ryan Chauner 8), Polson 99 (Mackenzie Banner

31). Assists - Whitefish 42 (Havens 39), Polson 45 (Shalaina Duford

41). Aces - Whitefish 7 (Tveidt 4), Polson 9 (Duford 4).

 

Loser takes third

Whitefish def. Columbia Falls 25-20,

25-20 25-13.

Kills - Whitefish 43 (Emily Sullivan

20), Columbia Falls 21 (Haley Belgarde 10). Blocks - Whitefish 3

(Brooke Silliker, Baylee Tveidt, Sullivan), Columbia Falls 7 (Jesse

Gist 3, Belgarde 3). Digs - Whitefish 23 (Marlow Schulz 8),

Columbia Falls 55 (Shaun Rowe 19). Assists - Whitefish 40 (Taylor

Havens 39), Columbia Falls 17 (Hope Burlage 14). Aces - Whitefish 8

(Kelsey McFadden 3), Columbia Falls 5 (Taylor Peterson 2).