Kats have rough start to season

The Columbia Falls volleyball team had a rocky start to its season, going 1-11 at the Northwest-Southwest Tip-Off tournament.

The Aug. 24-25 affair in Polson saw the Wildkats take 12th place, losing to Stevensville 19-25, 26-24, and 15-11 in their final match.

Many of the games were closer than the final tally would suggest, however. They often lost matches by just a couple of points.

In Friday pool play, the Kats lost to Anaconda 25-22, 25-13; Butte Central 25-10, 25-18; Corvallis 25-14, 26-24; and Dillon 25-20, 27-25.

On Saturday in championship play, the Kats lost to Hamilton, 27-25, 25-21 and split with Stevensville 22-25, 25-18 for their lone win.

The Kats were without Haley Belgarde, one of their top players at the net. Belgarde should return to action this week. She didn’t have enough practices to play in the tournament.

The girls are home Thursday against Libby and then host Hamilton and Corvallis Saturday.