Libby advances to title match in Western A volleyball

BUTTE — Libby is the lone unbeaten team at the Western A Divisional volleyball tournament at the Maroon Activities Center.

The Loggers survived a semifinal thriller with Corvallis Friday evening, winning 25-12, 25-20, 20-25, 27-29, 15-10.

The victory advances Libby to today’s championship match at noon. If a second title game is necessary in the double-elimination event, it will follow at 2 p.m.

The top four teams from the divisional advance to the Class A state tournament next week in Bozeman.

Libby and Corvallis both had 48 kills.

Libby was led by Jayden Winslow with 17 and Brooklyn Rainer with 14.

Hannah Hutchison had 19 for Corvallis.

Libby held an edge in blocks 21-15. Mehki Sykes had 10 for Libby and Emily Mossburg 8.

The Loggers led in digs, 92-84, while both team had the same number of assists, 45, and aces, five.

Corvallis now drops into the third-place match today at 10 a.m. versus Whitefish. That winner will face Libby in the final.

Whitefish stayed alive with a 21-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-17 loser-out win over Hamilton to start the day and then downed Stevensville 29-27, 25-15, 17-25, 27-25 in the final match of the night with the loser placing fourth.

Cailyn Ross, who has had a monster tournament for Whitefish at the net, had 35 of the Bulldogs’ 55 kills against Stevensville. She also had two blocks.

Becca Catina topped the Bulldogs in assists with 33 and digs with 20.

Western A Divisional

At Maroon Activities Center

Butte

Today’s Schedule

10 a.m. — Corvallis vs. Whitefish

Noon — Libby vs. 10 a.m. winner

Friday’s Matches

Semifinal

Libby def. Corvallis 25-12, 25-20, 20-25, 27-29, 15-10

Libby: Kills 48 (Jayden Winslow 17, Brooklyn Rainer 14). Blocks 21 (Mehki Sykes 10, Emily Mossburg 8). Digs 92 (Emma Gruber 33, Winslow 16). Assists 45 (Alli Collins 45). Aces 5 (Gruber 3).

Corvallis: Kills 48 (Hannah Hutchison 19, Maureen Jessop 11). Blocks 15 (Charlotte Powell 5 1/2). Digs 84 (Hutchison 21, Casey Fison 14). Assists 45 (Kate Hurlbert 40). Aces 5 (Ashley Hornadan 2).

Loser Out Games

Whitefish def. Hamilton 21-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-17

Whitefish: Kills 59 (Cailyn Ross 29, Lauren Schulz 9). Blocks 5 (Marlee Bender 3, Ross 1, Annisa Brown 1). Digs 112 (Jasmine Matern 26, Kennedy Grove 18). Assists 55 (Becca Catina 34, Schulz 18). Aces 6 (Catina 4).

Hamilton: Kills 33 (Tristy Searle 13). Blocks 6 (Searle 4). Digs 85 (Carriann Kunkel 23, Brooke Huxtable 17); Assists 27 (Caitlin Dillon 27). Aces 9 (Dillon 4, Royal Beyer 3).

Stevensville def. Columbia Falls 27-25, 25-16, 25-23

Stevensville: Kills 31 (Angel Richards 12). Blocks 7 (Mikayla Newman 3). Digs 47 (Hall 14). Assists 31 (Quinn Larfon 27). Aces 7 (Prestley Robinson 3).

Columbia Falls: Kills 28 (Trista Cowan 8, Ryley Kehr 8). Blocks 11 (Cowan 3 1/2, Kehr 2 1/2, Kierra Brown 2 1/2). Digs 51 (Angellica Street 13, Cowan 13, Tallia Sova 10, Savvy Ellis 10). Assists 24 (Hannah Schweikert 24). Aces 5 (Stella Bistodeau 2).

Fourth Place

Whitefish def. Stevensville 29-27, 25-15, 17-25, 27-25

Whitefish: Kills 55 (Cailyn Ross 35, Marlee Bender 10). Blocks 3 (Ross 2, Bender 1). Digs 93 (Becca Catina 20, Kennedy Grove 17). Assists 52 (Catina 33, Lauren Schulz 15). Aces 7 (Annisa Brown 3, Grove 2).

Stevensville: Kills 37 (Prestley Robinson 12). Blocks 9 (Angel Richards 4). Digs 56 (Mikayla Hall 16). Assists 32 (Quinn Larson 31). Aces 11 (Cassi Kopsa 5).