Whitefish spikers battle back, top Wildkats

COLUMBIA FALLS — A big night at the net by Cailyn Ross allowed Whitefish to knock off Columbia Falls 18-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-17 on Thursday evening in a Northwest A Conference volleyball matchup.

Ross finished with 17 kills and also topped the Bulldogs in blocks with four.

Annisa Brown helped out with nine kills for the winners and Lauren Schulz was next in line with eight.

Whitefish had 45 blocks to 32 for Columbia Falls. The Wildkats were led by Ryley Kehr and Stella Bistodeau with nine each.

Columbia Falls collected 13 blocks with Kiera Brown getting six and Bostodeau five.

“We’re going to keep plugging away and working hard,” Columbia Falls coach Jolandie Brooks said.

“Our goal is to continue to get harder and harder to beat.”

Whitefish def. Columbia Falls 18-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-17

Kills — Whitefish 45 (Cailyn Ross 17, Annisa Brown 9, Lauren Schulz 8), Columbia Falls 32 (Ryley Kehr 9, Stella Bistodeau 9); Blocks — Whitefish 9 (Ross 4), Columbia Falls 13 (Kiera Brown 6, Bistodeau 5); Assists — Whitefish 39 (Becca Catina 28), Columbia Falls 26 (Hannah Schweikert 25); Digs — Whitefish 91 (Serena Hemmingson 35, Brown 17), Columbia Falls 79 (Angellica Street 16, Trista Coway 15); Aces — Whitefish 4 (four with 1), Columbia Falls 6 (Street 3, Kehr 2).

Stevensville 3, Polson 0

STEVENSVILLE — Stevensville more than doubled Polson in kills — 34-16 — and held a 7-0 edge in blocks en route to a 25-12, 25-21, 25-16 Class A nonconference victory.

Mikayla Hall had 12 kills and Angel Richards three blocks for Stevensville.

Kaelyn Smith totaled six kills for Polson.

Stevensville def. Polson, 25-12, 25-21, 25-16

Polson: Kills 16 (Kaelyn Smith 6). Blocks 0. Digs 41 (Kyler Lundeen 17). Assists 13 (Laurel Bitterman 6, Jaycee Frydenlund 6). Aces 4 (Bitterman 2).

Stevensville: Kills 34 (Mikayla Hall 12). Blocks 7 (Angel Richards 3). Digs 46 (Cassi Kopsa 11). Assists 27 (Quinn Larson 27). Aces 5 (Kopsa 2, Hall 2).

Bigfork 3, Troy 0

BIGFORK — All three sets were close, but Bigfork pulled through for a 25-20, 25-23, 25-19 District 7B victory over Troy.

Abby Ellison had 13 of Bigfork’s 34 kills and Brooke Fraley led the team in digs with 12 and aces with four.

Aurora Becquart and Allie Coldwell shared the kills lead for Troy with eight each. The team totaled 27.

Becquart also led in blocks (three) and digs (eight).

Bigfork def. Troy, 25-20, 25-23, 25-19

Troy: Kills 27 (Aurora Becquart 8, Allie Coldwell 8). Blocks 5 (Becquart 3). Digs 28 (Becquart 8). Assists 34 (Annie Day 32). Aces 4 (Day 2).

Bigfork: Kills 34 (Abby Ellison 13). Blocks 2 (Aubrey Halverson 1, Jaime Berg 1). Digs 46 (Brooke Fraley 12). Assists 29 (Halverson 25). Aces 9 (Fraley 4).