Polson battles past Ronan

RONAN — Call it Ronanageddon or Polsonmania or whatever you want, but there’s a lot of intensity that goes behind the Maidens and Lady Pirates volleyball games. Last Saturday’s matchup lived up to the hype and anticipation as Polson (3-0 conf., 4-0 ovr.) fought tooth and nail for a 3-1 victory over Ronan (2-2 conf., 3-2 ovr.).

It wasn’t easy.

“I was very emotional after the game,” Ronan head coach Naomi  Mock said. “That was one of the best games I’ve seen them play.”

Fresh off a 3-1 victory over state qualifier Libby last Thursday, Ronan came out with fire, winning the first game 25-18. The game saw five lead changes and ties. The Maidens broke a 15-15 tie, going on a 10-3 run to finish things up.

“I think they mentally prepared themselves for that game. That first game was wonderful,” Mock said. “For them to see that they have a win against Polson is a big thing.”

One of Polson’s star players, senior Breanne Kelley, had been up all night with a sickness, meaning that someone else had to step up.

Junior Riley Kenney had 19 kills in the matchup, senior setter Kayla Duford had 38 assists and senior libero Kendyall Rochin had 11 digs. 

The Lady Pirates took advantage of an 8-2 start in the second game and wound up winning 25-14. Ronan bounced back, and the third and pivotal game of the match was an edge-of-your-seat thriller, with Polson clinging to a 22-21 lead before winning 25-21.

“We ran a real quick offense and that threw them off,” Toth said of her team’s success against the Lady Maidens. “We can’t play point for point with them because Ronan is too tough.”

Both teams had 51 digs in the match and Ronan senior Marissa McCrea led all players with 13. McCrea, along with two other players, do have experience playing for Polson.

In the fourth game, Polson took an 11-7 lead before going on a seven point run en route to a 25-12 win. It was somewhat anti-climatic but Toth saw what was brewing on the other team’s bench. Four years ago, she was taking over a volleyball program that was trying to reverse a losing trend.

“You first got to get them believing,” Toth said. “I know where she is coming from. It’s nice to see what she has done with the program in just a few short months.”

Polson hosts Columbia Falls at 4:15 p.m. tonight and Ronan will play Mission at 3 p.m. on Saturday in St. Ignatius.