Lady Pirates win third straight conference title

Polson avenges early-season loss to Frenchtown, goes into NW

divisional tournament with No. 1 seed

Earlier in the season, Frenchtown had gotten the best of the Lady Pirates in their third game of conference play but Polson volleyball was able to avenge that lost, last Thursday on the road with a 3-0 victory over the Lady Broncs.

"It was a good momentum-getter," Polson head coach Jan Toth said. "We knew going in that we had to beat one of our two opponents to solidify first place."

Polson came out and won the first game in convincing fashion 25-16, but nine service errors in the second game almost derailed the Lady Pirates.

"We were kind of in panic mode and after that we had to play point-forpoint," said Toth, who's team took the second set 25-23. "I was very impressed. When we step up, we really step up."

Polson was then able to finish off the Broncs with a 25-17 third-game win. Freshman Jaiden Toth came in when the game was close and served the ball eight straight times to help swing the momentum the Lady Pirates' way.

Tina "The Terminator" Marquardt led the team with seven kills.

"She so confident and she's doing some great things," Toth said of Marquardt.

With a more spread around offensive approach, the Lady Pirates were waiting for Frenchtown to make mistakes on their side of the net. It showed as Polson ended up out digging the Broncs 63-40.

"It's hard to keep your momentum," Toth said. "It was a very different atmosphere."

Anchoring the Lady Pirates was junior Shalaina Duford, who not only had 18 digs but 23 assists, leading the team in both categories. Truth be told, Duford has really shined this season after taking over the setter position from her graduated sister, Kayla.

"Shay is very offensive-minded and she's not afraid to hit the ball over the net too," Toth said. "She's an offensive threat."

Toth added that both Dufords are incredible gamers.

"If I were a coach and saw a Duford on the other team, I'd be a little nervous," Toth said. "Shay had just absolutely stepped up her game. She played defense for me since she was a freshman and that has made her much more confident."

Polson didn't have an easy match to wrap up the regular season on Thursday. They traveled to Libby and faced the Lady Loggers on senior night, meaning that emotions were running high.

"It can go two ways," Toth said of playing a team on their senior night. "It's a lot of emotion and they can come out and play their best game or they can have a bad game. Definitely, Libby played an outstanding game."

In tight sets all the way, Polson battled Libby to a 3-1 victory to improve their regular season to 11-2 and their conference record to 7-1.

Senior Riley Kenney was her usual brilliant self and she collected 12 kills and 15 digs. The Pirates won their first game 25-21, but then fell 23-25. All night they had to contend with Libby's Selinna Maefay, who had a brilliant night with 16 kills.

Lauren Wepprecht also was a force for the Lady Loggers, collecting 15 kills by finding the hole in the Lady Pirates defense in between the front and back lines.

Polson was also without kill machine Ashley Johnson because of sickness and had to overcome that change.

"Whenever you make a change it's tough," Toth said. "It changes everything in the game. My girls are so used to winning, they can kick it into a higher gear whenever they have to."

Kenzie Clay led the team with 14 kills to pace the offense. Polson would wrap up the match by winning the next two games 25-23 and 25-19 for the match win.

"Kenzie played an outstanding game, her and Shay really connected," Toth said. "She really lit up the court."

Duford had 38 assists in the game. Kenney and McCall Banner also played outstanding games, and junior Chelsea Chowning had three service aces. Kenney and junior Heidi Rausch also had a hitting percentage of above .300 while Clay was right at .300 making for an efficient offense.

The win earmarked the season in which Polson won their third conference championship, meaning Polson will have the momentum going into divisionals this weekend in Whitefish.

They'll have the No. 1 seed but Toth knows its' no easy march to the tournament championship.

"We're going to be challenged from here on out," Toth said. "Every team has gotten better. We have gotten better too."

Whitefish is known for being particularly loud in their home gym and that shouldn't change for divisionals.

"It's definitely an advantage," Toth said. "I told my kids that it didn't affect them mentally the last game we played against Whitefish (a win for Polson). They were able to play through it."

Polson has advanced to the past three state volleyball tournaments, and that will again be the aim of the team this year.

"We have to take baby steps to where we need to be," Toth said. "We have a culmination of players that can do anything."