Polson's season ends at home

POLSON — Polson’s volleyball season came to an end just one win away from another state tournament berth on Saturday, falling in straight sets to eventual Northwest A runner-up Frenchtown.

The loss capped off a 2-2 performance at the Northwest A tournament for the Pirates. Both wins came over Libby and both losses were suffered against the Broncs. Columbia Falls wound up winning the tournament title.

“We played really well at times and we played really bad at times,” Polson coach Jan Toth said. “It was really indicative of our season.”

Perhaps the biggest blow to Polson’s state tournament hopes came on Friday evening when Columbia Falls upset top-seeded Frenchtown in the semifinals, sending the Broncs into the loser’s bracket to play Polson again. It was the Broncs’ first loss of the season against a Northwest A opponent.

“That was tough,” Toth said. “We have something mental against Frenchtown. Frenchtown’s good, but we’re equally as good. … I just think that we were beat before we even stepped on the court.”

Toth and the Pirates will have to replace their top three hitters from this season: Chloie Huerta, Jessica Hoel and Jessica Bagnell and their best blocker, Kaelyn Binder, but they will return setter Jaiden Toth and basically their entire back row.

“I have my whole defense back next year, and they work so well together,” Toth said.

She’ll also have the benefit of returning middle hitters Kaelen Wall and Haley Fyant. Fyant, a 5-9 freshman called up from the JV toward the end of the season, recorded 10 kills in the season-ending loss to Frenchtown.

“I could see something in her,” Toth said. “She finally had enough of being blocked, had enough of them hitting down at her. She became a different player the last two games of Frenchtown.”

Toth also expects major contributions from the upcoming sophomore class.

“I’m real excited,” she said. “We have a great young program.”

Friday’s Results

Semifinals

Columbia Falls def. Frenchtown, 25-22, 25-21, 25-15

Loser Out

Libby def. Whitefish, 25-27, 25-21, 25-20, 25-22

First Round

Columbia Falls def. Whitefish, 23-25, 30-28, 21-25, 25-16, 15-10.

Frenchtown def. Polson, 25-19, 25-27, 27-25, 25-15.

Kills – Frenchtown 49 (Morgan Ray 18), Polson 40 (Chloie Huerta 14). Blocks – Frenchtown 12 (Ray 7), Polson 7 (Huerta 5). Digs – Frenchtown 26 (Ray 7), Polson 70 (Taylor Davis 19). Assists – Frenchtown 44 (Josie Anderson 20, Haley Cyr 20), Polson 33 (Jaiden Toth 32). Aces – Frenchtown 6 (Lacey Hochhalter 2), Polson 7 (Hayley Fyant 2, Lydia Dupuis 2).

Play-in Match

Polson def. Libby, 25-22, 25-22, 25-9.

Kills – Polson 33 (Chloie Huerta 12), Libby 29 (Devon Gallagher 7). Blocks – Polson 3 (three with one), Libby 0. Digs – Polson 68 (Libby Clay 18), Libby 45 (Mahalah Wedel 10). Assists – Polson 33 (Jaiden Toth 31), Libby 27 (Hannah England 26). Aces – Polson 8 (Hayley Fyant 2, Clay 2), Libby 7 (Wedel 2, England 2, Dayln Germany 2).

Saturday’s Results

Fourth-Place Match

Polson def. Libby, 25-17, 25-18, 25-21.

Kills – Libby 27 (Staci Reyh 7), Polson 35 (Chloie Huerta 12). Blocks – Libby 3 (3 tied with 1), Polson 3 (3 tied with 1). Digs – Libby 48 (Mahalah Wedel 14), Polson 67 (Jessica Hoel 12). Assists – Libby 26 (Hannah England 24), Polson 29 (Jaiden Toth 28). Aces – Libby 9 (Wedel 3, Bailie Rosling 3), Polson 5 (Jessica Bagnell 2).

Third-Place Match

Frenchtown def. Polson, 25-15, 25-12, 25-12.

Kills – Polson 33 (Hayley Fyant 9), Frenchtown 38 (Morgan Ray 15). Blocks – Polson 1 (Jaiden Toth 1), Frenchtown 9 (Faith Baur 5). Digs – Polson 58 (Taylor Davis 17), Frenchtown 31 (Hayley Cyr 7). Assists – Polson 26 (Jaiden Toth 26), Frenchtown 37 (Josie Andrews 13, Haley Cyr 13). Aces – Polson 2 (Fyant 2), Frenchtown 6 (Josie Anderson 3).

Championship 1

Frenchtown def. Columbia Falls, 25-23, 25-19, 25-15.

Championship 2

Columbia Falls def. Frenchtown, 8-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-19.