All stars meet for year's final volley

ST. IGNATIUS — The second-annual Mission Valley All-Star Volleyball Classic stemmed from a similarly formatted basketball game that has been going on for years.

Toward the end of last season, a light bulb came on for Mission volleyball coaches Kendal Anderson and Annie Morigeau; they could host a volleyball all-star game.

“They’ve done it for basketball for years, so last year Annie suggested we try it for volleyball,” Anderson said. “These girls work just as hard as the basketball players do, so it’s nice for them to be recognized for their work.”

The light jerseys, coached by Arlee’s Brian BigSam and Bigfork’s Melody Strauss, took the match, 3-1 (15-25, 25-15, 25-19, 25-20), thanks to Ronan’s Alaina Madsen (12 digs, six kills, two aces), Bigfork’s Tessa Robertson (eight kills, five blocks, four aces), Hot Springs’ Meara Schmiedbauer (12 digs, six kills, two aces) and Polson’s Jaiden Toth (19 assists, 10 digs, four aces).

“It’s nice to end on something fun rather than something emotional and sad, knowing it’s my last game ever,” Madsen said. “It was just a nice way to end my senior year.”

The Ronan senior was the only Maiden in a light jersey, playing against teammates Sydnee Clairmont and Kendra Starkel.

“It makes it a lot easier because I know where they’re going to swing and how their serves are,” Madsen, who also played in the all-star game last year, said.

“I didn’t really like being ganged up on, being the only Maiden on my side,” she joked.

Jan Toth and Patty Luetzen of Polson coached the dark jerseys, who received strong efforts from 10 kills from Chloie Huerta (Polson) and 10 assists apiece from Josey Carr (Hot Springs) and Kaylie Durglo (Mission).

Huerta, playing for her own coach, was a bit thrown off by the normally animated Toth’s tameness on the sideline.

“I’d told all the girls that they might cry because she’s so intimidating, but she didn’t yell once,” the senior said. “It was kind of weird.”

Playing against her regular setter (Jaiden Toth) and fellow outside (Jessica Hoel), Huerta took the opportunity to hit at her teammates one last time.

“I got [Jaiden] a couple times,” Huerta said with a smile.

Anderson and Morigeau were much more pleased with the attendance and atmosphere for the event in its second year. After the game came together late last season, the Bulldogs coaches were able to publicize the 2013 version much more effectively.

“There were more people here this year than last year,” Morigeau said. “I think that it’s getting progressively bigger.”

Anderson said the quality of play was better as well and that she enjoyed seeing the players—which came from seven different schools—get more comfortable as the game went along.

“It’s fun to be able to play with different people and to be able to see different things,” Anderson said. “Hearing one of Polson’s hitters call for a set from my setter is pretty cool.”

The beginning of the game evidenced that the girls hadn’t played much volleyball together, but they seemed to gel later on in the match.

“We keep trying to think about getting them together for another practice,” Anderson said, noting that busy schedules have hampered that idea in the past.

Morigeau said there are plans to make the game more entertaining for fans next season, perhaps enlisting parents and coaches to play a few sets during the game.