Lady Pirates headed to state

At Dillon for the Western A Divisional, the Northwest second-seeded Lady Pirates of Polson would accomplish a task that hasn’t been done of some time - extend their postseason into another week.

Polson would draw a first round rematch with their seeded counterpart from the inaugural Tip-Off tournament that kickstarted the season. Back at the end of August, the Lady Beavers of Dillon had swept Polson in pool play, split the first two sets of bracket competition before Dillon took the third set for the match winner.

Dillon had several advantages in their favor: home court, partisan crowd, home cooking and sleeping in their own beds. Those advantages prevailed in the first set has they doubled up the Lady Pirates for a one set lead.

Sometimes a good slap in the face with a volleyball is what it takes to awaken a slumbering Pirate. Thereafter, the Lady Pirates started to play more like their capabilities as they evened the match by taking the second set. The third set would gravitate toward Dillon. Polson would flip the script on the fourth set to even the match at two apiece to force a fifth set finale.

The fifth would seesaw back and fourth, neither team wanting to give the other any quarter. But in the end, the Lady Pirates were able to squeeze out a couple of points to take the match in extras, 16-14.

Maggie Todd, Misty Tenas and Grace Quinones all dabbled among double digits for kills. Ara Mercer and Todd were both defensive diggin dynamos with digs among the 30s, while seasoned seniors Quinones and Lena Pawlowski also dipped into double digits for digs.

Polson’s second opponent would be the Southwest top-seeded Corvallis Lady Blue Devils, whose only loss thus far this season was to District 7B powerhouse Florence back in early September at the start of the season. Corvallis doubled up the Lady Pirates in the first set, laying down the gauntlet that Polson would have to ratchet up their game if they wanted to stay with the Lady Blue Devils.

The second set was a battle with the Bitterroot nailbiter that extended into extras, with Corvallis edging ahead at the end for a two set advantage, 26-24. An eventual sweep would route the Pirates into the consolation bracket.

Grace Quinones and Maggie Todd combined for a dozen kills, while Berkley Ellis and Quinones collaborated on more than a dozen digs. Lena Pawlowski and Kobbey Smith both served up a pair of aces from the service line.

The third matchup for the Lady Pirates would be against another Bitterroot team, SWA fourth-seeded Stevensville. The Lady Yellowjackets and the Lady Pirates had tangled back in October in the Bitterroot in a five set scrapfest that Stevensville pulled out. But that regular schedule encounter didn’t start out like the Jackets were going to put up much of a fight as Polson trounced them by quadrupling the score in the first set 25-6. But Stevensville showed they still packed plenty of sting as they took the second set in extras, 26-24.

This time around, the Lady Pirates didn’t take the match for granted. Both teams would split the first two sets with the loser tallying among the teens. But Polson put their game together to capture the next two sets to advance to the next round for a placement match.

“Maximum Mayhem” Maggie Todd and Misty “Mystique” Tenas collaborated on 30 kills. Todd and Chloe DuCharme combined for a half dozen service aces, while the Lady Pirate quartet of Todd, Ara Mercer, Grace Quinones and Berkley Ellis all dipped into double digits on defense digs as they collaborated on 55 digs.

In their fourth place match, the Lady Pirates would face the Butte Central Lady Maroons. Back at the end of September, the two teams stretched their match to five sets at Polson with Butte Central pulling out the win by the narrowest of margins. Both teams were playing with the added incentive of wanting to advance into the hardware rounds on Saturday, so no quarter was being given to the other.

The Lady Pirates put up a valient fight, but the Lady Maroons played a sound fundamental game along with digging out some of the best salvos the Polson hitters were throwing at them, then rerouting them back up front to sent back over the net.

Butte Central took a two set advantage. Polson was able to counter by taking the third set, but could not master the momentum to force a fifth set final as they fell in four. Butte Central would ultimately outhit, outserve and outdig Polson in this contest. BC coach Becky Hancock pointed out, “I’m really proud of how the girls are playing right now and their fight.”

Maggie Todd and Misty Tenas spiked more than two dozen, while Ara Mercer, Berkley Ellis and Grace Quinones collaborated on 50 digs.

Lady Pirate head coach Lizzy Cox observed, “Maggie Todd and Misty Tenas have done a great job in the front row leading our team in kills and leading on the court.”

By maneuvering their way into the fourth place match, irregardless of outcome, the Lady Pirates secured for themselves a berth to the State A tournament in Bozeman this weekend. It has been a while since Polson volleyball made a foray this deep into the postseason. The last trip traced back to 2011 when Polson was a top seed, but did not place after going 1-2.

Coach Cox commented, “These girls have worked hard this season and we are so excited to take Polson Volleyball back to the state tournament this year.”

Polson will open the tournament against top-seeded Billings Central, two-time defending State A champs. The Lady Pirates will have to play exceptionally well, dialing back attack misfires, reprograming trajectory malfunctions from the service line and digging the dickens out of the ball before it can hit the floor. But to play it safe risks losing your edge. Postseason play is a delicate balance between threading the needle while avoiding pricking fingers. Polson opens the tournament for Class A action.

State A tournament bracket opening rounds:

(1E) Billings Central (14-1) vs (4W) Polson (11-7)

(2W) Columbia Falls (15-3) vs (3E) Hardin (9-10)

(2E) Glendive (12-4) vs (3W) Butte Central (13-5)

(1W) Corvallis (16-1) vs (4E) Havre (13-3)

2019 Western A Divisional

at Dillon

Thursday-Saturday

November 7-9

(top four teams advance)

fourth place

Butte Central def. Polson 3-1

(1NW) Polson (11-7), (2SW) Butte Central (13-4)

Butte Central def. Polson 25-16, 25-17, 23-25, 25-16

KILLS – BC47 (Cassidy Strizic 17, Avery Kelly 10, Marissa Anderson 7, Amira Bolton 6, Reopelle 5, Emma Keeley, Makala Doherty), P38 (Maggie Todd 17, Misty Tenas 10, Grace Quinones 6, Kobbey Smith 3, Lena 2). ACES – BC11 (Reopelle 4, Strizic 3, S.Burton 2, Keeley, Anderson), P4 (Mags 2, Lena, Berk). ASSISTS – BC44 (Maci Reopelle 21, Keeley 15, Kelly 4, Doherty 4), P30 (Lena Pawlowski 11, Berkley Ellis 11, Hallie Moss 8). BLOCKS – BC9 (Kelly 4, Bolton 2.5, Strizic 1.5, Doherty .5, Reopelle .5), P9 (GQ 3, Mags 3, Misty 2, Lena). DIGS – BC74 (Reopelle 26, Sophia Burton 19, Sophie Sullivan 5, Keeley, Anderson 5, Bolton 4, Breann Williamson 4, Kelly 2), P66 (Ara Mercer 27, Berk 13, GQ 10, Mags 8, Lena 5, Kobb 2, Hallie). (Fr08Nov19gm12div) P25tae, P7se, P11be

Polson def. Stevensville 3-1

(2NW) Polson (11-6), (4SW) Stevensville (9-10)

Polson def. Stevensville 25-15, 16-25, 25-17, 25-16

KILLS – S39 (Maddalena Margini 12, Ella Hendrickson 11), P41 (Maggie Todd 16, Misty Tenas 14, Lena 6, Grace Quinones 4, Hallie Moss). ACES – S4 (Aliyah Anderson 4), P7 (Todd 3, Chloe DuCharme 3, Kobbey Smith). ASSISTS – S35 (Maddie Weber 30), P29 (Lena Pawlowski 15, Berkley Ellis 10, Hallie 2, Kobb, Mags). BLOCKS – S6 (Margini 3, Kennedy Praast 2), P8 (Mags 3, Misty 2, Kobb 2, GQ). DIGS – S66 (Weber 19, Cassi Kopsa 13), P79 (Mags 20, Ara Mercer 13, GQ 11, Berk 11, Lena 9, Kobb 7, Chloe 4, Misty 2, Hallie 2). (Fr08Nov19gm10div) P11tae, P10se, P10be

Corvallis def. Polson 3-0

(2NW) Polson (10-6), (1SW) Corvallis (14-1)

Corvallis def. Polson 25-12, 26-24, 25-14

KILLS – P19 (Grace Quinones 6, Maggie Todd 6, Misty Tenas 3, Kobbey Smith 3, Lena), C34* (Madeline Gilder 12, Hannah Hutchinson 10, Isabel Evans 7, Jenna Jordan 3, Martin, Pease). ACES – P6 (Pawlowski 2, Kobbey Smith 2, Berk, Chloe DuCharme), C8* (Gilder 3, Martin 2, Fison, Hutchinson, Kylie Pease). ASSISTS – P18 (Lena Pawlowski 10, Berk 5, Misty, Hallie, Ara), C34* (Hannah Martin 27, Hutchinson 3, Fison 2). BLOCKS – P5 (Todd 3, Misty, Hallie Moss), C4* (Evans 2, Jordan, Pease, Gilder). DIGS – P50 (GQ 13, Berkley Ellis 13, Mags 7, Lena 5, Ara Mercer 5, Chloe 4, Hallie 2, Kobb), C46* (Martin 11, Casey Fison 10, Gilder 9, Hutchinson 8, Evans 4, Jordan 2, Pease, Briar Welling). (Th07Nov19gm5div) P11tae/C12tae, P8se/C11se, P2be

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variants were mailout data was incomplete: Corvallis (22k, 5a, 27s, 2b, 21d)

Expanded specs courtesy of respective coaching staffs

Polson def. Dillon 3-2

(2NW) Polson (10-5), (3SW) Dillon (6-10)

Polson def. Dillon 12-25, 25-22, 16-25, 25-15, 16-14

KILLS – D31 (Charli Hazelbaker 10, Josey Jones 8), P43 (Maggie Todd 13, Misty Tenas *10, Grace Quinones 10, Kobbey Smith 6, Lena 4). ACES – D9 (Tylia DeJohn 3), P8 (Mags 5, Lena 2, GQ). ASSISTS – D25 (Madi Ruegsegger 23), P31 (Berkley Ellis 14, Lena Pawlowski 14, Hallie Moss 3). BLOCKS – D10 ( Evey Hansen 2.5), P9 (GQ 2, Mags 2, Misty 2, Lena 2, Hallie). DIGS – D120 (Ainsley Shipman 21), P120 (Ara Mercer 38, Mags 30, GQ 17, Lena 10, Berk 9, Kobb 7, Hallie 5, Misty 4). (Th07Nov19gm1div) P22tae, P10se, P9be

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) where alternate data differs: P44k (Misty Tenas 11k)

Western A Div tmLP summary:

KILLS – LP 141 (Mags 52, Misty 37, GQ 26, Lena 13, Kobb 12, Hallie). ACES – LP 25 (Mags 10, Lena 5, Chloe 4, Kobb 3, Berk 2, GQ). ASSISTS – LP 108 (Lena 50, Berk 40, Hallie 14, Ara, Kobb, Mags, Misty). BLOCKS – LP 31 (Mags 11, Misty 7, GQ 6, Lena 3, Hallie 2, Kobb 2). DIGS – LP 315 (Ara 83, Mags 65, GQ 51, Berk 46, Lena 29, Kobb 17, Hallie 10, Chloe 8, Misty 6).

Saturday

(gm14) Corvallis def. C-Falls 25-17, 25-20, 25-15 (1st pl)

(gm13) C-Falls def. Butte Central 25-17, 13-25, 25-15, 25-19 (3rd pl)

Friday

(gm11) Corvallis def. C-Falls 25-19, 27-25, 25-15 (semi) undefeated semifinal

(gm9) Butte Central def. Dillon 23-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-21 (lo)

(gm8) Stevensville def. Whitefish 26-24, 20-25, 25-23, 25-20 (lo)

(gm7) Dillon def. Libby 21-25, 25-19, 25-18, 19-25, 15-9 (lo)

Thursday

(gm6) C-Falls def. Butte Central 25-18, 25-22, 25-11

(gm4) C-Falls def. Stevensville 25-15, 25-14, 26-24

(gm3) Butte Central def. Whitefish 25-18, 25-23, 25-20

(gm2) Corvallis def. Libby 25-21, 25-15, 25-13