Maidens, Lady Pirates earn class A all-state volleyball honors

Five Polson volleyball players and four from Ronan recently were honored with postseason accolades, including first-team all-state designations for Maidens senior Madeline McCrea and Lady Pirates senior Maggie Todd.

Todd surpassed the double-century mark for kills while spearheading the Polson attack. Equally adept as a solid defender, Todd surpassed recorded more than 200 digs while also leading the team with blocks at the net. This was the third straight season that Todd has lodged at least 100 kills and digs, and it’s her second all-state nod.

McCrea, the 6-foot centerpiece of the Maiden arsenal, also led her team in kills and blocks. She closes out her prep volleyball career with nearly 600 career kills, over five dozen service aces, 300 digs and 200 career blocks. This was the fourth all-conference acknowledgement for McCrea, a second-team pick last season, along with two preceding honorable mentions.

Polson senior setter Berkley Ellis was named to the all-state second team. She was second on her team in aces and had more than 100 digs on defense. This was the second all-conference nod for Ellis, an honorable mention last season.

Senior outside hitter Kobbey Smith of Polson netted an all-state honorable mention. She was the second leading hitter at the net for kills and led the team in aces. Also garnering all-state honorable mention honors were teammates Hallie Moss, a senior, and senior libero Ara Mercer, who surpassed 700 digs over the course of two seasons.

Ronan sophomore setter Leina Ulutoa was named to the second-team. Ulutoa was her team’s primary table-setter with over 300 assists, while providing all around support that included over five dozen kills, 20 service aces and more than 100 digs. She also was third leading blocker.

Junior middle Olivia Clairmont and fellow junior defensive specialist Rylie Linquist both received all-state honorable mentions. Clairmont was second on the team in kills and blocks and recorded two dozen aces. Lindquist was the team’s defensive foundation in the back row, but also contributed to the Maiden attack with over 50 kills along with better than a dozen aces.

Western A all-state/all-conference honors

2020 Northwest A

POLSON – (a-s): sr. Maggie Todd; (2nd-tm): sr. Berkley Ellis; (hm): sr. Kobbey Smith; sr. Ara Mercer; sr. Hallie Moss.

RONAN – (a-s) sr. Madeline McCrea; (2nd-tm) so. Leina Ulutoa; (hm): jr. Olivia Clairmont; jr. Rylie Lindquist.

C-FALLS – (a-s): sr. Madyson Hoerner (MVP); sr. Hannah Schweikert; sr. Dillen Hoerner; (2nd-tm): sr. Lauren Falkner; jr. Jazzy Marino; (COY): Jolandie Brooks.

WHITEFISH – (1st-tm): sr. Brook Smith; (hm): sr. Mikenna Ells.

LIBBY – (2nd-tm): jr. Ember Rode; sr. Olivia Gilliam-Smith.

2020 Southwest A

CORVALLIS – (a-s): jr. Madeline Gilder (MVP), sr. Jenna Jordan; (2nd-tm): sr. Brooke Powell; (COY): Laurie Jones.

STEVENSVILLE – (a-s): sr. Aliyah Anderson, sr. Madison Weber; (2nd-tm): so. Daphne Engel; (hm): sr. Kennedy Praast.

FRENCHTOWN – (a-s): sr. Cassidy Bagnell; (1st-tm): sr. Shelby Smith; (2nd-tm): sr. Rylee Belcourt; (hm): jr. Demi Smith, so. Isabell Cahall.

BUTTE CENTRAL – (2nd-tm): sr. Maci Reopelle; (hm): sr. Sophia Burton, sr. Avery Kelly.

HAMILTON – (2nd-tm): sr. Katelyn Dickemore; (hm): sr. Maggie Ringer.

DILLON – (2nd-tm): jr. Ainsley Shipman.