Volleyball Roundup: Pirates swat Yellowjackets

At Polson, Stevensville and the Lady Pirates played a closely contested match that was rescheduled after a Polson homecoming cancellation.

The opening set featured 10 ties and four lead changes through 19-all before a Stevi service error gave the hosts the lead for good. A subsequent ace by Kobbey Smith precipitated a Lady Yellowjacket timeout. Smith shrugged off the attempt to ice the server by reeling off three more aces in a row, the last finding the killer corner of the court.

Coming out of a Polson timeout in the second, the Lady Pirates went on a 6-2 run that included back-to-back service aces by Hallie Moss to close within one at 16-15. Stevi then reeled off three straight points en route to taking the second set.

Stevensville started the third set on a 4-0 run, which Polson countered to even things up at four apiece. There were seven more ties and numerous lead changes through 21-all before a Kobbey Smith ace delivered the third set to Polson.

The fourth set started out back and forth with a quintet of ties in the early going through eight apiece. An Ara Mercer back row kill along with subsequent sizzler of a service ace edged the Lady Pirates ahead. A trio of aces by Smith, Mckenna Hanson and Maggie Todd followed by the ninth ace of the evening from Smith forced a Stevensville timeout trailing 10-15 in an effort to regroup. The Lady Jackets closed the gap within two, 15-17, which prompted Polson to burn a timeout so that Lady Pirate coach Lizzy Cox could refocus her team. Polson would reel off four straight thereafter for a half dozen point advantage, 15-21. Out of a Stevensville timeout, the visitors would close the gap with a 3-1 run to 18-22, but that would be as close as they would get as the hosts closed out the set and the match.

Maggie Todd led Polson with 21 kills on the evening. Kobbey Smith served up nine aces, including four straight in the first set.

Hallie Moss turned in matching sets of three from behind the service line as well as at the net while helping out on defense with seven digs. Senior libero Ara Mercer led the defensive effort with 30 digs.

Polson will close out the regular schedule against the visiting WildKats of Columbia Falls on Saturday.

Polson def. Stevensville 25-19, 20-25, 25-23, 25-20

KILLS – S46 (Aliyah Anderson 15, Daphne Engel 9), P40 (Maggie Todd 21, Kobb 9, Turquoise Pierre 4, Hallie Moss 3, Mckenna Hanson, Ara, Berk). ACES – S3 (Weber, Engel, Hendrickson), P14 (Kobbey Smith 9, Hallie 3, Ara, Mags). ASSISTS – S40 (Maddie Weber 37, Engel 3), P38 (Berkley Ellis 23, Hallie 6, Liz Tolley 4, Turq 3, Kobb, Kenna). BLOCKS – S4 (Mackaela Hawthorne 1BS, Ella Hendrickson 1BS), P3 (Mags 1BS1BA, Liz Tolley 1BS, Turq 1BA). DIGS – S86 (Kelti Wandler 21, Engel 18), P91 (Ara Mercer 30, Mags 17, Berk 15, Kobb 12, Hallie 7, Chloe DuCharme 4, Turq 2, Kenna 2, Liz 2).

Maidens’ match with Libby postponed

Ronan will have already faced Whitefish this past Tuesday. Their match with Libby scheduled for Thursday has been postponed to the end of October due to contact tracing quarantine precautions in Libby. This upcoming Tuesday features a visit from the Lady Broncs of Frenchtown.

Charlo cleared to play

Charlo contests against Darby, Victor, Noxon and St. Regis were shelved after a positive COVID-19 test at Charlo. The quarantine comes to a close this week as the Lady Vikings are slated to finish out their regular schedule at Superior against the Lady Mountain Cats of the Clark Fork co-op on Thursday.

Bulldogs hang tough against tall talent

At St. Ignatius, the host Lady Bulldogs faced some of their toughest competition on their schedule thus far.

In the second round of their Rez rivalry wrangle with Ronan, the visiting Maidens exploited their height advantage as they swept their hosts. Defense and offensive productivity at the net were comparable between the two squads, but the Maidens held a distinct edge in blocks and at the service line.

Syd Brander and Kooper Page collaborated on 13 kills, while Ella Arlint led the defensive effort with 14 digs.

Three-time all-conference senior Madeline McCrea led Ronan with seven kills and 3.5 blocks.

In their second conference match with Thompson Falls, the visitors took a two-set advantage. The host Lady Bulldogs pushed the third set into extras in a show of strength that they could hang with the Lady Bluehawk lineup that features a tandem of all-staters in Scarlette Schwindt and Jody Detlaff.

Mission senior Syd Brander notched double-digit kills for Mission, while Keana Thomas had a trio of blocks.

The Lady Bulldogs closed out their regular schedule with an improvised game against Polson. They travel to Bigfork on Thursday, followed by their regular schedule finale at home against Florence. The Lady Bulldogs are slated to host Troy in a play-in game on Tuesday.

T-Falls def. Mission 25-10, 25-17, 28-26

KILLS – TF25 (Scarlette Schwindt 5, Jody Detlaff 5), MSI 20 (Sydney Brander 10, Kooper Page 5, Keana Thomas 3, Ahni Umphrey 2). ACES – TF8 (T.Wilson 3, J.Detlaff 2), MSI 5 (S.Brander, Ko.Page, Addison Bird, E.Arlint, M.Couture). ASSISTS – TF22 (Riley Wilson 14, S.Schwindt 6), MSI 18 (Maysa Couture 17, A.Arlint). BLOCKS – TF6 (S.Schwindt 2), MSI 5 (K.Thomas 3, S.Brander, Ko.Page). DIGS – TF30 (Ariana Wood 14, S.Schwindt 7), MSI 25 (Ella Arlint 6, S.Brander 4, Ko.Page 4, M.Couture 4, A.Umphrey 3, A.Bird 3, K.Thomas).

Ronan def. Mission 25-13, 25-15, 25-17

KILLS – R22 (M.McCrea 7), MSI 18 (Sydney Brander 7, Kooper Page 6, Ahni Umphrey 3, K.Thomas 2). ACES – R6 (Olivia Clairmont, Adri Tatukivei, Kiana King, M.McCrea, R.Lindquist, L.Ulutoa), MSI 3 (Addison Bird, M.Couture, E.Arlint). ASSISTS – R19 (Leina Ulutoa 12), MSI 18 (Maysa Couture 17, E.Arlint). BLOCKS – R9(Madeline McCrea 3½), MSI 1 (Keana Thomas). DIGS – R32 (Rylie Lindquist 10), MSI 31 (Ella Arlint 14, S.Brander 5, M.Couture 5, Ko.Page 3, A.Bird 3, A.Umphrey). (Tu13Oct20)

Scarlets pick up fourth win

Arlee split its road slate, falling to the Lady Copperheads in Anaconda before winning at Troy.

Against Anaconda, Arlee fell behind early in the first two sets. But they seemed to find something extra during the third set as they pushed their hosts, then edged them out to take the set. Arlee was much more competitive during the fourth set, but the hosts prevailed to take the match. Halle Adams led the offense with nine kills while contributing a trio of blocks. The Crawford sisters, Rheid and Jerny, collaborated on over 30 kills in the loss.

Against the Lady Trojans, Halle Adams led the charge at the net with a dozen kills to go with three blocks. Rheid Crawford served up eight aces and recorded 17 digs.

The Scarlets closed out their regular schedule Tuesday night with a match against Loyola, then host Eureka on Thursday. Arlee will host Deer Lodge for a play-in match on Tuesday.

Arlee def. Troy 25-18, 25-18, 25-8

KILLS – A21 (Halle Adams 12), T4 (Talise Becquart 2, Kiersten McCully, E. Folkerts). ACES – A16 (Rheid Crawford 8), T6 (Elaine 5, Allie Carr). ASSISTS – A17 (Xaria Jacobson 16), T3 (Elaine Folkerts 3). BLOCKS – A6 (Adams 3), T1 (T.Becquart). DIGS – A58 (Rheid Crawford 17), T (Becquart 8, Kiersten 7). (Sa17Oct20)

Anaconda def. Arlee 25-9, 25-13, 23-25, 25-18

KILLS – Arl 21 (Halle Adams 9, Raven Parson 4, Noel Johnson 3, J.Crawford 2, X.Jacobson), Ana (Aubrey Tuss 14, B.Puyear 13, Mia S-S 10). ACES – Arl 7 (Jerny Crawford 3, Shonlea Matt 2, Karli Doerr, R.Crawford), Ana (Malia Harris 5, Tuss 5). ASSISTS – Arl 12 (Xaria Jacobson 9, J.Crawford 2, S.Matt), Ana (Tiora Ferguson 45). BLOCKS – Arl 5 (Adams 3, J.Crawford, N.Johnson), Ana 1 (Mia Sullivan-Sanders). DIGS – Arl 61 (Rheid Crawford 17, J.Crawford 16, S.Matt 9, X.Jacobson 7, Sara Schall 6, N.Johnson 3, Parson 2, Adams), Ana (Malia Harris 24, Megan Reich 14, Tuss 9).