Charlo, Polson and Ronan girls earn state volleyball trips
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
LAKE COUNTY — Three Mission Valley area high school volleyball squads were a long way from home, more than 600 miles for some, this past weekend as they wrapped up their seasons.
The Polson Lady Pirates and Ronan Maidens competed in the State Class A volleyball tournament, hosted in Sidney. The Charlo Lady Vikings battled in the State Class C tournament, hosted in Malta.
Normally, the all class state tournament takes place at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on the Montana State University campus, in Bozeman, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced a location adjustment.
On Nov. 9, the Lady Vikings hosting a challenge game in Charlo and clinched their second consecutive Class C state playoff appearance and a second-place divisional finish with a 25-19, 26-24, 18-25,25-21 four-set victory over the Lone Peak Lady Big Horns.
During state tournament action on Thursday, the Lady Vikings fell in straight sets 25-17, 25-16, 25-12 to the Plentywood Lady Wildcats. After dropping the first set 23-25 in loser-out action on Friday morning, the Lady Vikings went on to sweep the Simms Lady Tigers during the next three sets 25-19, 25-13, 25-22 to take the match 3-1. Carlee Fryberger paced the Lady Vikings with four aces, 14 kills and 14 digs. Kassidi Cox posted 14 kills, nine
assists and 13 digs. Conner Fryberger added 25 assists and 12 digs.
On Friday afternoon, Charlo’s season came to an end with a 25-13, 25-21, 22-25, 25-21 loss to the Fort Benton Lady Long Horns. Conner Fryberger led the Lady Vikings with five aces, 19 assists and 12 digs. Mila Hawk had 12 digs, and Molly Kate Sullivan had five kills, two blocks and 15 digs. Lady Viking Carlee Fryberger had two aces, 17 kills and 18 digs. Cox chipped in seven kills and 12 assists.
On Thursday, both the Lady Pirates and Maidens lost their first round of games, setting up a win-or-go-home matchup on Friday morning between the two Mission Valley rivals from Polson and Ronan.
The Polson Lady Pirates played in their second straight consecutive Class A state playoff appearance as the number two seed out of Western A and fell 27-25, 25-22, 13-25, 25-19 to the Glendive Lady Red Devils. Lady Pirate Meggie Todd had 15 kills and two blocks. Kobbey Smith posted four aces and 14 kills. Ara Mercer had 20 digs.
Playing in their first state playoff game in 18 years, the Maidens fell in straight sets 25-23, 25-21, 25-16 to the eventual Class A State Champions the Billings Central Lady Rams in the first round. Leading the Maidens were LaReina Cordova with 10 digs and Leina Ulutoa with 16 assists and an ace.
In their fourth meeting of the season, on Friday morning, the Maidens cut the Lady Pirates’ playoff hopes short by defeating Polson in four sets 25-11, 23-25, 25-15, 25-21. Ulutoa posted a game-high 31 assists. Rylie Lindquist had a team-high 21 digs, and Olivia Clairmont had 16 kills.
Todd led the Lady Pirates with 24 kills, a block and 30 digs. Berkley Ellis posted three aces and 26 assists. Mercer recorded a game-high 40 digs.
Clairmont’s 17 kills and two blocks paced the Maidens Friday afternoon in their 25-11, 23-25, 25-15, 25-21 loss to the Columbia Falls Wildkats. Madeline McCrea had 12 kills and three blocks. Cordova had 33 assists.
