Wildkat spikers win three in Season Starter Tourney

Wins and losses were not really on the mind of Columbia Falls head volleyball coach Addy Hines during the Whitefish Season Starter Tourney on Saturday to issue in the 2009 season. Hines was looking for areas that need improvement as the Wildkats prepare for the Northwestern A Conference opener Saturday at home against Whitefish.

C-Falls split pairs of sets against Eureka, Ronan and Bigfork, then was swept by Whitefish in the tourney finale. Their record was 3-5 in the eight sets.

Scores were 25-18, 12-25 against Eureka. "We came out strong," Hines said, "but our serving was off. We gave them quite a few points. We have to keep consistent." Passing was "up and down."

Going into the second match, against Ronan, Hines said concentration was on three things: getting serves in, communication and moving their feet.

"Our serving improved quite a bit," Hines said. "They're a scrappy team. You never know what's going to fly back at you."

Scores against the Maidens were 28-26, 23-25.

The Wildkats won the first set against Bigfork, 25-21, keyed by a Shay Grilley service ace and game-winning kill by Cassidee Skiles. C-Falls fell behind 16-11 in the second set and the Valkyries, under new head coach Tammi McDaniel, won 25-21.

Whitefish swept C-Falls, 25-14, 25-14. "Whitefish is a tough mental block," Hines said. "We have the skills to beat them. It was what we weren't getting done on our side of the net."

Whitefish had the best record in the tourney, going 7-1 in pool A. Libby and Polson were both 6-2 in pool B.

Overall, Hines was pleased with the effort. "It was a good warm-up for the season," she said. "You can go out and play and see where your holes are and what you need to improve on."

Six-foot-2 senior Kayla DeWit, who missed the tourney due to medical considerations, has returned to the practice court this week. "She's hitting well and is a wall (at the net)," Hines said. "It's good to have Kayla back."

With DeWit in the lineup, the Wildkats will have a new rotation for Saturday's match against Whitefish.