Spikers count on heart over height

After placing third at divisionals last year, the Wildkat volleyball team is looking for a strong season.

"We've got a real athletic crew here," said head coach Addy (formerly Hines' Connelly. "There's not a whole lot of height, but a lot of heart. We're starting out solid. We've got a lot of good passes, touches on the ball and good attitudes."

Connelly said she found a team leader in lone returning senior Danielle Gilley.

"She's really expecting her teammates to get a lot accomplished this year," Connelly said. "She's a real team leader."

Three seniors, six juniors and one sophomore make up the varsity squad.

Connelly also pointed to Jessie Gist and Niki Birky as stand-outs on the varsity squad. Last year, both Gist and Birky played junior varsity and varsity. Connelly said she purposefully keeps the varsity team at 10 girls so she can pull JV girls up for some varsity experience.

The Wildkats can expect some tough games this season. Connelly said that Polson and Whitefish will field strong teams. But many of the conference squads lost some big senior hitters, which will even the playing field.

Columbia Falls with host divisionals this year Nov. 5 and 6, which Connelly hopes will give the Wildkats the home-team advantage.

Assisting Connelly this year are JV coach Wes Knutson and freshmen coach Heather Gilchrist.

The Wildkats face the Whitefish Lady Bulldogs in the Whitefish Starter Tournament this Saturday in Whitefish at 9 a.m. The Wildkats play at home for the first time in the Sept. 10 and 11 Tip Off Tourney.