Dogs 2nd at divisional, head to state
Steady improvement all season has led
to the Lady Bulldog volleyball team peaking at just the right
time.
They reached one of their season-long
goals Saturday when they punched their ticket to the Class A state
tournament in Bozeman. Whitefish earned their spot with a
second-place finish at the divisional tournament, held last weekend
in Whitefish.
“A trip to state was a season-long
goal,” Whitefish coach Sarah Scott said. “Last week we stepped up
to a level of play we haven’t seen all season. I saw a fight in
their eyes that it took a season to cultivate.”
The Bulldogs knocked off a scrappy
Libby team 3-1 in the second round of divisional play on Friday.
Power hitters Emily Sullivan and Abby Strellnauer each had 16
kills, while Kelsey McFadden rounded up 12 digs and served six
aces. Taylor Havens hit 41 assists.
Whitefish fell to the loser-out bracket
after Polson handed them a 1-3 defeat later that night. Sullivan
led the team with 15 kills, but it wasn’t enough to get past the
top-rated Pirates.
Saturday, the Bulldogs took care of
business against Columbia Falls with a 3-0 sweep in the
loser-takes-third match. Sullivan had 20 kills and Havens put up 39
of the team’s 40 assists. Kelsey McFadden had three aces.
In the championship match, Whitefish
needed to top Polson twice to earn the divisional title. While the
Bulldogs played Polson toe-to-toe, the Pirates came away with the
title after a 3-1 victory. Strellnauer put down 17 kills to lead
the team. Baylee Tveidt had four aces and three stuff blocks.
Coach Scott says for Whitefish to
overcome a top team like Polson they need to play with more
consistency. Yet, despite the two losses to Polson, she’s glad they
faced them twice prior to the state tournament.
“It put that level of play we’ll see at
state front and center,” she said. “I think we have all the skill
that we need, we have the heart and drive. Now it’s a matter of
bringing it all together at once.”
She noted the play of senior Abby
Strellnauer.
“Abby has stepped up and become that
go-to player we need her to be,” Scott said. “She knew she would
have to play her best.”
She also commended senior Baylee Tveidt
and junior Kelsey McFadden.
“Baylee was incredible this weekend,”
Scott said. “She really played smart.”
“Kelsey is a real offensive weapon for
us.”
Whitefish opens the tourney in Bozeman
against volleyball power Fregus on Thursday at 4 p.m.
Championship match
Polson def. Whitefish, 25-18, 23-25,
25-17, 25-23.
Kills - Whitefish 44 (Abby Strellnauer
17), Polson 57 (Ashley Johnson 13). Blocks - Whitefish 3 (Taylor
Havens, Baylee Tveidt, Emily Sullivan), Polson 9 (Kenzie Clay 3).
Digs - Whitefish 47 (Ryan Chauner 8), Polson 99 (Mackenzie Banner
31). Assists - Whitefish 42 (Havens 39), Polson 45 (Shalaina Duford
41). Aces - Whitefish 7 (Tveidt 4), Polson 9 (Duford 4).
Loser takes third
Whitefish def. Columbia Falls 25-20,
25-20 25-13.
Kills - Whitefish 43 (Emily Sullivan
20), Columbia Falls 21 (Haley Belgarde 10). Blocks - Whitefish 3
(Brooke Silliker, Baylee Tveidt, Sullivan), Columbia Falls 7 (Jesse
Gist 3, Belgarde 3). Digs - Whitefish 23 (Marlow Schulz 8),
Columbia Falls 55 (Shaun Rowe 19). Assists - Whitefish 40 (Taylor
Havens 39), Columbia Falls 17 (Hope Burlage 14). Aces - Whitefish 8
(Kelsey McFadden 3), Columbia Falls 5 (Taylor Peterson 2).