Spikers go 0-2 at state tournament

by Chris Peterson Hungry Horse News
| November 14, 2012 8:16 AM

The Columbia Falls volleyball team looked to ride momentum from the divisional tournament into the state tourney last week in Bozeman.

But it didn’t quite work out. The Wildkats lost both of their games to end their season. They opened play against Corvallis Nov. 8, a team they had beaten earlier in the season. The Blue Devils won in three games, 25-23, 25-18, 25-23. Senior Hope Burlage had 15 kills in the loss at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on the Montana State University campus.

The Kats led 21-20 in the third match, but couldn’t hold on for the win and to extend play.

They played Belgrade the next day in loser-out action, but were also swept in three games, 25-12, 25-19, 25-20. Junior Haley Belgarde had 11 digs in the loss.

The Kats ended the season with a 7-14 record overall. But just getting to the state tournament was an accomplishment for the young team, which had only two conference victories all season long before they beat Libby, Polson and Whitefish in the divisional tournament to get to state.

The future looks good for the Kats. Belgarde is a junior and many of the starters are either sophomores or juniors.

This was the first time the Kats have made it to state since 2003.

Corvallis def. Columbia Falls 25-23, 25-18, 25-23

KILLS – Corvallis 33 (Joanna Avery 9, Kelsey Irwin 8), Columbia Falls 31 (Hope Burlage 15, Haley Belgrade 8). ASSISTS – Corvallis 29 (Alex Price 17, Laura Berner 10), Columbia Falls 31 (Alli Dierenfeld 20, Burlage 10). ACES – Corvallis 6 (Irwin 3), Columbia Falls 5 (Ciera Finberg 2, Burlage 2, Shaylene Fishel). DIGS – Corvallis 67 (Berner 17, Irwin 14), Columbia Falls n/a (Belgrade 15, Tiffany Hammer 14). BLOCKS – Corvallis 5 (Kelsey Raynal 2, Berner 2), Columbia Falls 4 (Finberg 3, Belgrade 2).

Belgrade def. Columbia Falls, 25-12, 25-19, 25-20.

Kills – Belgrade 26 (Tana Holliday 6, Nikki Wass 6), Columbia Falls 13 (Hope Burlage 4). Blocks – Belgrade 9 (Taylor Woolman 2.5, Holliday 2.5), Columbia Falls 5 (Winter Kemppainean 2, Burlage 2). Digs – Belgrade 36 (Dylan Fowler 9), Columbia Falls 40 (Haley Belgarde 11). Assists – unavailable. Aces – Belgrade 18 (Jordan Porter 5), Columbia Falls 0.