Upset bid comes up short for spikers

by Matt Baldwin / Whitefish Pilot
| November 13, 2013 9:15 PM

The Whitefish volleyball team had Columbia Falls on the ropes but couldn’t deliver the knock-out punch.

The Lady Bulldogs let a 2-1 lead over the No. 2 seed Wildkats slip away Friday at the Northwestern A divisional tournament in Polson, and with it their chance for a major upset. Columbia Falls closed with conviction and rallied to defeat the Dogs in five sets, 23-25, 30-28, 21-25, 25-16, 15-10.

Using all heart and hustle, Whitefish took the opening set against Columbia Falls and nearly pulled off a win in the second frame. The Dogs had five game-point chances, but the Wildcats found a way to hang on and eventually took the second set at 30-28.

Whitefish was down early in the third, but rallied to tie it at 12-12.

Marlow Schulz and Bekah Weaver teamed up for a huge stuff block to put the Dogs up 17-15. Weaver then put down a big kill at 22-16 and Whitefish pulled out the 25-21 victory.

Whitefish made it close in the final set when Myndi Holbrook hit an ace and Weaver tapped in a point to make it 7-8.

Marlow Schulz finished with 14 kills and Bekah Weaver added 17 digs for Whitefish. Allie Schulz led with 27 assists, while Rachael Seymour had two stuff blocks.

The loss put Whitefish in the loser-out bracket where they were eliminated by Libby, 25-27, 25-21, 25-20, 25-22.

Myndi Holbrook led with nine of Whitefish’s 31 kills against Libby. Marlow Schulz and Seymour each tallied two blocks.

Columbia Falls won the divisional tournament after defeating Frenchtown in the championship. Both teams advance to the state tournament in Bozeman.

Libby def. Whitefish, 25-27, 25-21, 25-20, 25-22.

Kills – Whitefish 31 (Myndi Holbrook 9), Libby 47 (Devon Gallagher 14). Blocks – Whitefish 9 (Marlow Schulz 2, Rachel Seymour 2), Libby 2. Digs – Whitefish 80 (Brittany Barnes 18), Libby 79 (Mahalah Wedel 25). Assists – Whitefish 24 (Allie Schulz 12), Libby 45 (Hannah England 39). Aces – Whitefish 10 (M. Schulz 4, Brittany Barnes 4), Libby 11 (Gallagher 4).

Columbia Falls def. Whitefish, 23-25, 30-28, 21-25, 25-16, 15-10.

Kills – C. Falls 57 (Haley Belgarde 21), Whitefish 49 (Marlow Schulz 14). Blocks – C. Falls 7 (Ciera Finberg 4), Whitefish 3 (Rachael Seymour 2). Digs – C. Falls 117 (Shaylene Fishel 21, Tiffany Hummer 21), Whitefish 55 (Bekah Weaver 17). Assists – C. Falls 43 (Cydney Finberg 40), Whitefish 44 (Allie Schulz 27). Aces – C. Falls 6 (Fishel 2, Cydney Finberg 2), Whitefish 11 (Maura Kalbfleisch 4).