Lady Bulldogs show resilience at state

Whitefish wasn’t going out like that, not without a fight at least.

After getting swept Thursday in their State A volleyball opener against the defending champs from Belgrade, the Lady Bulldogs found themselves down again, dropping the first two sets to Havre in loser-out action. That’s when coach Jackie Fuller pulled her team aside.

“There are going to be six people on that floor that never, ever give up,” Fuller told her team.

They responded.

Whitefish went on to take the next three frames 25-18, 25-23, and finally, 15-11 to cap the amazing comeback.

“We lost those first two sets pretty bad,” Fuller said. “We gathered together, and the coaches asked them to play with no regrets. The whole group stepped up.”

Whitefish’s lone senior Allie Schulz led with 10 kills and 21 assists. Sophomore Cailyn Ross added five blocks, seven kills and two aces.

Whitefish would get bounced from the tourney later that day in a quick loss to Corvallis, 25-15, 25-19, 25-23. Still, Fuller was proud of her team’s resilience to keep believing.

“I felt our girls showed a lot of heart and proved that they deserved to be there,” Fuller said.

She commended Schulz, specifically, for leaving all she had on the floor.

“Allie has given us her heart and soul the whole season,” Fuller said. “She never came out this whole season — not one point, not one game, not one match. She gave us so much this year with her quiet leadership ­— she does it with her actions.”

The future looks promising for Bulldog volleyball with a roster stacked with juniors and sophomores who gained valuable experience in the trip to State. Eight freshman also traveled to Bozeman to watch the action.

Fuller knows her team’s potential, but says success will only come with work in the offseason.

“They’re going to have to make huge commitments to get in the weight room, to get stronger, faster and jump higher,” Fuller said. “They want it, but it will take a lot of hard work to get to that next level. To be able to compete with Columbia Falls and Corvallis.”

“It’s going to be even harder next year,” Fuller added. “The Western A proved to be a powerhouse down there.”

“But the kids know now that the goal is to not just get to state, but to go down there and win the thing.”

Whitefish finished the year 13-8 overall and 5-1 in the conference.

Whitefish def. Havre 9-25, 19-25, 25-18, 25-23, 15-11

Kills—Havre 35 (Dani Wagner 16), Whitefish 33 (Allie Schulz 10). Assists—Havre 26 (Naomi Terry 15), Whitefish 33 (Schulz 21). Blocks—Havre 9 (Reggie Bernard 4.5), Whitefish 8 (Cailyn Ross 5). Digs—Havre 88 (Madison Huebsch 27), Whitefish 77 (Ellie Dewan 24). Aces—Havre 10 (Terry 4), Whitefish 7 (Ross 2, Dewan 2, Libby Nagler 2).

Corvallis def. Whitefish 25-15, 25-19, 25-23

Kills—Corvallis 33 (Hannah Capko 11), Whitefish 38 (Nina Thew 12). Assists—Corvallis 32 (Holly Wilson 30), Whitefish 38 (Allie Schulz 22). Blocks—Corvallis 6 (Genesis Keith 3), Whitefish 5 (Cailyn Ross 2). Digs—Corvallis 78 (Ashley Davis 22), Whitefish 75 (Ellie Dewan 23). Aces—Corvallis 12 (Capko 4), Whitefish 2 (Libby Nagler, Serena Hemmingson).