Whitefish spikers bounced at C-Falls

Whitefish volleyball dropped a tight four-set match against an athletic Columbia Falls team, 25-15, 25-17, 11-25, 25-16, in Northwest A action on Saturday.

Kate Doorn led the team with seven kills. Ellie Dewan had 13 of Whitefish’s 46 digs.

“Our girls never gave up,” Whitefish coach Jackie Fuller said. “They fought hard and had a lot of excitement. Columbia Falls was just the better program. Those girls started hitting it at us.”

Fuller said the difference in Whitefish’s third-set win came down to confidence.

“We played with more enthusiasm,” Fuller said. “We had a belief we were going to win. The difference came within themselves.”

Fuller said she’s seen improvement each day this season and that the wins will come with more aggressive play on both sides of the ball.

“Cailyn Ross, Kate Doorn and Allie Schulz have got to become more effective and smarter hitters,” Fuller said. “Our defense has to take pride that nothing hits the floor on our side.”

“They have to start learning how to play to win,” she added. “No matter what, you can always win the game. We’re trying to teach that to them right now.”

Whitefish travels to Frenchtown on Thursday for another conference match.

Fuller said slow progress on replacing the Whitefish High School gym floor could have the team on the road for a bit longer than expected. She thanked the parents for logging long miles to support the team on the road.

“They are there supporting us all the way,” she said.

And the adversity of all the travel is making the team stronger, she said.

“It’s only going to help us in the end,” Fuller said.

Columbia Falls def. Whitefish, 25-15, 25-17, 11-25, 25-16

Kills – Whitefish 25 (Kate Doorn 7), C. Falls 28 (Morgan Stenger 8). Blocks – Whitefish 6, C. Falls 7 (Cydney Finberg 4). Digs – Whitefish 46 (Ellie Dewan 13), C. Falls 53 (Anna Nicosia 12). Assists – Whitefish 25 (Allie Schulz 14), C. Falls 28 (Finberg 26). Aces – Whitefish 9, C. Falls 16 (K.J. Schweiker 6).