Montana Tech Sports Information Release
BUTTE -– Montana Tech head volleyball coach Brian Solomon announced the signing of three Montana student-athletes to NAIA letters of intent. Courtney Bad Bear and sisters Zoe and Portia Cortner committed to play volleyball for the Orediggers next year.
“We are thrilled to add such a great in-state class of athletes,” said head coach Solomon.
“Courtney, Zoe and Portia have had great success including state-championship runs, played in big games and are all very coachable. Tech is going to be a great place for them to achieve their academic goals and I can’t wait for them to join us on the court and in the community.”
Bad Bear, a 5-foot-8 setter from Billings, played four years of varsity for perennial AA power Billings Senior High School. The Broncs were state champion runner-ups the last two years and finished third Bad Bear’s sophomore season. As a freshman, the Broncs were state champions. Bad Bear finished with a 93-9 high school record.
Starting her final two seasons, Bad Bear was All-State honorable mention as a junior and second team All-State as a senior. Bad Bear was second in the state in assists last fall with 430, 10th in digs (183) and 9th in blocks (31). She was named Academic All-State the last two years.
Volleyball is not the only court sport for the athletic Bad Bear. She is a three year varsity starter on the basketball court and has been a captain the last two seasons.
Bad Bear is the daughter of Nadia and Curtis.
Zoe and Portia are twin sisters and have familial ties to Oredigger volleyball. Older sister Bailie Cortner was a two-time All-American and helped lead the Orediggers to their first NAIA National Tournament in over 20 years in 2016.
The Cortner sisters, both 6-foot hitters from Red Lodge, were also part of state championship teams. The Rams won back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016. Zoe was named All-State three times from her sophomore to senior years. Portia was a two-time All-State selection as a junior and sophomore. Both were All-Conference all four years.
Zoe and Portia are the daughters of Rebecca and Ty.
Montana Tech (24-10) produced their first Frontier Conference title since 1990 last fall. The Orediggers reached the NAIA National Tournament Final 16 Teams for the second straight season.
