BOZEMAN — The Class A volleyball tournament got under way Thursday at Worthington Arena. Results from the first day are below. For updated pairings, click here.
PHOTOS: ALL-CLASS STATE VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENTS — DAY 1
Billings Central def. Frenchtown 27-25, 25-10, 28-26 (quarterfinal)
The first day of the state tournament was a just-find-a-way day for the Rams.
And now that the Rams have won their first two matches in grind-it-out style — they needed four sets to beat Columbia Falls earlier in the day — they find themselves with another trophy in hand for the ninth straight season.
The quarterfinal win over the Broncs puts the Rams into Friday’s undefeated semifinal against Dillon. A Billings Central victory would put the Rams into the title match for the eight straight year, including the past five under coach Anita Foster. Teams that play in the undefeated semifinal are guaranteed of at least a third-place finish.
“There’s a rich heritage in our program, and there’s so many girls that have come before that are here cheering us on,” Foster said, gesturing to the Billings Central cheering section. “So, it’s definitely a family, something that we’re really proud of and we don’t take it lightly.”
Kamryn Reinker pounded 22 kills, including the final three of the match after Frenchtown had taken a 26-25 lead in the third set. Annie Hanser contributed 46 assists. The Rams totaled 66 digs, with Gracie Loveridge netting 20, Kaitlyn Foster 15 and Reinker 15.
Rachel Walls led Frenchtown with six kills. Addi Romine had 20 assists.
“I’m just really proud of the girls in their grit and just not ever letting errors get the best of them,” Foster said. “They answered an error with a good play. I feel like, when you do that, you win a lot of games. So, I was happy with their perseverance.”
Dillon def. Hardin 25-16, 25-13, 24-26, 23-25, 15-12 (quarterfinals)
First-year Dillon coach Bobbi Konen couldn’t tell you when the last time the Beavers won a state volleyball trophy, either first, second or third.
There is one thing she can tell you: “I know we don’t have a (championship) banner.”
Making their first trip to state in three years, the Beavers are still in the running for that first title after finding a way to upend the defending state champions in the quarterfinals.
Ady Creighton had 15 kills, including two in a row that broke a 12-12 tie in the deciding fifth set. A Hardin error followed, sending the Beavers into Friday’s undefeated semifinal.
After winning the first two sets easily, Dillon seemed to wither against a Hardin team that was regaining its confidence. Hardin even led 10-7 in the fifth set, but the Beavers rallied to finish off the Bulldogs.
“Those girls, they want it,” Konen said of her team. “We have seven seniors out there that want it. This is their last hurrah, so they’re fighting for everything they can get.”
Sage Tash added 13 kills and Kylie Konen had 12 for Dillon, which also received 47 assists from Kinzy Creighton and 16 digs from Ady Creighton.
Makenna Torske led Hardin with 14 kills and 31 digs. Taiya Guptill contributed 35 assists and 19 digs.
Billings Central def. Columbia Falls 25-13, 25-4, 24-26, 25-23
After winning the first two sets easily, the Rams had to sweat it out against the Wildkats.
Columbia Falls took the third set and led late in the fourth, before a kill by Gracie Loveridge knotted the score 23-23 for Billings Central. An ace by Kassidy Schafer gave the Rams match point and Loveridge finished things with another kill.
The Rams racked up 47 kills to 22 for the Wildkats. Kamryn Reinker paced the Rams with 17 kills and five aces, and she added 14 digs, as well. Annie Hanser recorded 34 assists and 19 digs, while Kaitlyn Foster led in digs with 20.
Emalee Alton led Columbia Falls with 11 kills and 13 digs. Kierra Kemppainen finished with 13 assists and 12 digs, and Ava Scholz led the team with four aces. Rylee Sweeney contributed four blocks.
Frenchtown def. Lockwood 25-11, 25-18, 25-15
The Broncs got off to a strong start and never looked back in shutting down the Lions in three sets.
Ryan Lucier served up a team-high five aces, and her 13 kills led Frenchtown, as well. Addi Romine had 36 assists and four aces.
Frenchtown limited Lockwood to just 21 kills.
Dani Jordan led the Lions with 12 kills and 11 digs, and Gracee Hunt had 20 assists.
Dillon def. Lewistown 25-22, 25-13, 25-23
Kylie Konen, Ady Creighton and Sage Tash combined for 26 of Dillon’s 33 kills to help the Beavers to the sweep of Lewistown.
Konen and Creighton led with nine kills each, and Tash followed with eight. Olivia Maunu had 4.5 blocks.
Kinzy Creighton assisted on 29 kills for Dillon, while Tyler Gibson led the team with 11 digs.
Kayla Jensen had six kills and Blythe Armstrong 16 digs and 11 assists for Lewistown, which is back at state after a six-year absence.
Hardin def. Bigfork 25-19, 25-20, 23-25, 25-17
Makenna Torske had team-highs for the defending state champions in kills (21), blocks (6) and digs (18) to help send the Bulldogs into the quarterfinals.
Hardin also received 10 kills from Johanna Limberhand, while three other players were in double digits for digs: Ella Carleton (18), Cherayah Spotted Bear (13) and Liberty Koyama (13). Taiya Gutptil had 32 assists.
Maddie Hayes Corona powered Bigfork with 18 kills and 21 digs. Olivia Claybourn led Bigfork with 18 digs and Taylor Howlett led with 28 assists.
Bigfork, making a Class A appearance after participating in the Class B state tournament in 2022, kept its hopes alive with the third set win before Hardin closed out the match.
