BOZEMAN — Billings Central and Hardin set up an all-Eastern A undefeated semifinal at the Class A state volleyball tournament at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse with wins in the quarterfinal round.
The Rams and Bulldogs defeated Frenchtown and Hamilton, respectively, in the quarterfinals after all four teams won first-round matches earlier in the day.
For updated scores and pairings, click here.
Billings Central def. Frenchtown 25-16, 25-19, 25-16 (quarterfinal)
After a five-set win in the first round, Billings Central swept past Frenchtown 25-16, 25-19, 25-16 in the late quarterfinal match Thursday.
The Rams, seeking their fourth consecutive state championship, will meet Hardin in the undefeated semifinal at 6 p.m. Friday.
In the quarterfinal win over Frenchtown, Kamryn Reinker and Gracie Loveridge each put down nine kills for the Rams. Ryen Hadley added eight kills.
Mason Quinn had eight kills to lead Frenchtown, which will next play in a loser-out match at 2 p.m. Friday.
Hardin def. Hamilton 25-18, 25-23, 25-18 (quarterfinal)
Hardin cruised into the undefeated semifinal with a 25-18, 25-23, 25-18 win over Hamilton in the quarterfinal round on Thursday.
The Bulldogs used a balanced offensive attack with Taiya Guptill distributing 30 assists to a bevy of hitters. Aubrey Nedens had a team-high eight kills, followed by MaKenna Torske with seven, and Johanna Limberhand and Macy Uffelman with six each. Carmen Pallone added four blocks and four aces.
Hardin will meet Eastern A rival Billings Central in the undefeated semifinal at 6 p.m. Friday.
Hamilton, which was led by Aurie Duncan's 10 kills, will next play in a loser-out match at 4 p.m. Friday.
First round
Billings Central def. Whitefish 25-13, 25-11, 23-25, 23-25, 15-11
Billings Central's quest to win its third consecutive Class A state championship got off to a difficult start Thursday, but the Rams persevered against Whitefish for a 25-13, 25-11, 23-25, 23-25, 15-11 win.
Central, the second seed from the East, got 22 kills from Kamryn Reinker, 13 from Ryen Hadley and nine from Kassidy Schafer. Kaitlyn Foster added six kills and Grace Jagodzinski had four.
Brooke Zetooney had 14 kills to lead Whitefish, which now falls into loser-out play. The Bulldogs will play Glendive at noon Friday.
Central will meet Frenchtown in a quarterfinal match at 8 p.m. Friday.
Frenchtown def. Glendive 25-14, 25-19, 24-26, 25-21
Rachel Walls had 12 kills and 15 digs to help Frenchtown to a 25-14, 25-19, 24-26, 25-21 win in the first round Thursday.
The Broncs, the No. 1 seed out of the West, had 10 blocks as a team — six from Analiese Martin — and Addi Romine contributed 29 assists. Frenchtown will play in a quarterfinal match at 8 p.m. Thursday.
Glendive, which got 14 kills, two blocks and three aces from Codi Nagle, will play in a loser-out match at noon Friday.
Hardin def. Polson 25-15, 25-15, 25-16
Eastern A champion Hardin rolled to a 25-15, 25-15, 25-16 sweep of Polson in the first round Thursday.
The Bulldogs were led by MaKenna Torske with 12 kills, Macy Uffelman with eight and Aubrey Nedens with seven. Carmen Pallone also stuff the stat sheet for Hardin, recording four aces, two blocks and 19 digs in the win.
Hardin will meet Hamilton in a quarterfinal match at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Hannah Simpson had eight kills to lead Polson, which will next face Lockwood in a loser-out match at 10 a.m. Friday.
Hamilton def. Lockwood 14-25, 28-26, 25-20, 22-25, 15-13
Hamilton started the Class A state volleyball tournament with a hard-fought five-set win over Lockwood in the first round, 14-25, 28-26, 25-20, 22-25, 15-13.
The Broncs got 14 kills from Aurie Duncan, 11 from Mya Winkler and nine from Ciara Hanley. Winkler added six blocks, and Duncan had 14 assists. Dawsyn Ekin also had 20 assists and four aces, while Cierra Cole had five aces.
Hamilton, the second seed out of the West, will meet Hardin, the East's top seed, in a quarterfinal match at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Lockwood, which was led by Abbe Case with 14 kills and Keeley King with 12, falls into loser-out action. The Lions will play Polson at 10 a.m. Friday.
