The Columbia Falls volleyball team is peaking as the postseason begins. On Saturday, the young Wildkat squad narrowly lost to Libby in the championship match of the Northwest A tourney, 22-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-12.

Trista Cowan had 16 of the 46 kills for Columbia Falls. Hannah Schweikert had a team-high 37 assists and three aces.

The top four teams advance to divisional tournament play in Butte, which begins Thursday.

“It was a ton of fun watching them compete like that,” coach Jolandie Brooks said. “They played relentlessly. All of them showed up, stepped up and did their job.”

The Wildkats beat Browning 25-16, 25-19, 25-19 and rival Whitefish, 25-21, 21-25, 25-16, 25-21 to advance to the finals.

Against the Lady Bulldogs, the Kats were led by Stella Bistodeu with 13 kills. Cowan had 12. Ryley Kehr had six blocks.

The Kats open divisional play on Thursday in Butte against Hamilton at noon.

Libby def. Columbia Falls, 22-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-12

Libby: Kills 53 (Rainer 18). Blocks 9 (Mossburg 6). Digs 89 (Winslow 28). Assists 49 (Collins 46). Aces 7 (Collins 3).

Columbia Falls: Kills 46 (Cowan 16). Blocks 14 (Kehr 5). Digs 113 (Street 35). Assists 38 (Schweikert 37). Aces 8 (Schweikert 3).