Plains’ varsity volleyball team put up a fight at the Western B Divisional Tournament last week at Manhattan Christian High School, but was unable to advance far enough in the bracket to challenge for a state tournament berth.

The Trotters took in the No. 1 seed from the District 14C Tournament, and faced Twin Bridges in a first-round match. The Lady Falcons went in with the second seed from the District 12C Tournament.

Plains battled with the Lady Falcons in a highly-contested first set on Thursday, but Twin Bridges emerged with a 25-18 win. The Lady Falcons made it a sweep, winning the next two sets, 25-16 and 25-15.

The Trotters stayed alive by defeating Clark Fork, the Alberton-Superior co-op, on Friday morning in a five-set match. Plains won the first two sets, 25-22 and 25-19, but the Lady Mountain Cats forced a deciding set with 25-15 and 25-18 wins in the third and fourth games. The Trotters emerged with a 15-10 win in the fifth set.

Plains 6-foot-1 junior Kylee Altmiller led the Trotters with nine kills, while senior Haley Josephson dished out 11 assists. Josephson had eight digs, and 6-foot-2 senior Rachel Huenink and Altmiller each had three stuff blocks. Altmiller led in aces with six.

Ennis came in unbeaten in dual matches but lost in the second round to Gardiner. The Mustangs stayed alive by sweeping Plains 25-19, 25-15, 25-18 in a loser-out match. Ennis won its next three matches, but fell to Manhattan Christian in the championship match.

Huenink paced Plains against Ennis with seven kills, and Altmiller had three blocks.

Trotters head coach Jesse Butcher will lose three seniors — Huenink, Josephson and Natalee Deschamps.

Western C Divisional

Nov. 1-3 at Manhattan Christian

(Two teams advance)

Thursday

Match 1: Manhattan Christian def. Alberton-Superior 25-11, 25-16, 25-14, first round

Match 2: Twin Bridges def. Plains 25-18, 25-16, 25-15, first round

Match 3: Ennis def. Charlo 25-23, 25-22, 20-25, 25-22, first round

Match 4: Gardiner def. Seeley-Swan 25-12, 25-18, 25-13, first round

Match 5: Manhattan Christian def. Twin Bridges 30-28, 26-24, 19-25, 20-25, 15-11, second round

Match 6: Gardiner def. Ennis 25-19, 18-25, 25-15, 18-25, 15-10, second round

Friday

Match 7: Plains def. Alberton-Superior 25-22, 25-19, 15-25, 18-25, 15-10, loser-out

Match 8: Charlo def. Seeley-Swan 25-23, 26-24, 25-21, loser-out

Match 9: Ennis def. Plains 25-19, 25-15, 25-18, loser-out

Match 10: Charlo def. Twin Bridges 25-16, 23-25, 27-25, 25-14, loser-out

Match 11: Manhattan Christian def. Gardiner 25-19, 25-22, 25-16, undefeated semifinal

Match 12: Ennis def. Charlo 25-17, 25-15, 25-20, loser-out (Charlo gets fourth place)

Saturday

Match 13: Ennis def. Gardiner 25-22, 25-13, 21-25, 25-16, loser-out (Gardiner gets third place)

Match 14: Ennis def. Manhattan Christian 25-21, 25-16, 14-25, 25-14, championship

Match 15: Ennis vs. Manhattan Christian, second championship