The Polson volleyball team split its homecoming matches last week, beating Libby and losing to Butte Central.

Against Libby, in a crucial third set, the match see-sawed back and forth through the high teens until the Lady Loggers edged ahead 22-19.

The Lady Pirates were forced to rally, tying at 22-all, edging ahead by one, then Libby tied at 23-all before Polson edged ahead again, 24-23. At such a precarious juncture, reserve Chloe DuCharme was sent in to serve in her first action of the varsity contest. DuCharme unleased a low trajectory salvo over the net down the right sideline for an ace, delivering the set to Polson in not only a gutsy move, but also a brilliantly strategic one on the part of coach Lizzy Cox who knew about budding service line proficiency that was unknown to the rest.

Libby took the fourth set to knot the match at 2-2, forcing a fifth and final set showdown. With nine service errors in the final set alone, one wondered whether both teams were deliberately being overly generous about giving points away. The set tied thrice in the early going until Libby strung together a couple of multi-point runs, forcing the Lady Pirates to rally.

A Maggie Todd spike would knot the score at a baker’s dozen apiece. Teetering back and forth the next two points, Todd put Polson ahead for good with a kill, followed by an out of bounds hit that secured the Homecoming match for purple & gold hands. Royal court Homecoming princesses Quinones and Tenas collaborated on a combination of 14 kills, 3 aces, 6 blocks and 11 digs.

The Butte Central match played out in similar intensity, only it was the Lady Pirates who came out on the short end of the third set and were forced to rally to force a fifth for the match finale.

After harnassing the momentum that helped secure the fourth set victory, Butte Central jumped out to a half dozen point lead at the onset and went on to win.

Polson will host Ronan in round two of their Rez rivalry wrangle this Saturday, October 5.

Polson def. Libby 3-2

Polson (4-1nw, 6-1), Libby (1-4nw, 2-5)

Polson def. Libby 25-10, 10-25, 25-23, 18-25, 17-15

KILLS – L25 (Mackenzie Proffitt 9), P47 (Maggie Todd 18, Misty Tenas 11, Kobbey Smith 10, Lena 5, Grace Quinones 3), ACES – L12 (Sheyla Gallagher 4, Kylee Quinn 4), P10 (GQ 2, Kobb 2, Lena 2, Berk 2, Tenas, Chloe DuCharme). ASSISTS – L34 (K.Quinn 30), P39 (Lena Pawlowski 18, Berkley Ellis 16, Hallie Moss 2, Tenas, GQ, A.Mercer). BLOCKS – L8 (Proffitt 6), P8 (Tenas 4, GQ 2, Lena, C.DuCharme). DIGS – L49 (Ashlyn Monigold 25), P80 (Ara Mercer 26, Kobb 25, Mags 8, Berk 6, GQ 6, Tenas 5, Lena 2, Moss, DuCharme). (Th26Sep19) P20tae, P15se, P8be