Glacier takes on role of giant-killer at state volleyball

It’s a tough draw for the Glacier Wolfpack in the first round of the State AA volleyball tournament, but they’re all tough when you’re talking about the Eastern AA teams.

The Gallatin Raptors, the Pack’s opponent at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Breeden Field House on the Montana State University campus, are defending champions and 24-1.  

They coasted into state with a first-place bye; Glacier had to go on the road and — impressively — sweep Missoula Big Sky to earn its third straight state berth. 

Glacier is 8-18 overall, a record tempered by the fact that only one Western AA team, Missoula Hellgate, is plus-.500 at 13-11.  

“The team knows exactly what we’re up against tomorrow, and our goal is to play for each other,” first-year Wolfpack coach Jaimie Nelson said. “The growth we’ve experienced this year has been incredible, and at this point, anything feels possible. We’re just grateful for the chance to share one more week together.” 

The Eastern AA has continued to be dominant, with a 19-2 record in crossover matches with the Western teams.  

One of those wins belongs to Glacier, against Great Falls High — which didn’t make State. 

Glacier has some players, including junior Addison Thramer on the back row. Junior Madi Stevens and senior Stellar Bayar set the ball for junior Allie Krueger and senior Grace Lingle among others, at the net. 

Junior Kennedy Varda and senior Makayla Coleman are the top hitters for Gallatin, which employs a pair of setters in Markie Wiseman and Ava Flohr. Varda and Coleman rank 2-3 in the Eastern AA in blocks, and Flohr isn’t far behind. 

Helena Capital, which won two straight titles in 2018-19, is the last West team to win a AA championship. 

It’s an all-Class tournament, so State A will be playing on an adjacent court at Breeden.  

The Polson Lady Pirates earned third place at the Western A Divisional last week in Polson, behind Frenchtown and Hamilton. They’ll face the Havre Blue Ponies at 2 p.m. Wednesday. 

McKenna Corley, a junior, has led Polson at 3.9 kills per set with a .433 hitting percentage. Embree Bird, Logan McCrea and Eliza Todd, a trio of sophomores, complement Corey at the net. 

Polson played one tournament superset with Havre in October, winning it. 

The Blue Ponies took Billings Central to five sets in the Eastern A Divisional title match last week. Billings Central has won three of the last four championships and six of the last eight, with Eastern A rival Hardin breaking through in 2023 and Corvallis in 2019. 

The state championship matches are set for noon Friday. 

Volleyball 

State Tournament 

Nov. 12-14, Breeden Field House 

State AA 

Wednesday

Match 1: Missoula Hellgate vs. Billings Senior, 10 a.m. 

Match 2: Helena vs. Bozeman, Noon 

Match 3: Gallatin vs. Glacier, 2 p.m. 

Match 4: Great Falls CMR vs. Missoula Sentinel, 4 p.m. 

Match 5: Winner 1 vs. Winner 2, 6 p.m. 

Match 6: Winner 3 vs. Winner 4, 8 p.m. 

State A 

Wednesday

Match 1: Hamilton vs. Laurel, 10 a.m. 

Match 2: Billings Central vs. Dillon, Noon 

Match 3: Havre vs. Polson, 2 p.m. 

Match 4: Frenchtown vs. Miles City, 4 p.m. 

Match 5: Winner 1 vs. Winner 2, 6 p.m. 

Match 6: Winner 3 vs. Winner 4, 8 p.m. 

State B 

Wednesday

Match 1:  Florence vs. Townsend 

Match 2: Shepherd vs. Fairfield 

Match 3: Choteau vs. Boulder 

Match 4: Anaconda vs. Baker 

Match 5: Winner 1 vs. Winner 2, 6 p.m. 

Match 6: Winner 3 vs. Winner 4, 8 p.m. 

State C 

Wednesday

Match 1: Circle vs. Chester-JI 

Match 2: Manhattan Christian vs. DGSG 

Match 3: Melstone vs. North Country 

Match 4: Belt vs. Gardiner 

Match 5: Winner 1 vs. Winner 2, 6 p.m. 

Match 6: Winner 3 vs. Winner 4, 8 p.m.