Lady Pirates earn fourth at state after gritty tournament run

The Polson Lady Pirates capped a strong postseason with a fourth-place finish at the 2025 State A Volleyball Tournament last week at Montana State's Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, highlighted by one of the biggest individual performances of the entire event. 

Polson opened the tournament Wednesday with a marathon 3-2 victory over Havre, winning 25-22, 13-25, 27-29, 28-26, 15-11 in one of the longest matches of the opening day. 

Senior outside hitter McKenna Corley erupted for 30 kills, powering a 71-kill team effort. Eliza Todd added 17 kills, while setters Rylee Taylor-Jefferson (29 assists) and Zailee Hewankorn (27 assists) kept the offense in rhythm. 

Defensively, libero Aleysia Black anchored the back row with 23 digs, followed by Embree Bird with 15 and Logan McCrea with 12. The win advanced Polson to the quarterfinals and showcased the Pirates’ resilience early in the tournament. 

Polson met undefeated Frenchtown next and fell 25-15, 25-17, 25-17 to the eventual Western A champions. Corley tallied 10 kills, and Todd served three aces, while Black (14 digs) and Bird (13 digs) led the defensive effort.  

Facing elimination Thursday, Polson responded with one of its most complete performances of the tournament, defeating Laurel 25-10, 25-19, 21-25, 25-16. 

Corley again powered the offense with 18 kills, followed by Todd with 11 and Bird with eight. Todd also delivered six aces, and McCrea added four as Polson controlled the service line throughout the match. 

Hewankorn (18 assists) and Taylor-Jefferson (14 assists) directed an efficient attack, while McCrea (15 digs), Black (14), and Bird (11) kept rallies alive. The victory pushed the Lady Pirates into a rematch with Havre in the fourth-place match. 

Polson’s postseason run ended Friday morning with a 3-0 loss to Havre, which was 25-19, 25-13, 25-18. The Ponies would go on to win the third-place match against Frenchtown and then advanced to the state championship match, where they fell to Billings Central. 

After Corley’s 30-kill explosion in the first meeting, Havre adjusted by double- and triple-blocking the senior hitter throughout the rematch. Combined with Polson being slightly out of sync offensively, the Blue Ponies were able to control momentum and limit the Pirates’ scoring runs. 

Polson finishes the season 17-6 and has another trophy to bring back home after a busy weekend. Considering the strength of the field at the state, it's apparent there is something truly special about the Lady Pirates volleyball program.