Ronan volleyball splits week, moves to 3-7 in conference play

The Ronan Maidens picked up a much-needed road win at Libby on Saturday after falling earlier in the week to Columbia Falls, bringing their Northwestern A Conference record to 3-7. 

On Tuesday in Columbia Falls, Ronan came out strong with a 25-23 victory in the opening set, but the Wildkats responded with three straight wins to claim the match 3-1. Junior hitter Sierra Blood led the Maidens with 15 kills and 15 digs, while senior setter Sarah Templer tallied 23 assists. 

Senior Olivia Cheff added four kills and 10 digs, and sophomore Hosanna Wilson chipped in three kills. Despite the early momentum, Ronan struggled to sustain its attack, finishing with 26 kills against 35 errors on 118 attempts. 

The Maidens bounced back on Saturday, defeating Libby 25-18, 17-25, 25-23, 25-16. Ronan’s offense found its rhythm, with Blood once again pacing the attack with 11 kills and a .189 hitting percentage. Cheff was effective at the net with 12 kills on 41 swings, and junior Anaka Hardy added six kills. 

Templer dished out 22 assists, while freshman Marie Cheff provided six. Defensively, Aubrey Krell stood out with 26 digs to keep volleys alive, and the front line combined for five blocks, led by Olivia Cheff and Hardy with two each. 

From the service line, the Maidens kept consistent pressure on the Loggers. Schlicht and Waller each landed multiple aces, while Suffia and Howlett combined for key runs that helped put the match out of reach. 

The split week underscored both the challenges and growth of Ronan’s young roster. At 3-7 in conference play, the Maidens remain in the hunt for postseason seeding with several key matches still ahead on the schedule.