Lady Bulldogs push league leader Polson to five sets

The Whitefish volleyball team went toe-to-toe with Northwest A leader Polson on Tuesday night, forcing a decisive fifth set before falling 25-17, 25-15, 15-25, 16-25, 15-7 in one of their most competitive matches of the season.

After dropping the first two sets, the Lady Bulldogs rallied behind a sharp defensive effort and improved net play to even the match at two sets apiece. Junior Camry Kelch led the offensive surge with 14 kills and four aces, while Annabelle Barrile added 10 kills. Setter Allie Shors kept the offense balanced, finishing with 27 assists and contributing 15 digs on defense.

Whitefish’s back-row defense matched Polson’s pace throughout the night, as Eleanor Archie collected 19 digs, Kelch added 18, and Shors anchored the backcourt with quick reads and transitions. Stella Frisbee made her presence felt at the net, tallying two solo blocks to go with three aces.

Head coach Addy Connelly praised her team’s energy and unity, noting that the Bulldogs “showed some gritty play that has been missing the past few weeks.” She highlighted the front row’s performance as a key defensive line and credited the team’s communication for turning practice focus into game execution.

Despite the loss, Whitefish (5-5 Northwest A, 6-6 overall) showed clear improvement against one of the state’s top-ranked Class A programs.