Valkyries secure No. 1 seed in Western A tournament

Bigfork volleyball capped a tremendous regular season with a 3-0 sweep of Columbia Falls last week in a battle of Northwest A teams.

The Valkyries dominated the match, taking the three sets 27-25, 25-17 and 27-25. Somer Campos had 10 kills and five blocks, while Sophia Lowell added nine kills. Kenley Wheeler had 23 of the team's 73 digs, and Payton Despain put up 32 of the Vals' 33 assists.

Bigfork swept the Wildkats 3-0 earlier in the season as well.

The win vaulted the Valkyries to the top of the Northwest A. Polson also went 11-1 in the league, but lost the tiebreaker with Bigfork. With the advantage, the Vals enter the Western A tournament as a No. 1 seed for the second straight year.

Bigfork opens play in Hamilton on Nov. 5 against Southwest A No. 4 seed Corvallis (8-19-1). The winner moves on to play either Southwest A No. 2 seed Frenchtown or Northwest A No. 3 seed Whitefish.

Polson earned the No. 2 seed from Northwest A and Columbia Falls enters the tourney as a No. 4 seed.

Dillon is the top ranked team from the Southwest A and Hamilton is the No. 3 seed.

Bigfork def. Columbia Falls 27-25, 25-17, 27-25

Kills — Bigfork 37 (Somer Campos 10, Sophia Lowell 8), Columbia Falls 33 (Anabelle Middlesworth 9, Rylee Sweeney 8). Assists — Bigfork 33 (Payton Despain 32), Columbia Falls  30 (Jezanie Brooks 24). Digs — Bigfork 73 (Kenley Wheeler 23), Columbia Falls 79 (Ava Scholz 27, Peyton Ross 13). Blocks — Bigfork 9 (Somer Campos 5), Columbia Falls 4 (Sweeney 3). Aces — Bigfork 8 (Emily Wisman 3), Columbia Falls 7 (Kamryn Ladenburg 2, Scout Nelson 2).