This might be a November where the Western A volleyball teams really make noise.

Polson, Bigfork and Columbia Falls all qualified for the State A tournament that begins Thursday at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman. The all-class tournament means State AA will be on adjacent court; Glacier goes in as the fourth seed out of the Western AA. 

Polson and Bigfork, meanwhile, are 1-2 out of the Western A. The top-seeded Lady Pirates play the second match of the day, set for noon, against Miles City. 

Bigfork takes on Havre at 2 p.m.; Columbia Falls battles defending champion Billings Central at 4 p.m. 

Central has won five of the last six State A titles — Hardin broke through in 2023 — since Corvallis won it all in 2019. Following Columbia Falls back-to-back championships in 2015-16 the Eastern A has won eight of nine. 

Yet there’s reason to believe the divisions are more equal this season. 

“I think it’s probably pretty even, honestly,” Polson coach Lizzy Cox said. “But I think by the time you get to this point everyone’s pretty good.” 

Miles City went through its conference season unbeaten, then fell to the No. 4 seed at its divisional. The Cowgirls, Cox noted, have a go-to right-side hitter in McKinley Meidinger. 

Eliza Todd is the opposite number for Polson, which lost its first battle with Bigfork during the regular season but then got the Valkyries twice at the Western A. 

“I think maybe that was the best thing that ever happened to us,” Cox said of that first loss. “The girls realized you can’t just come in and not play your best. They (the Vals) have some really great middles that during the first meeting really played well.” 

This past weekend, Cox said, “We served and passed a lot better than we did when we lost to them, and I think that’s the key to this tournament, our passing. When we’re playing well we can set McKenna (Corley, who gets 4.1 kills a set), we can set whoever we want. But that requires a really good pass.” 

While Polson and Miles City haven’t played yet this season, Bigfork got a look at Havre during am early tournament. The Blue Ponies prevailed, winning the third set by two. 

“It was a very close match,” Bigfork coach Ariel Putnam said. “We also were very green. We were trying to get things to mesh, which is how it always goes at the start of the season.” 

Bigfork ended up winning the Northwest A regular-season title and continued playing well at the Western A despite the two four-set losses to the Pirates. 

“I do think we learned a lot,” said Putnam, who has a fierce front line with Raegan Waller, Somer Campos and Lillie Suffia. “There was a lot of character building in those matches against Polson; that’s the hardest volleyball we’ve had all year.” 

Columbia Falls ended up with the Western A’s fourth and final berth into state; earlier, the Wildkats and Polson battled for the championship at Butte’s Blocktober tournament, which Polson won. Billings Central was third.  

So the Wildkats, led by hitters Peyton Ross, Riley Sweeney and Annabelle Middlesworth, draw the Rams Thursday 

“If we show up, we could be in the championship,” Columbia Falls coach Jolandie Brooks said. “But I would say that goes for anyone.” 

Including Bigfork. 

“Looking how Blockober went, it’s whoever shows up and plays the best volleyball,” Putnam said. “I’m not counting us out. I’m not counting anybody out.” 

Glacier takes on Bozeman

The Eastern teams have been on a terrific run in AA: Following Helena Capital’s run of three straight (2018-20), the titles all have gone to Eastern AA teams. 

This season the Eastern teams that advanced to Bozeman are a combined 11-0 against the Western entrants. 

Glacier is the No. 4 seed and goes up against 17-2 Bozeman Thursday at 10 a.m. But the Wolfpack go in having won seven of their last 10 matches. Audrey Mitchell (3.02) and Allie Kruerger (2.72) are among the AA’s best in kills per set; Addison Thramer and setter Madi Stevens are getting the passes up.  

“This is what we’ve been working toward since the first day we stepped into the gym,” Glacier coach Jaimie Nelson said. “To see that hard work turn into an opportunity to compete at State is incredibly rewarding.”