Bigfork sweeps past Frenchtown into A volleyball championship

BOZEMAN — Forty years is long enough. 

Raegan Waller had 12 kills, Somer Campos had another 11 and Bigfork swept past Frenchtown and into the State A volleyball championship Friday, beating the Broncs 25-21, 25-19, 25-18 at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. 

The Valkyries were State B/C champions in 1986 and then had a long gap before making another state tournament appearance in 2022, when they were still Class B. 

Now they have a chance to win it all in Class A, thanks to their fourth win over the Broncs in five matchups this season. 

"They played very disciplined volleyball," Coach Ariel Putnam said of her Valkyries, who are in their second straight state tournament. "We knew what we were up against and we had a plan going in and we really executed it. We really perfected our serving and serve contact during that match and I'm really hoping that carries over for the girls tomorrow." 

Bigfork will face either Frenchtown or Western A Divisional champion Polson; the Lady Pirates, who fell to Frenchtown Thursday, beat defending champion Billings Central and Laurel in loser's bracket action Friday. They swept the Rams and the Locomotives and face the Broncs at 10 a.m. Saturday. 

The championship is set for noon, with a second match to follow if necessary. 

Waller had an outstanding match Friday, adding two blocks and 21 digs to her offense. 

"She played a very well-rounded game of volleyball," Putnam said. "There wasn't anything she didn't just nail tonight." 

Campos had four blocks; Payton DeSpain had 32 assists. 

Bigfork def. Frenchtown 25-21, 25-19, 25-18 

Kills — Bigfork 38 (Raegan Waller 12, Somer Campos 11, Sophia Lowell 8), Frenchtown 30 (Rachel Walls 12, McKenzie Brush 7). Assists — Bigfork 34 (Payton DeSpain 32), Frenchtown 26 (Blake Hardy 26). Digs — Bigfork 72 (Waller 21, Kenley Wheeler 14), Frenchtown n/a (Jezzy Palmer 18, Walls 18). Blocks — Bigfork 8 (Campos 4, Waller 2), Frenchtown 4 (Harli Civertsen 2). Aces — Bigfork 6 (Emily Wisman 2, Wheeler 2, Lillie Suffia 2), Frenchtown 7 (McKinley Deiller 3). 

Polson def. Billings Central 3-0 

McKenna Corley had 19 kills and two blocks for the Lady Pirates; Aleysia Black checked in with three aces and 14 digs. 

Polson def. Billings Central 25-21, 25-19, 26-24 

Kills — Central 36 (Kassidy Shafer 14, Abney Larson 10), Polson 46 (McKenna Corley 19), Embree Bird 8, Eliza Todd 7). Assists — Central 35 (Grace Jagodzinski 33), Polson 41 (Rylee Taylor-Jefferson 23, Kendyl Yeager 13). Digs — Central 56 (Addy Auer 17), Polson 54 (Logan McCrea 16, Aleysia Black 14). Blocks — Central 8 (Schafer 2.5), Polson 7 (Todd 3, Corley 2, Opal Nash 2). Aces — Central 3 (3 with 1), Polson 8 (Black 3, McCrea 2). 

Polson def. Laurel 

Corley and Embree Bird combined on 26 kills and Corley added four blocks. Opal Nash had her second straight strong match at the net with three blocks. 

Polson def. Laurel 25-15, 25-14, 25-17 

Kills — Laurel 22 (Avery Norman 7), Polson 38 (Corley 15, Bird 11). Assists — Laurel 18 (Norman 10), Polson 33 (Taylor-Jefferson 15, Jaeger 12). Digs — Laurel 32 (Cat Cartwright 12), Polson 30 (Bird 7). Blocks — Laurel 8 (Kaitlyn Bailey 3), Polson 9 (Corley 4, Nash 3). Aces — Laurel 1 (Layla Bausch), Polson 5 (Bird 2, McCrea 2). 

Laurel def. Columbia Falls 3-2 

The Wildkats had 11 kills each from Rylee Sweeney and Annabelle Middlesworth but still fell to Laurel in five sets. Kamryn Ladenburg had nine kills and five aces for Columbia Falls. 

Laurel def. Columbia Falls 17-25, 25-18, 26-24, 20-25, 15-13 

Kills — C-Falls 39 (Rylee Sweeney 11, Annabelle Middlesworth 11, Kamryn Ladenburg 9), Laurel 55 (Avery Norman 18, Sylvie Curry 17). Assists — C-Falls 37 (Jezanie Brooks 33), Laurel 51 (Norman 23, Bailey Camer 23). Digs — C-Falls 57 (Ava Scholz 19, Brooks 13, Peyton Ross 12), Laurel 74 (Cat Cartwright 24). Blocks — C-Falls 9 (Ross 2, Middlesworth 2, Sweeney 2, Brooks 2), Laurel 22 (Kaitlyn Bailey 6.5). Aces — C-Falls 10 (Ladenburg 5), Laurel 5 (Norman 4). 

State A 

Thursday 

Frenchtown def. Laurel 25-13, 16-25, 19-25, 25-9, 15-12 

Polson def Miles City 23-25, 25-11, 25-19, 26-24 

Bigfork def. Havre 25-14, 25-22, 26-28, 25-22 

Columbia Falls def. Billings Central 25-16, 25-21, 25-22 

Frenchtown def. Polson 16-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-14, 15-12 

Bigfork def. Columbia Falls 25-22, 25-19, 19-25, 10-25, 19-17  

Friday 

Laurel def. Miles City 25-22, 25-15, 25-19 

Billings Central def. Havre 25-14, 25-21, 25-22 

Laurel def. Columbia Falls 17-25, 25-16, 26-24, 20-25, 15-13 

Polson def. Billings Central 25-21,. 25-19, 26-24 

Bigfork def. Frenchtown 25-21, 25-19, 25-18, semifinal 

Polson def. Laurel 25-15, 25-14, 25-17, fourth 

Saturday 

Match 13: Polson vs. Frenchtown, 10 a.m., third 

Match 14: Bigfork vs. Winner 13, noon, championship 

Match 15: If necessary