Polson, Columbia Falls go 1-2 at Butte Blockbuster

Columbia Falls, seeded no better than 10th into the Blocktober Classic, went 7-1 in pool play and then spiked its way into the championship before falling to Polson Saturday.

The tournament brought 24 Class A and B volleyball teams from around Montana to the Butte Civic Center and Maroon Activity Center. Polson, which won the Tip-off Tournament to begin the fall season, went 6-2 in pool play to make the 8-team championship bracket.  

During Blocktober, the team opened pool play with a matchup against Billings Central, which has won the state championship for at least the last 10 years. Polson volleyball mom Ashlee Perry explained that the team won that matchup, disrupting the bracket. 

In their win over Billings Central, players also made strides in their Polson volleyball careers, with Rylee Taylor-Jefferson achieving over 1,500 assists, Kenna Corely making over 1,000 kills and Aleysia Black bringing in over 1,000 digs.

Perry said that during their season, she’s watched the team come to life and play to their full potential. She added that many seniors have brought home records this year as well. 

She said this is also the first time coach Lizzy Cox has won this tournament in all her years of coaching. 

The Wildkats beat defending State A champion Billings Central to earn the top seed out of Pool A, then won twice to get to the final. They beat Bigfork — the Valkyries went 5-2 in Pool B to advance — and Havre to make the final. 

Ronan went 2-5 in pool play and fell into the consolation bracket; the Maidens lost to East Helena, beat Stevensville and Sidney, then fell to Dillon, taking fourth. 

Championship Bracket: 1 (overall champion), Polson; 2, Columbia Falls; 3, Billings Central; 4, Boulder. 

Consolation Bracket: 1, Laurel; 2, East Helena; 3, Dillon; 4, Ronan. 

Copper Bracket: 1, Whitefish; 2, Corvallis; 3, Lockwood; 4, Anaconda. 

    The Polson varsity volleyball team poses for a team photo. (Boss Photography photo)