Where: Polson's Linderman Gym
When: Thursday-Saturday.
At stake: The top two teams advance to the State A tournament Nov. 20-22 at Bozeman.
Notes: Defending tournament champion Libby (9-3) is the team to beat. The Loggers dropped just one match in conference play and that came in their regular-season opener Sept. 19 at Bigfork. Since beating rival Whitefish in five games Sept. 25, Libby has dropped just one game to a Northwestern A opponent. Junior middle hitter Jackie Mee is the Loggers' most dangerous attacker. In Libby's last five league matches - all three-game wins - Mee has averaged 11.6 kills per match. Bigfork (11-2) is on the rise, having won its final eight matches. The Vals look to a pair of seniors in 5-foot-7 middle hitter Roxy Thurman and setter Rachel Luckow for on-court leadership. The tournament wild card is Polson. The Pirates are capable of playing with any team and won eight straight matches before falling in three games to Bigfork in the regular-season finale Nov. 6. Polson, which stands at 9-4 and is led by 5-9 junior hitter Nichole Davey, downed the Vals in three games Oct. 2. Never count out Whitefish, which has fallen on hard times since coming up short of winning its fourth straight State A tournament championship last year. The Bulldogs (5-7) have struggled this season and have lost their last five matches.
- Michael Heinbach, Missoulian
Pairings
At Polson
Byes: Libby (9-3) and Bigfork (11-2)
Thursday
5 p.m. - Whitefish (5-7) vs. Columbia Falls (3-10)
7 p.m. - Polson (9-4) vs. Ronan (2-14)
Southwestern A tournament
Where: Anaconda's Memorial Gym.
When: Thursday-Saturday.
Defending champion: Dillon.
At stake: The top two teams advance to the State A tournament Nov. 20-22 at Bozeman.
Notes: The Beavers are seeking their third consecutive divisional championship and third straight trip to state this weekend. Dillon rolled to the Southwestern A's regular-season crown after dropping its season opener to Frenchtown. The Beavers, who are led by senior middle blocker Grace Zitzer, won their next nine conference matches and finished the regular season on a five-match winning streak after a four-game setback to Class AA Butte on Oct. 21. ... Anaconda earned the No. 2 seed with an 8-2 mark against conference opponents. The Copperheads were divisional runners-up the past two seasons and won a divisional title in 2005. They've been to every state tournament since joining the Southwestern A in 2004. This year's tourney host, Anaconda returns lots of talent, including several members of last year's state championship girls' basketball team. The Heads have won their last three coming in and they join Dillon as the pretourney favorites. ... Frenchtown is seeking its first trip to the all-class state format and its first appearance at state since the winter of 2002 when the Broncs were in Class B. Frenchtown has one of the state's top players on its side of the net in senior middle hitter Laura Geis. It also has senior Preslee Maki at the net and Sierra Scheffer on the back line. ... Corvallis made state in back-to-back seasons in 2004-2005, winning a divisional title in the Southwestern A's first year of existence in '04. The Blue Devils are led by seniors Kim Gilder and Whitney Henderson. They're on a two-match winning streak heading into divisional play. ... Hamilton senior Ashley Albert has been one of the league's top players all season.
- Nick Lockridge, Missoulian
Pairings
At Anaconda
Byes: Dillon (13-3) and Anaconda (11-3)
Thursday
6 p.m. - Hamilton (4-12) vs. Corvallis (10-6)
8 p.m. - Stevensville (1-15) vs. Frenchtown (10-6)
Western B tournament
Where: Missoula's Valley Christian.
When: Thursday-Saturday.
Defending champion: Loyola Sacred Heart.
At stake: The top two teams advance to the State B tournament Nov. 20-22 at Bozeman.
Notes: Defending champion Loyola Sacred Heart (18-2) has won its last nine matches and is looking to make a better impression at the state tournament after a disappointing finish last season. The Breakers went two and out at state, losing to Big Timber on opening night before dropping to Fairfield. Loyola cruised through the District 6-B tournament this season, losing only one game in three matches and sizzling on offense. The Breakers averaged 42 kills and 11 aces per match in the district tournament. Junior Emma Priddy did much of the damage at the net, including a 20-kill outing in the championship against Florence. The Falcons (16-5), Thompson Falls (11-6) and Eureka (14-5) are the only teams in Western B to take a game from Loyola. The Breakers' only blemishes on the season come from losses to Townsend and Class A Frenchtown. In the two matchups between Eureka and Loyola - the top seeds in the divisional - the Breakers won in four on Oct. 12 and in the preseason tournament hosted by the Breakers, Eureka fell 31-29 and 25-13. The Bluehawks dropped a four-game decision at home to Loyola in the beginning of October. Joining Eureka and Thompson Falls from District 7-B are St. Ignatius (10-9), which made a strong run against the Lions in the district tournament, and Troy (7-11). District 6-B representatives are rounded out by Deer Lodge (11-10) and Darby. The tournament winner will face the third seed from Southern B and the runner-up faces the top seed from Southern B at the state tournament.
- Charles Pulliam, Missoulian
Pairings
At Missoula
Thursday
10 a.m. - Missoula Loyola vs. Troy
Noon - St. Ignatius vs. Deer Lodge
2 p.m. - Eureka vs. Darby
4 p.m. - Florence vs. Thompson Falls
Western C tournament
Where: Butte, HPER Complex
When: Thursday-Saturday.
Defending champion: Shields Valley.
At stake: The top two teams advance to the State C tournament Nov. 20-22 at Bozeman.
Notes: The Arlee Scarlets won't be surprising many opponents this year after coming one match away from reaching state in 2007. Arlee enters tournament play with a perfect 19-0 record after sweeping all three of its matches en route to the championship at last weekend's District 9-C tournament. Junior hitter Jordan Pfau averaged 19.67 kills per match at the district tournament, including a tourney-high 23 in the undefeated match against Drummond. The Scarlets haven't lost a single game since getting pushed in a five-game victory over Philipsburg on Oct. 18. Joining Arlee from District 9-C will be Philipsburg, which totes an 11-8 mark. The Prospectors are led by hitters Kirsten Butler and Melanie Graham as well as setter Carly Johnson. Hot Springs (18-2) took the scenic route to the District 10-C tournament title. After falling to Charlo in the undefeated match, the Savage Heat swept St. Regis before downing the Vikings twice for the championship. Matea DePoe and Randi Arnold make Hot Springs a strong bet to advance. The Savage Heat's only losses of the season came at the hands of Charlo (14-5). Juniors Stephanie Murphy, Stephanie Maughan and Jaris Kelley pace the Vikings.
- Michael Heinbach, Missoulian
Pairings
At Butte
Thursday
10 a.m. - Hot Springs (18-2) vs. Sheridan
Noon - Philipsburg (11-8) vs. Shields Valley
2 p.m. - Gardiner vs. Charlo (14-5)
4 p.m. - White Sulphur Springs vs. Arlee (19-0)
6 p.m. - 10 a.m. winner vs. noon winner
8 p.m. - 2 p.m. winner vs. 4 p.m. winner
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