All-class volleyball: A long time Bruin for Gardiner

By Chronicle Staff

A long weekend ended a long wait.

DAN CHESNET/BELGRADE NEWS Ashlee Dyk and MCHS are hoping to serve up a win this morning to begin the state tournament in Bozeman. Gardiner High’s volleyball team, like a lot of Class C schools, plays the occasional doubleheader during the season.

Three matches in one day n twice in a row? Almost unheard of.

But that’s what it took for the Bruins to advance to their first state tournament in 10 years.

After suffering the same fate of the two other No. 1 seeds at last weekend’s Western C tournament n a loss in the tourney opener - Gardiner went to work. The four-game setback to Charlo Thursday sent the Bruins into the loser’s bracket, where they suddenly became a dominant team.

It was a tiring weekend, but there may not be a better way to prepare for state, which begins today at Montana State University’s Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.

“We know that every team is good,” Gardiner head coach Carmen Harbach said. “But we also know that they’re not going to be a lot better than what we saw at divisionals. The girls in the West are very similar to the girls in the East.”

A fitting phrase since Gardiner, the Western C champion, faces Eastern C runner-up and defending state champ Circle at noon to begin the tourney journey.

“After an emotional weekend, I was so proud of them,” Harbach said. “But now it’s time to stop celebrating that and start focusing on the work for this week.”

There was plenty to celebrate.

After losing to Charlo to open the divisional tournament at Montana Tech in Butte last Thursday, another No. 1 seed awaited the next day: Arlee, which was undefeated before falling in its opening match to White Sulphur Springs in five games.

Gardiner eliminated Arlee, then had to face Hot Springs, yet another No. 1 seed. Gardiner took out the Savage Heat as well. But the day wasn’t over. The Bruins had to take on Charlo again.

This time, after handily losing the first game, Gardiner won behind 24 kills from Dana Brennan. A long day, which began at noon and didn’t finish until after 9:30 p.m., was over.

Another one awaited.

The Bruins started Saturday with a 3-1 defeat of Philipsburg before defeating White Sulphur Springs by the same score. But since White Sulphur suffered its first loss in the double-elimination tourney, another “championship” match was played.

Gardiner won that one, too, 3-0 to win a hard-earned title.

“They always knew they were a good team when they pull it together,” Harbach said.

The Bruins have been sparked since the postseason began by middle hitters Maddie Hoeninghausen and Brennan. Junior setter Austin Smith has been the main set-up player and outside hitters Emily Bischoff and Melissa Rees, a pair of seniors, have been solid as well.

Gardiner’s opponent today, Circle, fell to Saco-Hinsdale 3-1 in the Eastern C title match on Saturday. Circle’s top players are Andrea Sutton and Whitney Peterson. The Wildcats defeated Highwood in the state championship game here a year ago. Highwood, which hasn’t lost this season, is a possible second-round matchup for Gardiner if both teams win their openers.

But if Gardiner doesn’t manage to defeat Circle, the Bruins can look back at their previous loss n the divisional opener to Charlo - and use it for motivation.

What was discussed after that match?

“We talked about: how hard will you work for something that you want?” Harbach said.

Class B

Manhattan Christian also feels battle-tested after emerging with its first Southern B divisional title last weekend n a weekend in which the Eagles did not lose.

“We saw some of the toughest teams already,” MCHS coach Jill Ayers said. “I think we’re well prepared now that we’ve seen that caliber of volleyball.”

Christian defeated Huntley Project, the state B champ the past two seasons, in the divisional semifinals in five games last Friday before winning the title over Colstrip despite a loss in the first game.

Hanna VanDyk’s 17 kills to go with 27 digs from Breanna Feddes led the Eagles to victory in the finals.

VanDyk, a middle blocker, totaled a match-high 20 kills against Huntley Project. The junior has battled a hamstring injury for the past two years and usually takes Mondays off to recuperate.

Come the end of the week, however, it’s back to work.

“She was just a workhorse for us last weekend,” Ayers said. “She had an amazing tournament. That’s probably the best she’s played all year.”

As far as guidance goes, that role has fallen on team captain and libero Sarah Nickisch.

“Her leadership skills and her attitude, I can’t replace something like that,” Ayers said.

MCHS plays Western B runner-up Florence-Carlton today at 10 a.m. today. The Falcons lost to Missoula Loyola in the divisional finals on Saturday. Out of the eight-team state tournament field, those two are the only ones Manhattan Christian has yet to face this season.

“My team actually plays better against a team they don’t know,” Ayers said. “They just walk out and play because they don’t know any better.”

Manhattan Christian’s playoff run n which included two victories at districts over last year’s state runner-up and previously unbeaten Townsend - has been inspired by what happened at last year’s divisionals.

With a spot at state on the line, the Eagles held a 2-0 lead over Big Timber, only to lose in five games.

“It was just heartbreaking for those girls,” Ayers said of the season-ending setback. “I think that was the driving force for this season. They did not want to end up in that position again this year.”

There’s no place like state, which once again includes all classifications under one roof.

“It’s pretty amazing how they’ve got the four courts all set up,” Ayers said. “You’ve got college scouts roaming around. The atmosphere is just great volleyball for three straight days.”

Class A

Belgrade worked itself out of the Central A tournament to reach state after missing out last season. The Panthers were the No. 3 seed last week, but became one of two teams n defending state champ Lewistown was the other n to qualify for state by twice defeating No. 2 Havre.

After sweeping Havre in the team’s second match of the weekend, Belgrade was swept in the championship by Lewistown, which enters state with a 19-3 record. Belgrade’s Jillian Gue had 11 kills and 16 digs against Havre.

Belgrade plays Northwest A champ Libby, a state qualifier last year, today at 2 p.m. Lewistown plays Polson at noon.

Miles City, a 20-match winner, plays Dillon at 10 a.m. Anaconda and Billings Central face off at 4 p.m. Out of those four, only Billings Central did not make it to state a year ago.

Class AA

Today’s opening match is a battle of contrasts. Billings Senior is 27-0 and has won four of the last five state championships. The Broncs’ opponent is Flathead, which is 5-14 this season, but swept Missoula Big Sky in a playoff match last week.

Senior is riding a 61-match win streak and has won 120 of their last 122.

Two other matchups include teams with winning records against those with sub-.500 marks: Missoula Sentinel (18-5) vs. Great Falls High (10-12) and Helena High (17-5) vs. Great Falls C.M. Russell (7-15).

The other match features Glacier (13-9) and Billings West (22-7).

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