BOZEMAN — The 2026 all-class state volleyball tournaments are under way at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on the campus of Montana State University.
Action started with first-round matches Thursday at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4. Second-round matches are scheduled for 6 and 8.
Related: 2026 all-class state volleyball scores and pairings
MTN Sports' Alec Bofinger and Slim Kimmel are late to the party, but we've arrived and are settled in for the rest of the tournaments. We'll have updates throughout the rest of Thursday's happenings, as well as the action on Friday and Saturday. The undefeated semifinal matches are slated for 6 p.m. Friday, and the championships are scheduled to start at noon Saturday.
We'll have updates every 15 minutes or so, with the most-recent posts at the top, so refresh often.
10:32 p.m. | 5-set thriller
What a set! Bigfork holds off Columbia Falls 19-17 to get the five-set win. The Valkyries will meet Frenchtown in the Class A undefeated semi at 6 p.m. Friday.
10:04 p.m. | Class A looks to be going 5
It looks like the Class A match is headed toward a fifth set. Columbia Falls, trailing 2-1, leads Bigfork 20-8 in the fourth.
9:45 p.m. | D-G-S-G sweeps Circle
D-G-S-G punches its ticket to the Class C undefeated semifinal with an emphatic sweep over Circle. The Wildcats have won the past two state titles, but they'll have to come back through the consolation bracket to make it three in a row.
D-G-S-G had lost in this same match at each of the past two state tournaments, but the Bearcats get this win eight months after defeating Circle for the girls basketball state title, 64-57 in overtime back in March.
Columbia Falls, meanwhile, just forced a fourth set after trailing Bigfork 2-0.
9:30 p.m. | Jefferson, Gallatin sweep
We are back after grabbing interviews with Gallatin coach Erika Gustavsen and senior middle Kennedy Varda. Look for a short story on Varda tomorrow afternoon.
The Raptors are back in the undefeated semifinal after sweeping Belgrade. They'll meet crosstown rival Bozeman High at 6 p.m. Friday in what should be an entertaining match.
On the opposite end of Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, Jefferson made quick work of Shelby in Class B. The Panthers got the sweep and allowed only seven points in the third set.
Bigfork and D-G-S-G are currently up 2-0 on the Class A and C courts.
8:57 p.m. | Reset before stepping away
Bigfork gets a 25-22 win over Columbia Falls in the first set, and Gallatin did put away a second-set win over Belgrade.
So, resetting where we stand as of right now: Jefferson is nearing a sweep of Shelby, Gallatin is up 2-0 early in the third against Belgrade, Bigfork leads C-Falls 1-0 and D-G-S-G leads Circle 1-0.
I have to step away for a bit, but we'll be back later!
8:49 p.m. | Fun one between Bigfork and C-Falls
Neither Bigfork nor Columbia Falls has been able to seize control of their Class A match. The Wildkats lead 20-18 in what's been a back-and-forth first set.
D-G-S-G and Circle were tight throughout their opening set, as well, with the Bearcats holding on for a 25-22 lead.
Jefferson is up 2-0 on Shelby, and Gallatin is trying to do the same against Belgrade, but the Panthers just blocked Varda to tie the second set at 23-23.
8:35 p.m. | D-G-S-G out front of Circle
It's hard to say which fans are the loudest (Belgrade seems to be up there), but D-G-S-G bench seems to celebrate points as enthusiastically as anybody. There are a lot of roars coming from them, as the Bearcats lead Circle 13-7 in the first set.
In Class AA, Gallatin has a 1-0 lead on Belgrade, but the Panthers lead the second set 10-8. Bigfork and Columbia Falls are just under way in Class A.
8:22 p.m. | Jefferson stays hot
It seems like it's been a long time since we've been on the Class B court, but we're back now. Shelby and Jefferson are playing in the final match of the day, and the Panthers took the first set 25-19.
Jefferson, which rallied to force and win an if-necessary championship against Huntley Project at last week's Southern B divisional tournament, has never won a state title. Shelby has won one, way back in 1988.
8:06 p.m. | Frenchtown rallies past Polson
Rachel Walls, who signed Wednesday to play volleyball at the University of Montana, just put down match point for Frenchtown against Polson. The Broncs will meet Columbia Falls or Bigfork in the undefeated semi tomorrow night.
7:59 | Manhattan Christian back into undefeated semi
Manhattan Christian completes the rally and beats Belt 15-11 in the decisive fifth set. The Eagles are back in the undefeated semifinal for the first time since 2023, when they won the third of three consecutive state titles.
7:49 p.m. | A couple 5-setters
Frenchtown forces a fifth set with Polson with a dominant showing in the fourth. The Broncs led by as much as 17-4 on their way to a 25-14 Set 4 win.
On the Class C court, Manhattan Christian and Belt are in the fifth set. The Eagles lead 7-5.
7:37 p.m. | Bozeman moves on
Bozeman finishes it off with a 25-18 win over Hellgate in the fourth set. The Hawks, perhaps the favorite in Class AA, will play Belgrade or Gallatin in tomorrow's undefeated semifinal.
Since my last post about Polson, Frenchtown is dominating the Pirates. The Broncs are up 15-4 in the fourth set.
7:27 p.m. | Polson goes up 2-1, Manhattan Christian trying to force a fifth
I admittedly haven't gotten to watch a ton, but I've been impressed by Polson from what I've seen. Pirates just won the third set over Frenchtown to take a 2-1 lead on the Class A court.
Manhattan Christian trying to force a fifth set with Belt in Class C. The Eagles have a few girls with big swings — I think it was Ashlyn Burley who just put down a point — and they're up 16-11 in the fourth right now.
Bozeman leads Hellgate 13-10 in the fourth as the Hawks are trying to close that one out.
7:15 p.m. | Heading to the fourth
We're going four on the Class AA court. Missoula Hellgate holds off Bozeman for a 25-23 Set 3 win. Hawks lead 2-1.
Belt also leads Manhattan Christian 2-1 after getting a 25-23 win in the third set.
Down at the Class B court, it looks like Huntley Project swept Florence.
Frenchtown and Polson are tied 1-1 and locked in a close third set.
7:02 p.m. | Hellgate hanging tough
Hellgate giving Bozeman all it can handle in the third set. The Knights lead 14-12 at the moment.
Frenchtown won the second set in Class A, so the Broncs are tied with Polson at one set apiece. Belt has a 16-13 advantage on Manhattan Christian in the third. That one is tied 1-1, as well.
6:49 p.m. | Project goes up 2-0 on Florence
Huntley Project goes up 2-0 on Florence with a 25-15 win in the second set. We've watched Project for a lot of years at this tournament, and one of the things that consistently stands out is how rarely the Red Devils are caught out of position. Their defense is a big reason for their success.
Saw Dickinson State (N.D.) head volleyball coach Stormy (Siemion) Owsley in the stands. Owsley was an excellent player at Huntley Project from 2009-12, helping the Red Devils win four consecutive Class B state titles. Her Dickinson State squad lost its first-round match at the Frontier Conference volleyball tournament in Helena today.
Meanwhile, Manhattan Christian knotted up its match with Belt at one set apiece, while Bozeman has taken a 2-0 lead on Missoula Hellgate. Think I'll take in the Hawks' third set with the Knights.
6:35 p.m. | Polson takes first set over Frenchtown
Bozeman (25-23 over Hellgate) and Huntley Project (25-18 over Florence) won their first sets. Polson also has a 1-0 lead on Frenchtown. Noticed a Pirate points from McKenna Corley (big kill), Opal Nash (great block) and Eliza Todd (set point).
I'm going to shift over to the Class B court now to check in on Project and Florence.
6:23 p.m. | 6 p.m. matches under way
Class A is lagging behind schedule, but every 6 p.m. match is in progress now.
Belt is the first to win a set, as the Huskies took a 25-17 victory over Manhattan Christian in the first set on the Class C court. Huntley Project and Florence are going back and forth in Class B, and Bozeman is trying to close out the first set against Missoula Hellgate.
5:50 p.m. | C-Falls downs Central
Columbia Falls, the fourth seed from the West, just swept Billings Central, the two-time reigning State A champion. With the Wildkats' win, the Western AA went 4-0 in the first round. That was the final match to final in the 4 p.m. window, as Gallatin and Shelby also earned first-round wins.
So all eight second-round matches are set:
6 p.m. matches
- Bozeman vs. Missoula Hellgate (Class AA)
- Frenchtown vs. Polson (Class A)
- Huntley Project vs. Plains (Class B)
- Belt vs. Manhattan Christian (Class C)
8 p.m. matches
- Belgrade vs. Gallatin (Class AA)
- Bigfork vs. Columbia Falls (Class A)
- Jefferson vs. Shelby (Class B)
- D-G-S-G vs. Circle (Class C)
5:36 p.m. | Gallatin rolling
Kennedy Varda and the Raptors have seemingly settled in. After dropping the second set, Gallatin has been in control since and currently leads the fourth set 21-9.
Varda is one of the top high school players in the Northwest and made her commitment to Kentucky official on Wednesday. The Wildcats are currently the sixth-ranked college volleyball team in the country.
5:23 p.m. | C-Falls extends lead over Central
Columbia Falls firmly has the defending champs on the ropes. The Wildkats now up 2-0 over Billings Central after a 25-21 win in the second set.
Gallatin has taken a 2-1 lead over Big Sky, and it looks like Shelby has a 2-1 lead on Plains.
Meanwhile, it'll be an intriguing pair of second-round matches in Class C. Belt and Manhattan Christian meet at 6 p.m., followed by Circle and D-G-S-G at 8. It's the third consecutive year the Wildcats and Bearcats have met in the second round. They also played each other in last season's Class C state basketball championship, which D-G-S-G in overtime.
5:11 p.m. | Billings Central down early to C-Falls
Circle closed out the sweep of Valley Christian, but we're now keep a close eye on the Class A court. Two-time reigning state champion Billings Central in a hole against Columbia Falls. The Wildkats won the first set and currently lead the second 15-13.
The Western A is already 3-0 on the day, with Frenchtown, Polson and Bigfork earning earlier wins.
Gallatin and Big Sky tied at 1-1 on the Class AA court, but the Raptors are pulling away in the third set. Shelby and Plains also tied at 1-1 in Class B.
4:57 p.m. | Circle right at home
Circle is becoming more and more familiar with Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. The Wildcats are the two-time defending champion on the Class C courts, and they're again the top seed from the East. They're off to a strong start today, building a two-set lead over Valley Christian.
4:37 p.m. | Setting the scene
We have a lot of storylines we'll be following throughout the week — Circle, Billings Central and Gallatin each chasing their third consecutive state titles among them — but we're going to start in Class AA. Belgrade is making its first-ever appearance at the State AA tournament at the Brick. The Panthers were a mainstay at state when they were in Class A but moved up to Class AA in 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Class AA implemented a playoff format for all 15 teams.
Otherwise, this is the Panthers' first State AA experience, and they are making the most of it. As the East's fourth seed, they defeated West No. 1 Missoula Sentinel in the first round in four sets to advance to tonight's second round, where they'll get a shot at either Missoula Big Sky or Gallatin.
Also of note in Class AA's early action: Missoula Hellgate earned a five-set win over Great Falls CMR to advance the Knights to a second-round match against highly touted Bozeman High. Hellgate's win marked the first at state for a team from the Western AA since 2020.
The Eastern AA went a combined 20-0 in the first round from 2021 through 2025.
Here's Alec's video for the 5:30 newscasts:
