BOZEMAN — Billings West advanced to the quarterfinals of the State AA volleyball tournament in Bozeman at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on Thursday morning, sweeping Missoula Big Sky. West will take on Bozeman Gallatin, which swept its way past Missoula Hellgate.
Meanwhile, defending Class AA champion Great Falls CMR knocked off Western division champion Helena High in four sets to advance to the quarterfinals. The Rustlers are set to face Billings Senior, which dispatched Missoula Sentinel in three sets in their first-round match.
Billings West 3, Missoula Big Sky 0
Billings West, the Eastern AA champion, looked dominant in its opening-round victory over Missoula Big Sky, overwhelming the Eagles 25-5, 25-7. 25-6.
Kourtney Grossman led the Golden Bears with 10 kills, while Sydney Pierce added eight and Halle Haber seven. Pierce also added 12 digs to lead West.
Bozeman Gallatin 3, Missoula Hellgate 0
Gallatin looked the part of a championship contender with a three-set sweep of Missoula Hellgate in the opening round, 25-10, 25-10, 25-16.
Sophomore Cadence Lundgren had nine aces, seven kills and three blocks to lead the Raptors into the quarterfinal round on Thursday evening.
Great Falls CMR 3, Helena 1
The defending-champion Rustlers took down Helena, the top seed from the Western division, with a 25-15, 25-11, 21-25, 25-11 victory. The win advanced CMR into Thursday night's quarterfinals.
Ella Cochran had 18 of CMR's 50 total kills. Lexi Thorton added 14. Norah Allen dished out 37 assists while Avarey Stuff and Cochran combined for 44 digs.
Billings Senior 3, Missoula Sentinel 0
Senior got 11 kills from both Leela Ormsby and Piper Jette to take care of Missoula Sentinel with a 25-15, 25-11, 25-19 sweep. Rylee Kogolshak dished out 27 assists for the Broncs, who advanced to the quarterfinal round.
Olivia Huntsinger had six of Sentinel's 18 kills, while Bailey Casagrande added a team-high 16 digs.
