MALTA -- Day 1 of the State C volleyball tournament in Malta began on Thursday morning with six matches scheduled to take place throughout the day. For updated scores and pairings from the tournament, please click here.
BRIDGER DEF. PLENTYWOOD 25-22, 25-19, 22-25, 25-11
For the third consecutive year, Bridger is assured a trophy at the Class C state volleyball tournament.
The Scouts, who placed second each of the past two seasons, earned a 25-22, 25-19, 22-25, 25-11 over Plentywood in the quarterfinal round on Thursday. Emily Adkins had a match-high 22 kills, four aces and two blocks for the Scouts, who got another 16 kills from Jenna Kallevig. Hope Buessing had four kills and five blocks in the win.
Like last year, Bridger will meet Manhattan Christian in the undefeated semifinal. The Scouts and Eagles are set to play at 6 p.m. Friday.
Plentywood, which got 18 kills and four aces from Liv Wangerin, will play Melstone or Fairview in a loser-out match at 2 p.m. Friday.
MANHATTAN CHRISTIAN DEF. FORT BENTON 25-21, 25-14, 25-21
The reigning Class C state champion is back in the undefeated semifinal.
Manhattan Christian took care of Fort Benton 25-21, 25-14, 25-21 in a quarterfinal match on Thursday. Kiersten Van Kirk led the way for the Eagles, recording 16 kills and six aces, both of which were match-highs.
The undefeated Eagles got another nine kills, five aces and eight digs from Katelyn Van Kirk, while Taylor DeVries added 27 assists, five kills and two blocks. Manhattan Christian will play Bridger in the undefeated semifinal match at 6 p.m. Friday.
Fort Benton, meanwhile, will play Simms or Charlo in a loser-out match at 4 p.m. Friday. The Longhorns were led by Abby Clark's 10 kills on Thursday, and Maci Molinario added seven kills and 11 assists.
PLENTYWOOD DEF. CHARLO 25-17, 25-16, 25-12
Eastern C champion and still-unbeaten Plentywood advanced to the quarterfinal round on Thursday evening after a sweep of Charlo, 25-17, 25-16, 25-12.
The Wildcats will meet Bridger, the Southern C champion, in the 8 p.m. match on Thursday, with the winner advancing to Friday night's undefeated semifinal.
Charlo falls to loser-out action and will face Simms at noon on Friday.
BRIDGER DEF. SIMMS 25-16, 25-14, 25-9
Emily Adkins went for 19 kills, Baileigh Skorupa had 15 assists and five aces and the Bridger Scouts defeated the Simms Tigers in straight sets in the first round of the State C volleyball tournament on Thursday.
Skorupa found Adkins multiple times as the Bridger offense dominated the match, tallying 36 team kills to Simms' 13. Kyra Kroll and the Scouts' defense also impressed, with Kroll securing nine digs in the match. Adkins and Hope Buessing, each 6-foot seniors, both had two blocks in the win.
Simms was led by sophomore Kodiann Lynn's seven kills in the defeat.
Bridger will advance to Thursday evening's 8 p.m. quarterfinal against Plentywood. Simms will meet Charlo at noon on Friday in a loser-out contest.
MANHATTAN CHRISTIAN DEF. FAIRVIEW 25-13, 25-12, 25-12
Kiersten Van Kirk had a match-high 18 kills as Manhattan Christian swept past Fairview 25-13, 25-12, 25-12 in the second match of the State C volleyball tournament in Malta.
Van Kirk also had an astounding nine aces in the win, which pushes the Eagles into the 6 p.m. quarterfinal match against Fort Benton. The Eagles defeated the Longhorns in a non-conference tilt earlier this season.
Taylor DeVries added 29 assists and 10 digs for Manhattan Christian, while Fairview was led by Teigan Taylor's 15 assists and two aces. The Warriors will meet Melstone on Friday at 10 a.m. in a loser-out match.
FORT BENTON DEF. MELSTONE 22-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-19
Fort Benton found itself in unfamiliar territory Thursday morning, trailing after the opening set of a match, but the Longhorns rallied to defeat Melstone in four, 22-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-19 in the first match of the State C tournament in Malta.
Aspen Giese had 13 kills and three blocks, Abby Clark and Samantha Vielleux recorded four blocks each and the Longhorn setters combined for 23 assists in the comeback victory. Ashlee Wang had a team-high 12 assists for Fort Benton.
Melstone was led by Finn Riksman's 13 kills and two blocks in the defeat.
Fort Benton advances to Thursday evening's 6 p.m. quarterfinal match against the winner between Manhattan Christian and Fairview. Melstone will meet the loser of that match on Friday morning in a loser-out affair.
