The first match saw Hardin up by four points at one time in the match. Polson couldn’t overcome the gap to win.
Senior outside hitter Christa Red Crow goes up for a block.
A first-set loss put things into perspective for the Pirates as the team became more vocal.
In the second set, the Pirates never relinquished the lead. Nicole Davey and Riley Kenney came to life with a one-two punch of kills to propel Polson to the win.
The third set was dominated by Polson. Up by eight points at one point, the Pirates found a way around Hardin’s blockers. Marissa McCrea served a couple big points in the set.
Polson deflated a little bit in the fourth set but never fell behind. Loni Havlovick pounded the ball a couple times with great sets from Kayla Duford.
Breanne Kelley served two aces. Davey led in kills, with 18, and had 28 digs. Stacie Benson also had 28 digs in a tested back row. Loni Havlovick put up three blocks for the Pirates.
Senior Staci Benson hits the ball from the back row.
This was Polson’s first state tournament win. Last year, the Pirates were out after losing two games.
This year, one goal of the Pirates was to win a game. Now they will face a familiar foe: Libby.
The mental game running between these two teams is exhausting. Polson won twice in the regular season but Libby won the first game between these two in the divisional tournament.
The Pirates won the first championship game but Libby took home the crown with a win in the second championship game.
This game will be tense, so put it lightly. The loser goes home. The winner lives to see another game.
A key for Polson will be to shut down Libby’s star Jackie Mee. However, I feel pretty confident that both teams already know how to win.
Polson will go into the match with a little over an hour of rest while Libby's last game was at 8 p.m. last night. Polson's hitter's arms have been known to get sore after a tough game, so that could be a factor. Right now, they are hanging out in the stands watching the games, relaxing and getting some food in their stomachs. Some of them have headed down to the locker room. Less than one hour to go until game time.
The one thing I do know: this game will be good.
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