It wasn't easy though, as the Wildkats came to play and the momentum switched numerous times.
"It was a great battle from beginning to end," Polson head coach Jan Toth told Eric Schwartz of the Daily Inter Lake. "Whenever Columbia Falls comes to Polson, it's always a really fun match to watch. I think it just came down to mental toughness and our team is pretty strong."
In the first game, Polson appeared to come out the better team with an early lead, but Columbia Falls pulled to within a point at 9-8. However, the Lady Pirates used a 10-3 run and pulled away for the 25-18 victory. Heidi Rausch iced things with a kill for the match point.
Rausch would end up leading the team in kills with 17.
"I felt that Heidi did a great job," Toth said. "She was amazing at the net hitting."
In the second game, it was the Wildkats who took the lead early and led 10-4 before Polson called a timeout. The Lady Pirates battled back and tied things at 13-13 thanks to another Rausch kill. The teams would tie ten more times in the game and it went into extra points. Columbia Falls was able to finish it at the end and pulled it out with a 30-28 victory.
Polson had a 13-11 lead in the third game after Rausch made a dig that resembled a move that a ninja would make, and Riley Kenney was able to turn it into a kill. However, Columbia Falls grabbed the momentum went on a 13-4 run to go up 20-17 on Polson. While the Lady Pirates would fight back and trail just 23-22, the Wildkats won the game, 25-22.
Faced with a game deficit in the match, things looked dire for the Lady Pirates. Columbia Falls didn't back down either and at one point led 15-10 in the fourth game. Polson appeared to be down and out, but clawed their way back and tied things up at 21-21. The teams would battle to a 23-23 tie before the Lady Pirates took a one point lead at 24-23. Then Riley Kenney finished things off with a clever slam at the net, sending it straight down to win the game 25-23 and tie the match up at two games apiece.
Kenney had 15 kills in the match.
In the fifth game, it was all Polson. They took an 11-3 lead en route to a 15-7 victory for the match win.
Setter Shalaina Duford did an excellent job running the offense with 46 assists, while Kenzie Clay dominated the net with five blocks. Duford also had 24 digs, and Banner had 19.
"[Shay] is just such a strong team leader for us," Toth said. "I put a lot of faith in her. And boy, she is a gamer."
Polson defeats Columbia Falls - 25-18, 28-30, 22-25, 25-23, 15-7
Kills — Polson 56 (Heidi Rausch 17, Riley Kenney 15), Columbia Falls 37 (Jessie Gist 11, Haley Belgarde 10). Assists — Polson 49 (Shalaina Duford 46), Columbia Falls 30 (Hope Burlage 19, Erika Nelson 11). Blocks — Polson 7 (Kenzie Clay 5) Columbia Falls 6 (Gist 2). Digs — Polson 98 (Duford 24, McKenzie Banner 19), Columbia Falls 93 (Shaun Rowe 25, Gabrielle Stenger 13, Jaylynn Cantu 13). Aces — Polson 5 (Duford 2), Columbia Falls 11 (Nelson 3, Stenger 3)
Here are photos from the match...
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