Gardiner digs up 8-C title

By The Montana Standard Staff - 11/09/2008

Sean Eamon / The Montana Standard Gardiner's Mellisa Rees, far right, goes for the ball at the net against Shields Valley blockers Jordan Dyke (7) and Cathy Berendts.

It's been a while for the Gardiner Bruins.

Gardiner won its first volleyball district title in 10 years at the Maroon Activities Center on Saturday by sweeping Shields Valley.

The Bruins won the District 8-C Volleyball Tournament despite an early five-game battle against White Sulphur Springs.

Shields Valley was forced to play three straight matches after losing out in the quarterfinals on Friday. Fatigue took a toll on the Rebels and by the time the title game rolled around, the hard-hitting team couldn't win a game against Gardiner.

Gardiner, Shields Valley, White Sulphur Springs and Sheridan all advanced to the Western C Divisional Tournament next week. Montana Tech will host the event.

Championship

Gardiner 3, Shields Valley 0

Shields Valley started off cold and couldn't hang with the Bruins until the third and final game.

Gardiner claimed the victory

25-15, 25-11, 25-21.

The district championship was the first for the blue and gold since 1998.

"It felt good," Gardiner coach Carmen Harbach said. "Our goal was to win districts. The main goal is to go to state."

Gardiner had four players with at least five kills. Seniors Dana Brennan and Melissa Rees both

had six.

Emily Bischoff and Maddie Hoeninghausen added five kills apiece.

The Bruins were most successful on defense by holding Shields Valley to 22 kills, the team's lowest total of the day.

Junior hitter Jordan Dyke smashed 11 kills in defeat. Senior Susanne Grobler added five on her own.

Coach Harbach felt that the win was a complete team effort.

"I'm pleased with the way the girls played," she said. "They know there's more work to go."

Gardiner's coach added that rival Shields Valley may have been tired after playing the three matches straight and four total on the day.

"They were tired," Harbach said. "They're a good team. Susanne Grobler played a good match. Jordan Dyke played a good match too. They're competitors."

Gardiner was led by Austin Smith in assists with 21. She also nailed six aces.

Shields Valley also had standout performances by Michael Ann

McInerney with 18 assists and Katlyn Tomschin with 10 digs.

Both teams will move on to the divisional tournament at Montana Tech next week. Harbach said she appreciated the effort Butte put into the district tournament.

"The tournament was run really well," Harbach said. "This is a great place to play. I'm excited to play at Tech next week."

— By Sean Eamon

Gardiner def. Shields Valley 25-15, 25-11, 25-21

KILLS — Shields Valley 22 (Jordan Dyke 11, Susanne Grobler 5), Gardiner 28 (Dana Brennan 6, Melissa Rees 6, Emily Bishoff 5, Maddie Hoeninghausen 5). ASSISTS — Shields Valley 21 (Michael Ann McInerney 18), Gardiner 24 (Austin Smith 21). ACES — Shields Valley 4 (Grobler, Katlyn Tomschin, Kelci Boyd), Gardiner 11 (Smith 6, Eva Stone 2, Haley Love 2). DIGS — Shields Valley 35 (Grobler 10, Tomschin 10), Gardiner 44 (Smith 9, Love 9, Melissa Rees 9). BLOCKS — Shields Valley 7 (Jordan Dyke 4, Grobler 3), Gardiner 4 (Smith, Brennan, Hoeninghausen, Rees).

Semifinals

Gardiner 3, White Sulphur Springs 2

The Bruins took a 1-0 lead in the match on a tricky rotation call against the Hornets, but White Sulphur Springs came storming back and the Hornets were up 2-1 after a 27-25 edge in the third game of the match.

After securing a 25-25 tie in the first game, Gardiner coach Carmen Harbach asked if White Sulphur Springs had served out of rotation, a confirmation by the scorers that the inquiry was true led to the points being reversed, and with the ensuing serve Gardiner had the 26-24 win.

Gardiner rode the train to victory in the last two games of the match, 25-14, 15-7.

The Bruins were led by Emily Bishoff with 15 kills and three aces and Dana Brennan with 13 kills and five aces.

White Sulphur Springs was led on attack by Becky Townsend with 15 kills. Amy Bergan finished with 6 blocks.

— By Matt Sayler

Gardiner def. White Sulphur Springs 26-24, 17-25, 25-27, 25-14, 15-7

KILLS — Gardiner 61 (Emily Bishoff 15, Dana Brennan 13), WSS 38 (Becky Townsend 15). ASSISTS — Gardiner 43 (Austin Smith 43), WSS 26 (Shelby Buckingham). ACES — Gardiner 10 (Breman 5, Bishoff 3), WSS 10 (Kayla Paulsen 3). BLOCKS — Gardiner 5 (Maddie Hoeninghausen 2), WSS 10 (Amy Bergan 6). DIGS — Gardiner 104 (Haley Love 28, Melissa Rees 22), WSS 34 (Chelsea Smith-West 8).

Shields Valley 3, White Sulphur Springs 0

Shields Valley swept White Sulphur Springs in three close games.

The Rebels ran to victory by scores of 25-19, 25-23, 25-20.

Jordan Dyke nailed 14 kills to lead Shields Valley's attack. She also had three blocks.

The Rebels had 19 digs by libero Carly Sykes. Kelci Boyd and Selisse Arhtun both contributed with eight digs.

White Sulphur Springs had a dominant performance by Becky Townsend with 15 kills. Amy Bergan was solid up front with four blocks.

Kayla Paulsen was a leader in service with a pair of aces.

— By Sean Eamon

Shields Valley def. White Sulphur Springs 25-19, 25-23, 25-20

KILLS — SV 26 (Jordan Dyke 14, Susanne Grobler 5), WSS 35 (Becky Townsend 15). ASSISTS — SV 20 (Michael Ann McInerney 19), WSS 24 (Shelby Buckingham 24). ACES — SV 7 (Kelci Boyd 2, Katlyn Tomschin 2), WSS 4 (Kayla Paulsen 2). DIGS — SV 57 (Carly Sykes 19, Kelci Boyd 8, Selisse Arthun 8), WSS 19 (Kayla Secrest 5). BLOCKS — SV 4 (Dyke 3, Cathy Berendts), WSS 5 (Amy Bergan 4).

Fourth-Place

Shields Valley 3, Sheridan 0

The Rebels claimed a second victory on Saturday by beating Sheridan in three games.

Shields Valley coasted 25-13, 25-16 after a 26-24 battle in the first game.

The Rebels had three aces by Mary Rose Mikovich and Jordan Dyke.

Susanne Grobler hammered five kills and two blocks. She also led in digs with five.

Sheridan's Juliana Bartoletti finished with 11 kills. Sydnee Burke set up 23 assists.

The Panthers saw two aces by Erika Kitto.

— By Sean Eamon

Shields Valley def. Sheridan 26-24, 25-13, 25-16

KILLS — SV 23 (Jordan Dyke 12, Susanne Grobler 5), Sheridan 25 (Juliana Bartoletti 11). ASSISTS — SV 15 (Michael Ann McInerney 15), Sheridan 24 (Sydnee Burke 23). ACES — SV 10 (Mary Rose Milkovich 3, Dyke 3), Sheridan 3 (Erika Kitto 2). DIGS — SV 20 (Grobler 5), Sheridan 29 (Burke 7). BLOCKS — SV 8 (Dyke 5, Grobler 2), Sheridan 5 (Andi Hall, Anika Ward, Kitto, Ashley Allinson, Burke).

Loser-outs

Sheridan 3, Harrison 1

Harrison had a heck of a run at the 8C District tournament, but Sheridan ended it Saturday morning in loser-out action.

The Panthers stomped out a 25-15 first-game win, then Harrison started to play better dropping a 25-22 decision before taking the only game the Wildcats won at 25-23.

Sheridan used power at the net, led by Juliana Bartoletti and Jennie Jensen, to muscle out a 25-19 win and the match.

Jensen finished with a match-high 16 kills and Bartoletti added three blocks and nine digs to the effort.

Harrison was led by Austin White and Robin Gustafson with 10 kills each.

The Wildcats ended their season with the loss, while Sheridan advanced to a match with Shields Valley later in the day.

— By Matt Sayler

Sheridan def. Harrison 25-15, 25-22, 23-25, 25-19.

KILLS — Sheridan 38 (Jennie Jensen 16), Harrison 29 (Austin White 10, Robin Gustafson 10). BLOCKS — Sheridan 9 (Juliana Bartoletti 3, Anika Ward 3), Harrison 3 (Austin White 3). ASSISTS — Sheridan 33 (Sydnee Burke 30), Harrison 23 (Mykah Cooper 19). ACES — Sheridan 9 (Ward 4), Harrison 7 (Taylor Statton 3). DIGS — Sheridan 43 (Burke 9, Bartoletti 9), Harrison 27 (Emily Brennan 8).

Shields Valley 3, Twin Bridges 2

Dawne Degel's 19 kills and 10 blocks were impressive in what was almost a huge comeback for Twin Bridges, but in the end Shields Valley was able to make a few less errors and hold on for the win.

Shields Valley romped out two games, 26-24, 25-16, before Twin Bridges came to life and grabbed two of its own, 25-15, 25-20.

Ennis did the same thing to Twin Bridges, but unfortunately for the Falcons, history repeated itself and the team who won the first two won the final game, with the Rebels taking the 15-11 game and the match.

Shields Valley was led by Susanne Grobler with 14 kills and three aces. Jordan Dyke added 13 kills and four blocks.

Twin Bridges' Peyton Ferris and Tayor Swewll had 18 digs apiece in the loss.

Shields Valley advanced in the conslation bracket with the win, while Twin Bridges ended its season in the loss.

— By Matt Sayler

Shields Valley def. Twin Bridges 26-24, 25-16, 15-25, 20-25, 15-11.

KILLS — SV 41 (Susanne Grobler 14), TB 38 (Dawne Degel 19). BLOCKS — SV 4 (Jordan Dyke 4), TB 20 (Degel 11). ACES — SV 14 (Grobler 3, Katlyn Tomschin 3), TB 18 (Katie Ashcraft 6). ASSISTS — SV 37 (Michael Ann McInerney 33), TB 36 (Stephenie DiGiovanna 19). DIGS — SV 90 (Selisse Arthun 20), TB 54 (Peyton Ferris 18, Taylor Sewell 18).

District 8-C Volleyball Tournament

Championship

Gardiner 3, Shields Valley 0

Semifinals

Gardiner 3, White Sulphur Springs 2

Shields Valley 3, White Sulphur Springs 0

Fourth-Place

Shields Valley 3, Sheridan 0

Loser-Outs

Sheridan 3, Harrison 1

Shields Valley 3, Twin Bridges 2