Cowgirls Qualify For Divisional Tourney
The Culbertson Cowgirls punched their ticket to the divisional volleyball tournament by beating Savage, 25-17, 17-25, 25-20, 25-20, in Scobey on Saturday, Oct. 30.
This is the first time that Culbertson has qualified for the divisional tournament in 10 years. The Cowgirls won the district title and placed third at the divisional meet during 2011.
The Cowgirls will face Jordan in the first round at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 4. Other first-round matches in Sidney feature Plentywood facing Savage at 10 a.m., Broadus taking on North Country at noon and Froid/Lake playing Circle at 2 p.m.
Culbertson Coach Tiffany Nielsen was pleased with how her team played at the district tournament.
“The girls were a little nervous during our first two sets vs. Scobey, but once they adjusted they really came out ready to fight. They have been working for this all year and had one goal in mind,” Nielsen said. “We’ve been focusing on serve receive and reading the hitter in practice. I thought they did a good job at that and that set up the setter to keep our hitters swinging, which was great. Overall, I’m extremely proud of how they all came together and really played as a team.”
After splitting the first two sets against Savage, the Cowgirls moved ahead 18-12 in the third set on a kill by Destiny Thompson. A kill by Makena Hauge put the margin at 2013.
Thompson, a sophomore, then served three straight aces for a 23-13 advantage. After Savage came as close as 23-20, the set ended on a block by Hauge.
Kills by Hauge and Thompson put Culbertson ahead 2017 in the fourth set.
After the Warriors closed the gap to 21-10, the Cowgirls scored on a kill and ace by Hauge.
Ahead 23-20, the Cowgirls put the match away on a kill by Thompson and an ace by Alicyn Ator.
The Culbertson Cowgirls fell to top-seeded Plentywood, 13-25, 13-25, 17-25, in the second round on Friday, Oct. 29.
Plentywood took a 17-5 advantage in the first set on the strength of the net play of Kate Simonson and Liv Wangerin.
After a kill by Culbertson’s Makena Hauge, the Wildcats moved ahead 22-7 on a tip by Ashtyn Curtiss, a kill by Emma Brensdal and a block by Wangerin.
Plentywood jumped out to a 6-1 advantage in the second set, but the Cowgirls then scored on a kill by Destiny Thompson. After the strong serving of Audrey Sampton put the Wildcats up 12-5, two kills by Hauge pulled Culbertson to 14-7. The net play of Simonson helped Plentywood grab a 23-10 lead en route to a 25-13 victory.
Hauge led the Cowgirls to a 3-2 lead in the third set. After a kill by Thompson produced a 6-6 deadlock, Plentywood took an 11-7 advantage.
A kill by Hauge and an ace by Perla Burciaga closed the margin to 11-9, but Wangerin led Plentywood to a 20-10 advantage.
