MHSA Announces Post-Season Requirements

The District 1C volleyball tournament will probably be held in both Culbertson and Bainville after guidelines were announced by the Montana High School Association last week.

The MHSA released that because of COVID-19 concerns and the effort to limit exposure, post-season volleyball play must follow one of two options. One option is a single-elimination playoff bracket where the higher seed hosts each match. The second option is a tournament format where bracket play will be held at two separate gyms. There will only be the two teams playing and then exiting. The next two teams will play after a break to clean and sanitize.

Fairview Superintendent of Schools Luke Kloker said a final decision regarding the 12-team District 1C volleyball tournament will be made this week, but the district’s athletic directors approved a plan earlier this month to have Culbertson and Bainville be the two sites.

Kloker explained that the plan is for Culbertson and Bainville to each host four matches on Thursday, Oct. 29, and four more matches on Friday, Oct. 30. There will be five or six matches held in Culbertson on Saturday, Oct. 31.

The Eastern C divisional volleyball tournament is scheduled in Sidney on Nov. 5-7. Kloker said there are discussions to have the tournament at Sidney High School along with either Sidney Middle School or Fairview.

Area Class B officials are scheduled to meet this week to determine how they will conduct post-season play.

“At the state level, they are looking at separating the four classes,” Kloker said regarding volleyball.

The state cross country meet in Kalispell will be divided into two days. Runners in Class A and Class B will compete on Friday, Oct. 23. Class C and Class AA will have their state meet on Saturday, Oct. 24. Football will have its traditional home-site post-season format.

Kloker said the start of the speech and drama season has been postponed from Oct. 1 to Dec. 1.

The MHSA plans to announce its recommendations regarding basketball and wrestling seasons in mid-October.