Prep volleyball: Rustlers to face Senior in semis; Bison eliminated at divisionals
BILLINGS - The dreams of an undefeated volleyball season continue for the Lady Rustlers of C.M. Russell High School, as they opened play at the Eastern AA Divisional Tournament with a solid sweep over crosstown rival Great Falls High Thursday at the Billings Senior Gym.
The Lady Rustlers won 25-5, 25-11, 25-13 to advance to the semifinals to face Billings Senior. The Lady Broncs outdueled Bozeman Gallatin in four sets, 25-13, 25-22, 21-25, 25-16.
With the win, coach Patrick Hiller's Rustlers improved to a state-best 25-0 on the season. Their match with Senior (14-10) was to begin at 3 p.m. Friday, with the winner advancing to the finals Saturday afternoon at 2.
Taylor Parker's Lady Bison (2-24) would also drop a three-set decision by straight set scores of 25-11 to Gallatin (15-11) Friday morning.
Senior setter Tennisen Hiller had 35 assists, a block, and a pair of aces in the win for the Rustlers, Fellow senior Lauren Lindseth hammered 22 kills and also had two aces, while Avarey Stuff and Norah Allen combined for 25 digs.
Piper Denno had seven assists for the Bison, while Avery Buglione and Emma Tolan teamed up for nine kills and three blocks.
Against the Raptors in the elimination contest, Kimberly Schur had 16 digs and an ace for the Bison. Tolan added four kills, and Denno three assists.
Also winning first round matches on Thursday were Billings West, as they topped Belgrade in three sets, while Bozeman knocked off Billings Skyview in four.
AT THE NORTHERN B IN GLASGOW, the host Scotties and Choteau Bulldogs advanced to Friday's undefeated semifinals.
In Thursday's first round, the Bulldogs swept Harlem 25-7, 25-27, 25-12, while Malta needed all five sets to get past Shelby 26-24, 15-25, 25-17, 21-25 and 15-10.
Glasgow took all three from Conrad 25-17, 25-12, 25-14, and Fairfield got past Wolf Point 25-23, 25-13, 25-16.
In the second round on Thursday, Choteau and Glasgow both won by sweeps. Choteau downed Malta 25-13, 25-21, 25-15, and the Scotties dumped Fairfield 25-22, 25-22, 25-16.
Friday in loser-out play, Shelby ousted Harlem in three sets, and Conrad sent Wolf Point in four.
FORT BENTON AND GERALDINE-HIGHWOOD moved into the unbeaten semis of the Northern C Divisionals in Belt, each with a pair of wins Thursday.
In the first round on Thursday, Simms swept CJI while The Longhorns took three from Great Falls Central Then, the Rivals knocked off Valier 3-1, and Belt downed Chinook in three straight.
Fort Benton battled Simms in the second round before winning 25-22, 25-18, 25-23, and the Rivals defeated the host Huskies 25-16, 25-18, 20-25, and 25-18 to keep their unbeaten streak alive at 18 games.
In loser-out play, CJI eliminated Great Falls Central in five sets.
This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Prep volleyball: Rustlers to face Senior in semis; Bison eliminated
