HAMILTON — Butte Central’s volleyball team made a little history at the Dale Berry Court.
The Maroons beat Dillon before falling to Corvallis in the championship match of the Southwestern A Divisional tournament. The second-place finish gives the Maroons a berth in next week’s Class A State tournament in Bozeman.
The Maroons have never been to state in volleyball before.
Mariah Cooney had a big day for the Maroons. She tallied 12 spikes and four blocks to lead the way as the Maroons squeaked past Dillon in a 25-22, 21-25, 25-18, 16-25, 15-13 thriller to clinch at least second place. Danee Leary added nine kills and 34 digs in the win. Danika Neumann tallied 21 digs, while Sadie Harrington notched five blocks. Shannon McLaughlin served four aces.
Cooney’s nine kills led the Maroons in the championship match, which was basically a formality. BC would have had to beat the Blue Devils twice. Leary collected 20 digs in the loss.
The Maroons open the state tournament at noon on Thursday.
Butte Central def. Dillon 25-22, 21-25, 25-18, 16-25, 15-13
BUTTE CENTRAL — Kills: 38 (Mariah Cooney 12, Danee Leary 9, Sadie Harrington 5, Annie Ossello 5, Teresa Piazzola 4, Lacey McGree 2, Shannon McLaughlin 1). Assists: 29 (McLaughlin 17, Taylor Marthaller 11, L. McGree 1). Blocks 15 (Harrington 5, Cooney 4, L. McGree 3, Piazzola 2, Ossello 1). Aces: 11 (McLaughlin 4, L. McGree 2, Marthaller 2, Leary 2, Cooney 1). Digs: 87 (Leary 34, Danika Neumann 21, McLaughlin 9, L. McGree 7, Ossello 2, Cooney 2, Harrington 1).
Corvallis def. Butte Central 25-9, 25-21, 25-14
BUTTE CENTRAL — Kills: 21 (Cooney 9, Ossello 5, Piazzola 2, Harrington 2, Leary 2, McLaughlin 1). Assists: 20 (McLaughlin 10, Marthaller 7, Piazzola 1, Leary 1, Cooney 1). Blocks: 1 (Harrington 1). Aces: 0. Digs: 56 (Leary 20, Neumann 7, McLaughlin 6, Marthaller 6, Cooney 4, Ossello 3, Cassidy McGree 3, Pica 2, Paizzola 1, Harrington 1, L. McGree 1).
