Blue Sky, Sunburst win mid-season showcases

Midseason tournaments dominated local Hi-Line high school volleyball action.

In Joplin on Saturday, the J-I Volleyball Showcase featured several of the top Class C schools in the area. The Blue Sky Eagles and Big Sandy Pioneers emerged from pool play and advanced through bracket play to meet in Saturday night's championship match.

The Eagles, which had defeated the Pioneers in pool play, downed the Pioneers in the final match 25-22 and 25-22. The Box Elder Bears got a third place finish by defeating the host J-I Rams 25-20 and 25-17 in the consolation final match.

POOL PLAY: J-I 25, Great Falls Central 14; Blue Sky 25, Heart Butte 8; Highwood 25, Rocky Boy 15; Big Sandy 25, Box Elder 18; Highwood 25, Great Falls Central 13; Blue Sky 25, Big Sandy 20; Rocky Boy 25, J-I 19; Highwood 25, J-I 15; Blue Sky 25, Box Elder 13; Rocky Boy 25, Great Falls Central 23; Big Sandy 25, Heart Butte 20.

BRACKET PLAY: First Round: Highwood def Heart Butte 25-9, 25-9; Big Sandy def. J-I 25-14, 25-9; Blue Sky def. Great Falls Central 25-14, 25-19; Rocky Boy def. Box Elder 25-21, 23-25, 15-12.

CONSOLATION SEMI-FINALS: J-I def. Heart Butte 25-12, 25-23; Box Elder def. Great Falls Central 25-19, 22-25, 15-11.

CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINALS: Big Sandy def Highwood 25-13, 25-22; Blue Sky def. Rocky Boy 25-6, 25-17

CONSOLATION CHAMPIONSHIP: Box Elder def. J-I 25-20, 25-17

CHAMPIONSHIP: Blue Sky def. Big sandy 25-22, 25-22

At the Belt Showcase, the Sunburst Refiners continued their hot streak by going 4-0 on the day. The Refiners defeated Dutton-Brady by scores of 25-20, 25-18 and 25-22. Sunburst then downed the Valier Panthers in three straight games by scores of 27-29, 25-15 and 25-18. Following that match, the Refiners knocked off Power 25-11, 28-26 and 25-7. In the final match of the day, the Refiners defeated Belt by scores of 25-18, 30-29 and 23-19.

Sunburst's Carly Kleinert had a remarkable day as she racked up an astonishing 82 kills in the four matches.

Also on Saturday in Glasgow, the Chinook Sugarbeeters fell to the Glasgow Scotties by scores of 25-21, 22-25 and 12-15 in District 2B action. The 'Beeters got a solid all-around performance from Jess Hollingsworth, who had seven kills, three aces and 11 digs on the day. Holly Dennis added 10 assists in the loss.

Chinook will have a busy week. The 'Beeters host the Havre Blue Ponies on Thursday night and the Plentywood Wildcats on Friday and then travel to Glasgow on Saturday.