Butte High’s volleyball season will all come down to one match.
The Bulldogs will travel to Kalispell Wednesday for a 6 p.m. Western AA playoff match with Glacier. The winner will head to the Class AA State tournament, which is Nov. 12-14 in Bozeman. The loser will be done for the season.
Butte High is looking to be a part of that state field for the first time since 2021, and that is a prospect that almost seemed out of the question about a month ago.
Then, the Bulldogs went on a run where they won five out of six matches to secure a playoff spot and showing the rest of the Class AA that they are a team that cannot be overlooked.
Butte closed the season with a loss at top-seeded Missoula Sentinel on Oct. 22 and a five-set loss at second-seeded Missoula Hellgate last Thursday.
The Knights topped the Bulldogs in a 22-25, 25-16, 28-26, 24-26, 15-12 nailbiter. (Stats)
Senior Cadence Graham tallied 19 kills to lead three Bulldogs in double figures in the category. Junior Stella Callaghan added 14, and senior Allie Becker spiked 13.
Becker also served three aces for the Bulldogs, who got a pair of aces each from Callaghan and sophomore Elli Graham.
Cadence Graham picked up 31 of Butte High’s 110 digs. Callaghan followed with 21, and senior Ellie Yates dug 20. Becker and Elli Graham each dug 16.
Elli Graham registered 54 assists running the Bulldog attack.
Butte High and Glacier went to the limit in both regular-season matches, with the Wolfpack winning in five sets both times. They played Sept. 11 in Kalispell and Oct. 10 in the Mining City.
If the third time does indeed prove to be the charm for the Bulldogs, they will be heading to Bozeman to play in the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse for the first time in five years.
Players heading to Kalispell for head coach Shane Jorgensen’s Bulldogs include seniors Avery Barsness, Becker, Cadence Graham, Yates and Brittyn Klima; juniors Kalee Wright, Rigby Bauer, Janae LaBuff, Gia Field, Shae Foley, Callaghan and Evie Smith; d sophomores Elli Graham, Gabby Gamez, Megan Chiamulera, Saege Grey and Taylor Regan; and freshman Brynlee Trudnowski.
