Big Sandy wins Northern C volleyball title

The Big Sandy Pioneers are headed to Bozeman.

Last weekend in Fort Benton, the Pioneers beat Belt twice to capture the Northern C crown, and earn a coveted trip to this weekend's state tournament.

Big Sandy defeated Belt in two championships matches, both by 3-1 scores. That came after the Pioneers outlasted rival Chester-Joplin-Inverness 3-1 in the third-place match earlier in the day, as the Hawks came up one match short of making it to state. Fort Benton was also eliminated by the Pioneers 3-1 earlier Saturday as the host Longhorns finished fourth.

The Pioneers will open this weekend's state tournament against Denton-Geyser-Stanford-Geraldine. Belt, the runner-up from the Northern C, faces Bridger in the opening round, while Gardiner faces Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale and Circle battles White Sulphur Springs in the other two first-round matches.

And while they didn't win the divisional title, the Chinook Sugarbeeters are also heading back to Bozeman.

At last weekend's Northern B tournament in Shelby, the Sugarbeeters knocked off Malta in the fourth-place match, then beat Shelby 3-0 in the third-place match. In the championship, the Beeters were swept by Fairfield, but, they had already punched their ticket to state.

Chinook opens the state tournament against Anaconda, while other first-round matches include, Fairfield against Jefferson, Florence taking on Huntley Project and Baker battling Shelby.

The All-Class State Volleyball Tournament runs today through Saturday at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman.