It's safe to say every team in any State Tournament is a very good team that has accomplished quite a lot to get there. It's also safe to say that some years the field may be stronger than others, regardless of the sport or the level at which it is played at. Every year is different and this year the field that makes up the eight teams competing at the Montana Class C State Volleyball Tournament just feels a bit stronger than the field has been in recent years.

For example in the Eastern C Divisional the two top teams entering the tournament, undefeated Froid-Medicine Lake and Broadus both were knocked out. Froid-Medicine Lake had defeated Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale (North Country) twice the week before at the District 1C Tournament and Broadus defeated the Circle Wildcats in both matches at the District 2C Tournament.

What happened? Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale defeated Broadus and Circle defeated Froid-Medicine Lake by identical 3-2 scores in the quarterfinal. Did these previously undefeated teams just have an off night? Both Circle and Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale had stellar seasons coming into the tournament and both have found their rhythm in the post season. As evidence, Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale defeated Froid-Medicine Lake in the Eastern C third place game.

The Chinook Sugarbeeters and Belt Huskies were clearly the cream of the crop at the Northern C. Both the 'Beeters and Huskies won every set outside of their matches between each other. Their five set battle in the undefeated semifinal was about as tightly contested as a match could possibly be. The Northern C had plenty of good teams, Highwood, Great Falls Central, Fort Benton and Simms all had the ability to win against very good teams. The fact that Chinook and Belt didn't drop a set to them is a testament to how good those two teams are.

The Sugarbeeters will open the State C against the Circle Wildcats in the first match of the day and the Huskies will play Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale in the final first round match of the tournament.

In the other two matches there is no shortage of very talented and experienced teams, especially at the State Tournament level. Manhattan Christian, the defending class C state Champions will take on the Roy/Winifred Outlaws in first round action. Both teams have played in the state tournament the past seven years. In the remaining match 2020 State C Champion Bridger will take on Twin Bridges. Bridger has been a yearly participant at the state tournament for more that a decade while Twin Bridges is making their first appearance in some time.