A guide to Montana high school volleyball in 2024 (2024)

Teams across Montana opened practice Aug. 16 with an eye on the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse and the 2024 all-class state tournament.

Some teams are better positioned than others to get there, but each season offers new hope and opportunity. Here's a look at what to know about each classification in Montana high school volleyball ahead of the season.

Class AA

However, the Golden Bears are facing more than the usual amount of turnover. Not only will they have to replace four first-team all-state selections, but also head coachBailie Carlson is new after taking over for Kelly Grossman.

West graduated Eastern AA Player of the Year Addie Allen, along with all-staters Sydney Pierce, Austin Long, and Kourtney Grossman.

There are just two first-team all-state selections back in Class AA in the 2024 season and they are both NCAA Division-1 commits. Cadence Lundgren, a middle blocker for Bozeman Gallatin, is committed to Kansas State, while Michigan State pledge Leela Ormsby will spearhead a Billings Senior squad that should have title aspirations again after earning the 2022 title.

Ormsby missed the state tournament last season with injury, but she'll be back in 2024. The Broncs also boast Lauren Fox, a second-team all-conference setter.

Bozeman, the 2023 Class AA runner-up, should be a contender again with the return of all-conference standouts Morgan Jones (outside hitter), Sofia Kimmel (libero) and Nula Anderson (middle blocker).

While the strength in Class AA has been on the East the past few seasons, Helena High, the only Western AA team to return an all-state player (middle blocker Birdie Heuiser) is another team to watch. The Bengals also return outside hitter Chloe Sanders and middle blocker Ella McCarthy.

Another notable difference in state qualification is that Class AA won't have divisional volleyball tournaments. The top two seeds in each conference in the regular season will earn automatic berths to state, while seeds 3-6 in both conferences will take part in play-in matches to determine the final four berths.

Class A

Speaking of Eastern dominance, the Eastern A has captured the last four Class A state volleyball championships. Billings Central won three in a row from 2020-22 before the Hardin Bulldogs up-ended them in 2023.

Hardin graduated some key pieces such as all-state standout Carmen Pallone but the Bulldogs return two all-state performers in Taiya Guptil and Makenna Torske.

Central has won five of the last seven state championships and will be a threat to make it six in eight years after a runner-up finish in 2023. The Rams boast a talented lineup featuring two all-state returners: Kamryn Reinker and Annie Hanser.

Frenchtown is another threat in Class A as the Broncs return three-state performers after taking fourth at state last season. Senior Addi Romine leads the way, along with junior Mason Quinn and sophom*ore Rachel Walls.

Hamilton, the third-place team from 2023, should be in the mix, too, with return of Aurie Duncan, an all-state selection in 2023, along with Ciara Hanley, an all-conference selection last season in the Southwest A.

Lockwood could be a surprise team. The Lions made the state tournament for the first time in 2023 and with the return of Dani Jordan (first-team all-state) as well as CC Case (second-team all-conference), they have a good chance to get back.

Class B

In Class B volleyball, it's Huntley Project's world, everyone else is just living in it.

The Red Devils, who will be coached again by the legendary Iona Stookey,have won six of the last seven state championships. They have a record 15 total and last season was their third consecutive. Project will aim for a 4-peat in 2024 but it won't be easy after losing six seniors to graduation including co-MVP's from the state tournament Brynn Wandle and Harlie Murphy.

Wandle and Murphy were all-state performers, along with Kirra Ban. But the Red Devils have three seniors slated to be back including all-conference middle blocker Maddison Akins.

Townsend, the Class B runner-up in 2023, returns Kaitlyn Noyes and Cassidy Flynn, both all-conference selections last season, but the Bulldogs graduated Emily Bird and Luci Horne, who each earned all-state honors in 2023.

Columbus, the third-place trophy winner, brings back a core that includes Aubrey Winter, Addy Anderson, and Gianna Ruprecht. Shepherd should also be viewed as a state tournament contender with the return of all-state selections Kayda Parker and Kennedy Roberts.

Class C

The Eagles will have to deal with heavy losses after graduating six seniors from last year's team. However, Manhattan Christian returns Bella Triemstra, a 5-foot-9 middle, libero Sam Veltkamp and 6-foot-1 outside hitter Karissa Van Kirk.

She's the younger sister of all-state selection Katelyn Van Kirk and that trio gives the Eagles a solid group to build around as they seek a fourth consecutive state title.

Broadus was the Class C runner-up last season and despite graduating some stalwarts, the Hawks return Kendal Stanley, an all-state player last season, as well as promising sophom*ore Macyn McDowell, who was second-team all-conference last season in the District 2C.

Bridger could also contend buoyed by the return of standouts Abby Schwend and Jessica Althoff, who earned all-state selections last season.Chester-Joplin-Inverness is another team to have on the radar thanks to super talented sophom*ore Brynn Kammerzell.

The 2024 All-Class State Volleyball tournament will take place Nov. 14-16 in Bozeman.