Townsend’s Emily Bird is Player of the Year
Author: Chris Peterson and Curt Syness
Townsend’s Emily Bird is Player of the Year
Chris Peterson and Curt Syness
The Townsend Bulldogs weren’t able to upend Huntley Project, the Class B volleyball dynasty, but they were able to reach the state championship match and brought home state tournament hardware for the second straight season.
A huge reason for that success was setter Emily Bird. A 5-foot-5 senior, Bird set a school record at Broadwater High School with 4,755 assists. She also set a new state record with 66 assists, the most in a single match via the MHSA record book.
She also added 69 service aces this season, as well as 458 digs, which was second on the team. For her career, Bird finished with 1,543 digs and 191 aces. She also earned her second all-state selection.
All of those achievements, as well as the success of her team this season, made Bird the clear choice for the IR’s All-Area Player of the Year.
Mackenzie Jackson, a Montana State signee, also had a stellar season for the Bengals, earning second-team All-State in Class AA. Birdie Heuiser was also second-team All-State as a middle blocker. They were also under consideration along with Townsend’s Luci Horne, a defensive specialist who led the Bulldogs with 708 digs and 106 aces this season.
The complete All-Area Volleyball Team is listed below:
2023 IR ALL-Area Volleyball First Team – Emily Bird, Townsend, SR, Setter, 5-5
The two-time Class B All-State: Led team with school record 1385 assists; set MHSA record 66 single match assists; Career 4755 assists(school record); No. 2 with 458 digs, 69 service aces; Career 1564 digs, 191 aces; Helped spearhead Lady Bulldogs (24-5) to 5B championship and State B runner-up.
Makenzie Jackson, Helena, SR – Outside Hitter, 6-2
Second team Class AA All-State; Led team with 267 kills, 67 blocks; No. 2 with 47 aces; Helped Lady Bengals to Conference runner-up.
Luci Horne, Townsend, SR. Libero/Defensive Specialist, 5-2
Class B All-State; Led team with 708 digs (school record 44 in a match) and 106 aces; Career 1659 digs, 206 aces; Helped spearhead Lady Bulldogs to State B runner-up.
Birdie Heuiser, Helena, SR. Middle Blocker, 6-2
Second team Class AA All-State; Led team with 62 service aces; No. 2 with 252 kills; no. 3 with 66 blocks; Helped Lady Bengals to Conference runner-up.
Malena Onespot-Danforth, Helena, SR. Setter, 5-3
First team AA All-Conference; Led team with 780 assists; Helped Lady Bengals to Conference runner-up.
Reese Wolfgram, Townsend, SR. Outside Hitter, 5-8
First Team All-5B Conference; Led team with 360 kills; No. 3 with 40 aces; Helped spearhead Lady Bulldogs to State B runner-up.
Kate Berg, Capital, Sr. Libero/DS, 5-8
Second team All-Conference; Led team with 406 digs; No 2 with 28 aces.
SECOND TEAM
Mackenzie Layng, Jefferson, SR. Setter, 5-6
Class B All-State; Led team with 537 assists, school career record 1104; 97.9 serve percentage; helped Lady Panthers to 5B runner-up.
Arena Falor, Jefferson, SR. Outside Hitter, 5-10
First team All-5B Conference; Led team with 344 kills; 33 blocks; Helped Lady Panthers to 5B runner-up.
Cassidy Flynn, Townsend, JR. Outside Hitter, 5-9
Southern B HM All-Conference; 289 kills; 28 blocks; Helped Lady Bulldogs to 5B runner-up.
Cameron Toney, Jefferson, JR. Outside Hitter, 5-7
First team All 5BConference; No. 2 on the team with 321 kills, 26 blocks; Helped Lady Panthers to 5B runner-up.
Annika Nehring, Helena, Libero/Defensive Specialist, 5-6
Western AA HM All-Conference; Led team with 332 digs; Helped Lady Bengals to Conference runner-up.
Dymon Root, East Helena, SR. Middle Hitter, 5-11
Southwest A HM All-Conference; 169 kills, 48 aces, 46 blocks, 67 digs.
Taylor Ferretti, Capital, SR. Setter, 5-6
Led team with 372 assists.
Honorable Mention: Kaitlyn Noyes (Towns), Chloe Sanders(HHS), Tey’Anan Lintner (CHS), Katryn Seliskar (HHS), Maddie Averill (JHS), Ella McCarthy (HHS).
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PhotoCredit: Photo Credits: Gary Marshall/BMGPHOTOS.COM
Image 1 Caption: Emily Bird spikes against Columbus during the semifinal at the Class B state tournament in Bozeman.
Photo Credits: Gary Marshall/BMGPHOTOS.COM
