Big Sky downs Bravette spikers

The Daily Inter Lake

MISSOULA - Moving closer.

The Flathead Bravettes fell 25-22, 25-18 and 25-23 to Missoula Big Sky on Thursday in Western AA volleyball action.

But, according to head coach Leon Wilcox, the Bravettes are starting to get some things nailed down.

Kendalyn Habel recorded 10 kills and eight digs for Flathead. Senior middle hitter Shaina Evans added four kills, five blocks and eight digs.

"It went much better," Wilcox said.

The Bravettes (0-1, 0-2) changed their offense after last weekend's loss at CMR.

"We made some adjustments after the last match and it went very well. I was pleased. We were in every single game," the coach said.

They went with a 5-1 with Sierra Olszewski running the show - and then switched some other people around.

"We had three days to work on it, so we were kind of a little bit unsure of things. The confusion caused kind of a little breakdown, but we overcame those pretty quickly," he said. "We're getting awfully close to getting into our groove."

The biggest difference Thursday night was that Big Sky was able to maintain a high level of intensity.

Still, Flathead kept two of the games close. In Games 1 and 3, neither team had more than a two-point lead.

"We let up just a hair at the wrong times," the coach said.

The Bravettes are back on the road today as they travel to Helena High.

Big Sky def. Flathead 25-22, 25-18, 25-23

Kills - Flathead 24 (Kendalyn Habel 10, Britta Thorderson 4, Shaina Evans 4, Ashlea Vaudt 4), Big Sky 30 (Joslyn Tinkle 8). Blocks - Flathead 9 (Evans 5), Big Sky 5 (Katie Showers 4). Digs - Flathead 43 (Habel 8, Thorderson 8, Evans 8, Big Sky 34 (Sarah Lustgraaf 7, Tinkle 7). Assists - Flathead 22 (Sierra Olszewski 18), Big Sky 23 (Sarah Lidstrom 21). Aces - Flathead 7 (Megan Olzsewski 4), Big Sky 11 (Lidstrom 3).

Columbia Falls 3, Polson 2

POLSON - Auttem Osborne had five kills and Alyssa Ladenburg and Shiloh Knudsen added four each as the Columbia Falls Wildkats downed Northwestern A volleyball opponent Polson in a 5-game nailbiter Thursday night.

Scores were 25-21, 27-25, 24-26, 23-25, 15-12.

Ladenburg also had 13 digs and Knudsen led the Wildkats with four blocks. Sarah Marcille added 13 assists and Brooke Cady served four aces.

Sophomore Nichole Davey paced the Pirates with 12 kills, three blocks and 13 digs.

The Pirates (0-1) play host Saturday to Whitefish.

Columbia Falls defeat Polson 25-21, 27-25, 24-26, 23-25 15-12

Kills - Columbia Falls 25 (Auttem Osborne 5, Alyssa Ladenburg 4, Shiloh Knudsen 4), Polson 31 (Nichole Davey 12, Brianne Kelley 7), Assists - Columbia Falls 15 (Sarah Marcille 13), Polson 23 (Danielle Tidwell 21). Blocks - Columbia Falls 11 (Knudsen 4, Cedar Smith 3), Polson 5 (Davey 3, Kelley 2). Digs - Columbia Falls 30 (A. Ladenburg 13, Staci Pence 10), Polson 44 (Davey 13, Staci Benson 11). Aces - Columbia Falls 12 (Brooke Cady 4). Polson 5 (Tidwell 2).

Eureka 3, Troy 2

TROY - The Eureka Lady Lions overcame a slow start, then dispatched host Troy in five games Thursday night in Class B volleyball action.

The Lions dropped the first two games, 25-13 and 26-24, then bounced back to claim the next three, 25-18, 25-22 and 15-5.

Briann Linnell led the Lion effort with 12 kills and 10 blocks. Jonna Yost added 13 assists and served eight aces. And Melanie Finch added nine digs.

Eureka def. Troy13-25, 24-26, 25-18, 25-22, 15-5.

Kills - Eureka 33 (Briann Linnell 12), Troy 17 (Delsey Olds 8). Blocks - Eureka 13 (Linnell 10), Troy 9 (Olds 4). Digs - Eureka 41 (Melanie Finch 9), Troy 97 (Brandy Koch 28). Assists - Eureka 30 (Jonna Yost 13), Troy 14 (Liz Straley 14). Aces - Eureka 23 (Yost 8), Troy 24 (Koch 7).