Thompson Falls eliminates Eureka

The Daily Inter Lake

MISSOULA - District 8-B rival Thompson Falls ousted Eureka from second day action at the Western B divisional volleyball tournament on Friday.

Thompson Falls defeated the Lions 25-22, 25-18, 13-25, 15-25, 15-13.

"It was some great volleyball," said Eureka coach Rhonda Hammond.

"The first two games, Briann Linnell, KaeDee Shay, Melanie Finch and Mariah Newell just blocked the daylights out of them. They resorted to tipping and it worked for them."

Hammond said the Lions rebounded to win Games 3-4.

"We just played awesome ball, got it going on all cyclinders," she said.

"Megan Hannay set all three areas. The kids were just putting it down, did a super job."

In Game 5 Eureka led by four and five points, but "when their big gun rotated to the front again, (they prevailed)."

Thompson Falls' big gun was Katie Petteys. She finished with 29 kills and three blocks.

Eureka held a slight edge in the kill statistics, leading Thompson Falls 53-51.

Linnell and Finch posted 13 kills each for Eureka, which finished the season with a 17-7 mark overall.

Linnell also had eight blocks.

"Our kids played their hearts out," Hammond said.

"The back row with Auna Lawler, Ashley Dullo, Melanie Finch and Jonna Yost were just were picking up everything. They had some great hustle plays."

Carly Hammond also provided some much needed spark for the Lions.

Eureka and Thompson Falls played five times this season with the Bluehawks winning four.

"I'm proud of the kids," Rhonda Hammond said.

"They didn't quit after those first two games."

Eureka began the day with a 25-13, 25-19, 25-17 victory over District 8-B foe Troy in loser-out action. Eureka was 5-0 versus the Trojans this season.

Finch, Linnell and Shay all had seven kills in that match. Linnell also led in blocks with five.

Deer Lodge defeated Florence 25-18, 25-9, 18-25, 19-25, 15-7 in the semifinal. The Wardens advance to today's championship match at 2 p.m.

Loser Out

Thompson Falls def.

Eureka, 25-22, 25-18, 13-25, 15-25, 15-13.

Kills - Eureka 53 (Melanie Finch 13, Briann Linnell 13), T. Falls 51 (Katie Petteys 29). Blocks - Eureka 15 (Linnell 8), T. Falls 5 (Petteys 3). Digs - Eureka 109 (Finch 30), T. Falls 74 (Karli Cavill 15, Bria Howard 15). Assists - Eureka 49 (Megan Hannay 47), T. Falls 39 (Howard 35). Aces - Eureka 14 (Mariah Newell 4), T. Falls 3 (Howard 2).

Eureka def. Troy, 25-13, 25-19, 25-17

Kills - Troy 19 (Delsey Olds 5), Eureka 30 (Melanie Finch 7, Briann Linnell 7, KaeDee Shay 7). Blocks - Troy 1 (Kristin Parks), Eureka 18 (Linnell 5). Digs - Troy 11 (Olds 4), Eureka 38 (Finch 10). Assists - Troy 14 (Liz Straley 14), Eureka 28 (Megan Hannay 26). Aces - Troy 4 (Rachel 2), Eureka 12 (Auna Lawler 4).

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Other Loser-out Matches

Loyola Sacred Heart def. Darby, 25-17, 25-20, 25-15

Darby def. St. Ignatius, 28-26, 25-21, 22-25, 27-25

Loyola def. Thompson Falls, 25-9, 25-20, 25-21

Semifinal

Deer Lodge def. Florence

25-18, 25-9, 18-25, 19-25, 15-7

Kills - Deer Lodge 46 (Danni Johnson 14), Florence 43 (Kayla Schmid 13). Blocks - Deer Lodge 11 (Johnson 3), Florence 5 (Jo Johnston 3). Digs - Deer Lodge NA, Florence 72 (Schmid 18). Assists -Deer Lodge 34 (Haley Owens 32), Florence 40 (Kayla Daniels 27). Aces - Deer Lodge 6 (Lisa Clawson 2, Sarah O'Hara 2, Krystal Burns 2), Florence 10 (Schmid 6).