Bravettes bounced
BOZEMAN - Quick, subtle, deadly.
The Flathead Bravettes went from an 8-3 first-game lead against Billings West to watching as the wheels fell off their own wagon in the first round of the All Class Volleyball tournament.
West swept Flathead 25-14, 25-16, 25-12.
"It was all us," said Flathead coach Leon Wilcox. "We got ourselves rattled and I don't know why. We started out great. We started out Game 1 up 8-3, blocked their best hitter, Sarah James, three straight times.
"But it turned around so fast - and you couldn't see it coming.
"It was subtle and fast - and we couldn't get rid of it.
"We didn't play as a team. We went out there as individuals and we were timid. We weren't playing together.
"It's hard to get in each (athlete's) head and figure out where each one is individually, but as a team, we just didn't play together. You can overcome the nerves, if you've got people there for you. We weren't there for each other."
The Bravettes will try to bounce back at 10 a.m. today against Missoula Sentinel.
"If we bring our game, it'll be okay," Wilcox said.
The situation is pretty simple now. Win or go home.
The Bravettes need to win two matches to place fourth, three for a trophy, four to place second and five to win the tournament.
"Nothing is easy. We've got to bring our 'A' game every time," Wilcox said.
The coach complimented the play of senior rightside hitter Ashlea Vaudt.
"She was pretty consistent hitting for us. I think she was one that didn't get rattled," he said.
Kendalyn Habel led the Bravettes with 10 kills, but Vaudt added eight. Other Flathead leaders were Kaylyn Heaton with five blocks, Sierra Olszewski with 17 assists and Britta Thorderson and Habel with 14 digs each.
Billings West def. Flathead25-14, 25-16, 25-12
Kills - Flathead 28 (Kendalyn Habel 10, Ashlea Vaudt 8), West n/a. Assists - Flathead 24 (Sierra Olszewski 17), West 23 (Caitlin Tocci 23), Blocks - Flathead 6 (Kaylyn Heaton 5), West 11 (Sarah James 5), Digs - Flathead 48 (Britta Thorderson 14, Habel 14), West 38 (Mikensi Romersa 8, Erin Compton 7), Aces - Flathead 2 (No leader), West 5 (Tocci 2).