Bravettes sweep Knights in volleyball
The Daily Inter Lake
MISSOULA - The Flathead High School volleyball is over the hump.
The Bravettes swept Missoula Hellgate Thursday 25-13, 26-24, 25-13 and climbed over the .500 mark in conference play for the first time this season. They improved to 5-4 in Western AA games and 6-8 overall.
Senior star Kendalyn Habel had 17 kills and five aces while classmate Britta Thorderson added nine kills and four aces.
"We started strong and finished strong," FHS coach Leon Wilcox said. "That's what we've been looking for. Now we just have to maintain that level of focus and intensity throughout the entire match. That's hard for any team to do.
"We let up on defense in that second game. But then the D really turned it around. We had a good all-around match offensively. We did a nice job running plays."
Sierra Olszewski assisted 31 of Flathead's 41 kills. Winless Hellgate had just 17 kills.
The FHS JV won in four games.
The Bravettes are back in action on Thursday at home against Class A power Libby. Then they'll compete in the Missoula Invitation Oct. 12-13.
Flathead def. Missoula Hellgate
25-13, 26-24, 25-13
Kills - FHS 41 (Kendalyn Habel 17, Britta Thorderson 9), MH 17 (Lisa Woerlein 7). Blocks - FHS 6 (Kaylyn Heaton 3, three with 2), MH 3 (Kirsten Dalulik 3). Assists - FHS 36 (Sierra Olszewski 31), MH 11 (Coleen Asby 11). Digs - FHS 60 (Habel 14, Thorterson 11, Steph Elliot 10, Meghan Olszewski 7), MH 41 (Woerlein 9, Madison Furlay 9). Aces - FHS 15 (Habel 5, Thorderson 4), MH 1 (Asby).
Eureka 3, Troy 1
EUREKA - Melanie Finch had nine kills and Briann Linnell eight kills and five blocks to power Eureka to a 25-16, 25-19, 16-25, 25-10 District 8-B volleyball victory on Thursday over Troy.
Eureka moves to 4-0 in league and 8-3 overall.
"I thought Melanie Finch served awfully tough," said Eureka coach Rhonda Hammond. "Briann Linnell did a great job at the net again tonight."
Eureka is back on the court Saturday at Plains.
Eureka def. Troy, 25-16, 25-19, 16-25, 25-10
Kills - Troy 13, Brandy Koch 5; Eureka 34, Melanie Finch 9, Briann Linnell 8; Blocks - Troy 2, Delsey Olds 2; Eureka 5, Linnell 5; Assists - Troy 14, Liz Staley 12; Eureka 33, Megan Hannay 31; Digs - Troy 21, Olds 7; Eureka 40, Mariah Newell 7, Hannay 7, Auna Lawler 7; Aces - Troy 18, Staley 7; Eureka 13, Finch 5.
Polson 3,
Columbia Falls 2
COLUMBIA FALLS - Polson won the first game and the last two of a marathon battle in beating Columbia Falls 25-22, 23-25, 19-25, 25-19, 15-13 in Northwestern A play.
Christa Red Crow had nine kills to lead Polson, 1-8.
Alyssa Ladenburg had 14 kills for Columbia Falls, 3-5, and Auttem Osborne nine.
"The girls played pretty well," said Columbia Falls coach Addy Hines.
"Polson just wanted it a little more at the end."
Hines said she was pleased with her team's passing, communication on the court and intensity level.
Polson def. Columbia Falls 25-22, 23-25, 19-25, 25-19, 15-13
Kills - Polson 33, Christa Red Crow 9, Aislinn Nielson 9; Columbia Falls 43, Alyssa Ladenburg 14, Auttem Osborne 9; Blocks - Polson 6, Breanne Kelley 2, Nicole Davey 2; Columbia Falls 4, Brooke Cady 2; Assists - Polson 27, Danielle Tidwell 14, Kayla Duford 13; Columbia Falls 42, Sarah Marcille 36; Digs - Polson 78, Staci Benson 26, Columbia Falls 67, Staci Pence 23; Aces - Polson 12, Duford 4, Tidwell 4; Columbia Falls 10, Sam Ladenburg 4.