Lions top Darby, fall to Florence
The Daily Inter Lake
MISSOULA - Eureka will now have to do it the hard way if it still wants to qualify for state - battle back in loser-out action.
The District 7B champs downed Darby in the first round of the Western B volleyball divisional on Thursday, but fell to Florence in the next session.
Eureka now has a loser-out contest today at 2 p.m. versus either St. Ignatius or Troy.
"Just OK," Eureka coach Rhonda Hammond said of her team's play versus Darby.
"Maybe first-game jitters, but they took care of business."
Hammond said it was a back-and-forth dandy with Florence, which has beaten Eureka three times this season.
"We played well at times, but Florence just played outstanding ball," Hammond said.
"Holly smokes.
"They have so many weapons," she added.
"They just crushed the ball.
"The kids played with a lot of heart, just fell short. It wasn't for a lack of effort."
Thursday's Results
At Missoula Valley Christian High School
Loyola Sacred Heart def. Deer Lodge, 25-19, 25-7, 25-21.
Kills - Loyola 37 (Emma Priddy 12), Deer Lodge 19 (Sarah O'Hara 8). Blocks - Loyola 5 (Colleen Miller 2), Deer Lodge 3 (Danni Johnson 2). Digs - Loyola 27 (Alex Lamey 6), Deer Lodge 44 (Johnson 11). Assists - Loyola 32 (Abby Mansch 31), Deer Lodge 19 (Morgan Close 18). Aces - Loyola 17 (Lamey 9), Deer Lodge 3 (Syd McKee 1, Shyanne Anderson 1, Close 1).
Florence def. Eureka, 25-18, 25-21, 25-18.
Kills - Florence 37 (Katie Niemeir 11), Eureka 28 (Briann Linnell 12). Blocks - Florence 6 (two with 2), Eureka 8 (Mariah Newell 6). Digs - Florence 52 (Amanda Heffner 20), Eureka 41 (Ashley Gullo 8). Assists - Florence 29 (Kayla Daniels 29), Eureka 22 (Jonna Yost 19). Aces - Florence 10 (three with 3), Eureka 8 (Tayler Holder 4).
Opening Round
Loyola def. Troy, 25-9, 25-10, 25-15.
Kills - Troy 10 (Alicia Anderson 4, Kirstin Parks 4), Loyola 32 (Brittany Dahlen 9). Blocks - Troy 3 (Parks 2), Loyola 6 (Emma Priddy 3). Digs - Troy 9 (Anderson 2, Ashley Subb 2), Loyola 16 (Priddy 4). Assists - Troy 10 (Alyssa Olds 10), Loyola 27 (Abby Mansch 26). Aces - Troy 4 (Ashley Paasch 2), Loyola 23 (Madison Mansch 11).
Florence def. Thompson Falls, 25-20, 25-23, 25-13.
Kills - Florence 35 (Jo Johnston 10), Thompson Falls 22 (Kyla Molzahn 9). Blocks - Florence 6 (three with 2), Thompson Falls 5 (Jessica Wadsworth 2, Hannah Peters 2). Digs - Florence 58 (Amanda Heffner 15), Thompson Falls 45 (Rheanna Padden 11). Assists - Florence 32 (Kayla Daniels 32), Thompson Falls 18 (Karli Cavill 16). Aces - Florence 7 (Daniels 3, Johnston 3), Thompson Falls 4.
Deer Lodge def. St. Ignatius, 25-19, 23-25, 27-25, 25-16.
Kills - St. Ignatius 43 (Kelsey Cable 12), Deer Lodge 44 (Danni Johnson 17). Blocks - St. Ignatius 3 (Rachel Jensen 2), Deer Lodge 7 (Sarah O'Hara 2, Jherianne Phillips 2). Digs - St. Ignatius 64 (Cable 21), Deer Lodge 85 (Johnson 25). Assists - St. Ignatius 33 (Mattea Grant 31), Deer Lodge 35 (Morgan Close 27). Aces - St. Ignatius 14 (Cable 5), Deer Lodge 7 (Andi Lambert 3).
Eureka def. Darby, 25-13, 25-20, 25-16.
Kills - Darby 23 (Mariah Cress 12), Eureka 39 (Briann Linnell 13). Blocks - Darby 6 (Cress 3, Nakita Center 3), Eureka 4 (Linnell 3). Digs - Darby 37 (Lindsey Trowbridge 10), Eureka 31 (Carly Hammond 8, Ashley Gullo 8). Assists - Darby 19 (Cara Sullivan 10), Eureka 33 (Jonna Yost 32). Aces - Darby 6 (Trowbridge 3), Eureka 13 (Mariah Newell 6).