Bravettes fall in 5 to Big Sky

The Daily Inter Lake

So close.

The Flathead Bravettes came so close on Saturday, but came up just short in a 5-game, knockdown, drag out Western AA volleyball match against the Missoula Big Sky Eagles.

Ariel Johnson had 15 kills and served three aces. Freshman Hannah Sackett had 12 kills and Hana Burton had 10. Megan Olszewski contributed 34 digs, Laurie Swindall had 19 and Chaela Liss turned in 39 assists.

But Big Sky prevailed 24-26, 18-25, 25-17, 26-24, 15-13.

Big Sky led the entire first game, until the end. At 24-22 Big Sky, Flathead coach Leon Wilcox took timeout.

The Eagles put the next serve into the net, Flathead scored the next three points to claim the game.

"That was a magic timeout," Wilcox smiled.

Flathead took the next game easily.

"That gave us a lot of momentum, but then we fell into the same trap and gave up the momentum," he said.

The Bravettes dropped the third game, fought hard for the fifth and were edged out in the fifth.

"We did some good things," Wilcox said.

The Bravettes didn't get into Kalispell until 1 a.m. Saturday from Helena, and then had to turn right around and play.

For them to play as well as they did "was positive. We just need to stay consistent," he said.

Flathead plays a nonconference match at Libby on Thursday

Kills: Flathead 48 (Ariel Johnson 15, Hannah Sackett 12, Hana Burton 10), Assists: Flathead 42 (Chaela Liss 39), Blocks: Flathead 4 (No leader), Digs: Flathead 106 (Megan Olszewski 34, Laurie Swindall 19); Aces: Flathead 13 (Liss 4, Johnson 3).

Stats not available for Big Sky.