Year 2 for crosstown volleyball

Glacier entertains Flathead tonight at 7

The Daily Inter Lake

Last year it was all Flathead regarding crosstown matches in volleyball.

The Bravettes were 4-0 versus rival Glacier, winning in tournament play early in the season in Great Falls, followed by two regular season victories, and then another one in postseason play.

This year, it has started off in Glacier's favor.

The Wolfpack and Bravettes met for a second-straight year at the Great Falls Invitational on Sept. 13 with Glacier winning 25-23, 25-20. Now the two schools are ready for their first crosstown match of the season.

That is set for tonight at 7 at Glacier.

The Wolfpack enter play 2-0 in Western AA, 3-3 overall.

Flathead is 0-4 and 0-7.

"It's a very big match for us, very big match for Flathead," Glacier coach Christy Harkins said.

"Everyone is playing for something big."

Harkins said the crosstown series this year already has a much different feeling.

"Last year it was awkward a little bit," she said.

"Some of those kids had been their teammates before. That's not the case this year. It's more crosstown."

Harkins said her players are itching to face off with Flathead, and she expects another big crowd.

"They're excited," she said.

"It's been exciting for the community. The kids are excited to play before a great crowd."

The second 2008 meeting in the crosstown series will take place Nov. 4 at Flathead, the regular-season finale for the Bravettes. Glacier ends its regular season two days later hosting Missoula Big Sky.

"I'm very pleased with the things my team is doing this year," Harkins said.

"We've been steadily working to improve our passing. If we want to be competitive in AA, we have to be able to pass the ball. The kids have responded to that."

Harkins said the net play has been solid, and returning setter Lindsea Vaudt really sets the tone on the court.