Sentinel cancels Wolfpack's state tourney plans

MISSOULA - Missoula Sentinel dropped the first set, but regrouped in a hurry and stormed back to defeat Glacier 23-25, 26-24, 25-14, 25-20 on Thursday in a Class AA Western Division play-in volleyball match.

The two teams, which split during the regular season, were playing for a state tournament berth.

Sentinel enjoyed a statistical advantage in every category but aces, where both teams finished with seven.

Sentinel (16-7) totaled 51 kills, led by Natalie Jones' 18. Bailey Branson was next with 15.

Rachel Cutler had 14 for Glacier (12-12), which finished with 38.

Kendra Bouley led Glacier in digs (11) and shared team-high honors in blocks (2) with Tiffany Marks.

Glacier was looking for a return trip to state.

The Class AA state tournament begins Thursday in Bozeman.

The play-in match, originally scheduled for 7 p.m., was delayed a half hour. The bus Glacier was traveling to Missoula on was involved in a traffic accident around 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 93 and Montana 82.

"No one was hurt," Glacier coach Christy Harkins said after

the incident.

The team boarded another bus shortly after that to complete the trip to Missoula.

Glacier High School Principal Callie Langohr issued an e-mail statement after the accident. "The girls and coaches are doing fine. We were in immediate communication with our volleyball head coach right after the accident and are very thankful no one was hurt."

Kills - Glacier 38 (Rachel Cutler 14), Glacier 51 (Natalie Jones 18, Bailey Branson 15). Blocks - Glacier 5 (Kendra Bouley 2, Tiffany Marks 2), Sentinel 8 (Morgan McCarthy 3, Jones 3). Digs - Glacier 38 (Bouley 11), Sentinel 57 (Branson 12). Assists - Glacier 37 (Paige Latimer 35), Sentinel 42 (Kelsi Becker 41). Aces - Glacier 7 (Leah Engebretson 3), Sentinel 7 (Jones 4).