Crosstown volleyball: Glacier looks to avenge loss
Today: Glacier (3-3) at Flathead
(6-2)
First serve: 7 p.m.
Series Record: Flathead 5, Glacier
4
Last week: Flathead defeated
Missoula Sentinel in five sets — 25-16, 25-13, 26-28, 19-25,
15-7.
Last match: Sept. 22 at Glacier.
Flathead rallied to win in five sets — 24-26, 19-25, 25-20, 25-10,
16-14. Glacier defeated Coeur d’Alene High 25-19, 14-25, 25-18,
25-11.
What they learned from the last crosstown: “We’ll
find out, won’t we?” said Glacier coach Christy Harkins.
The Wolfpack led Flathead two sets to none and was up
8-2 in the third set.
“We are definitely still working on finishing and
understanding how to defend a lead. I think we’re better, but I
don’t know that we’ve mastered it,” she said.
“Maintaining a high level of confidence is something
we’re working on. Perseverance in all areas,” she said.
“Don’t get behind,” said Flathead coach Leon Wilcox.
“As far as tactics, I don’t think we’ve learned anything new. We
need to be mentally tough the whole match,” he said.
“Glacier is a good team. They’re going to come out
ready. We have to play aggressive volleyball,” he added.
“We’ve got to be conistent. Last time we weren’t
consistent. I’m not sure why — the other team’s gym or we just
weren’t mentally prepared. This time, I think we’re more mentally
prepared,” he said.
Nervous or excited: “I’ve heard both
from (the Wolfpack),” Harkins said.
“It’s always exciting. They should be looking forward
to it.”
“(The Bravettes) are very excited,” Wilcox said.
“They’re ready. (Crosstown) is a fun atmosphere. It’s
nice to have it in your own gym. I’m sure there will be a big
crowd. They’re very confident. But we’re giving Glacier due respect
because they are a good team,” he added.
“I think we’ll bring a good game.”
Leadership: Senior outside hitter
Hannah Sackett had 20 kills in the last crosstown.
“She led the team. She refused to lose,” Wilcox
said.
“We need more leadership from our upperclassmen. The
younger kids will feed off that,” he said.
Statistically speaking: Flathead has
more kills, by far, than any other team in Class AA. The Bravettes
are sitting at 343, averaging 11.43 kills per set. The next closest
is ... Glacier with 251, averaging 10 kills per set. The only team
with a better kill/set average is Billings Senior at
12.44. Individually, Flathead has three among the state’s top 10
hitters — Kwyn Johnson (80 kills), Timi Severson (52 kills) and
Hannah Sackett (95 kills).
“They have so many hitters in the conference stats
that are doing well. We’ve been really trying to focus on preparing
for all kinds of offense. They have so many weapons, so many things
they can do,” Harkins said.
“If we are in a one-on-one (one hitter, one blocker)
we need to try to take away as much of the court as we can. We’re
working on our defense, for sure,” she said.
Glacier’s freshman setter, Hannah Liss, is ranked No.
5 with 202 assists — that’s an 8.1 per set average. She’s also
ranked fifth in serving with 19 aces in 25 sets played.
Defense: Flathead and Glacier are
first and second in digs, also. Flathead has 426, Glacier 361. In
blocks, Glacier ranks second in Class AA with 61 total. Billings
Skyview is No. 1 with 63 and Flathead is tied for third with
59.
Emily Gilbertson and Cassidy Hashley are both ranked
among Class AA top 10 in defense. Hashley is second overall with 34
blocks while Gilbertson is ranked fifth with 114 digs.
In serve receive, Flathead’s Sackett is ranked eighth
with a 2.2 serve receive accuracy.
Last time: Passing became a problem
for the Wolfpack.
It started out passing really well, but when Flathead
started serving more aggressively, the problems began for
Glacier.
“When we were doing it, I liked us serving
aggressively. But then we got behind and started letting down. And
I thought we blocked fairly well,” she added.
Injuries: The Wolfpack’s Tiffany
Marks is back after taking a week off and Hannah Atlee is coming
off a sprained ankle.
Flathead has no injuries, but has had some illnesses,
Wilcox said.
Busy weekend: Flathead travels to
Coeur d’Alene on Friday to take on Coeur d’Alene High, then goes to
Spokane on Saturday for a one-day 64-team Crossover Classic.
Glacier plays host at 2 p.m. Saturday to Missoula
Sentinel.