AA state volleyball: Undefeated Billings Senior trips Flathead
BOZEMAN — Flathead suffered its first loss at this year’s Class AA state volleyball tournament Friday, losing to Billings Senior 25-22, 25-18, 23-25, 25-20 in the undefeated semifinal at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.
The Bravettes shook off a slow start to win the third set, but 10 service errors and miscommunication cost Flathead (20-5) the match.
“The unforced errors really, really hurt us,” Flathead coach Leon Wilcox said. “We missed a ton of serves. We missed twice as many serves in that match as we missed in two matches yesterday, and you can’t do that against a team like Senior because you keep the door open for them. Those are the things we can control. If we take care of the little things, the unforced errors, I think it’s a different match.”
Despite the uncharacteristically jittery performance, the Bravettes said they weren’t intimidated going up against Senior (31-0), Class AA’s only undefeated team.
“We knew they were going to be our greatest competition so far and we just came out with a lot of mistakes,” Flathead outside hitter Cassie Krueger said. “As the games went on we found our momentum and fought back as far as we could.”
Flathead and Senior finished with 42 kills apiece, and Wilcox liked how his team battled at the net, despite giving up height to Senior’s front row, which included a 6-footer at every position, including its setter.
“I think all of our girls did a great job at the net,” Wilcox said. “I think we were very aggressive, but I think we need to block better.”
Flathead’s serve receiving was shaky early as Senior had six aces in the first set and won several more points on free balls stemming from aggressive serves.
The Bravettes cleaned up their passing in the second set to take an 8-4 lead. A pair of blocks by Emily Russell and Sarah Risenhoover gave Flathead an 11-6 lead five points later, but Senior battled back to knot the score at 14. After another tie at 18, Senior won seven straight points to close out the set.
The Bravettes trailed 18-13 in the third set when Krueger and fellow outside hitter Kwyn Johnson began to find their rhythm. Krueger pounded a kill from the left side and Johnson followed with a block on Senior hitter Andrea Bowers. Then Johnson hit a kill from the right side to make the score 18-16 before a Flathead service error.
The two teams traded the next five points before a Senior hitting error and a Lizzy Sherwood kill tied the score at 21. Flathead took its first lead of the set on an ace by Jessica Simmons, but Senior middle hitter Taylor Mims answered to force another tie.
Senior’s Kiahna Steiner and Risenhoover traded kills before the Bravettes won the next two points to take the set.
The fourth set included 10 ties in its early stages, but Senior pulled away late to win the set and the match.
Johnson led the Bravettes with 14 kills while Risenhoover finished with a match-high six blocks. Russell had all 41 of Flathead’s assists.
Steiner led Senior’s offense with 14 kills. Mims and setter Jace Henderson each had four blocks.
Flathead plays Helena High today at 11 a.m. in a loser-out semifinal. The winner will play Senior for the championship at 1 p.m. and again at 3 p.m. if necessary.
Helena defeated Helena Capital 25-11, 24-26, 25-17, 25-12 in the loser-out quarterfinal.
Should the Bravettes get past Helena, Johnson and Krueger said they feel confident they can win a rematch with Senior.
“We know what it takes now,” Johnson said. “We know what they’re like, and really the only reason we lost was because of stupid unforced errors like missed serves, miscommunication, little stuff that’s easy to take care of.”
Added Krueger: “We’re going to come out as a team confident in each other. We have to honor their strengths and attack their weaknesses.”
Kills - Flathead 42 (Kwyn Johnson 14), Senior 42 (Kiahna Steiner 14, Andrea Bowers 9, Taylor Mims 8). Assists - Flathead 41 (Emily Russell 41), Senior 36 (Jace Henderson 27). Aces - Flathead 9 (Emma Andrews 4), Senior 13 (Cydney Kurth 4, Kierney Findon 4). Blocks - Flathead 7 (Sarah Risenhoover 6), Senior 9 (Henderson 4, Mims 4). Digs - Flathead 52 (Iris Matulevich 12), Senior 69 (Jess