Glacier finishes 3rd; Flathead shares 5th at Electric City tourney
GREAT FALLS — Glacier finished third at the Electric City Invitational volleyball tournament on Saturday by defeating the Class AA defending state champion Helena High Bengals 26-24, 26-24.
The Wolfpack started the day with a loss to the Bengals, but rebounded to beat Missoula Sentinel and Havre.
“It gives them so much confidence,” Glacier coach Christy Harkins said of the win over Helena High.
“We learned a lot this weekend, we improved a lot and got to play some great competition. It was a well-rounded team effort.”
On the individual front, Cassi Hashley and Tiffany Marks led the Wolfpack in kills and blocks.
“My setter — Hannah Liss — did a great job running the offense,” Harkins said.
“She was in for every point in every game. She never came off the floor. It was a long weekend for her.”
Flathead had an “OK” day according to coach Leon Wilcox. The Bravettes also advanced to the championship bracket, posting a 1-2 mark.
“We were in the final six,” he said.
That tied them for fifth place with Havre.
“We just had a really rough start this morning with (Billings) Skyview,” he said.
“Our passing and defense never got on a roll. Because of that, we couldn’t get into a rhythm.”
Wilcox said Flathead had a better outing with Helena Capital.
“Our passing got better,” he said.
The Bravettes then lost to Helena High.
“We missed 14 serves, but beat them in every other category and lost by four points,” Wilcox said.
“We led in every game, won the second game, but we missed a string of serves and gave up a little momentum. We outplayed them, outpassed them. When you miss that many serves, it makes it hard to stay ahead.”
Still, Wilcox was impressed.
“I’m very encouraged with how hard the girls played in spite of different lineups,” he said.
“I was very encouraged with our showing.”
Electric City Invitational
Saturday
Championship bracket
At Bill Swarthout Fieldhouse
First round
Havre def. Helena Capital
Billings Skyview def. Flathead
Billings Senior def. Missoula Sentinel
Helena def. Glacier
Second round
Flathead def. Helena Capital, lo
Glacier def. Missoula Sentinel, lo
Billings Skyview def. Havre, sf
Billings Senior def. Helena, sf
Third round
Helena def.Flathead, lo
Glacier def. Havre, lo
Third place
Glacier def. Helena, 26-24, 26-24
Championship
Billings Senior def. Billings Skyview 25-22, 25-19
Consolation bracket
At C.M. Russell Fieldhouse
First round
Bozeman def. Missoula Big Sky
Great Falls def. Missoula Hellgate
Billings West def. C.M. Russell
Lewistown def. Butte
Second round
Missoula Big Sky def. Missoula Hellgate, lo
Butte def. C.M. Russell, lo
Billings West def. Lewistown, sf
Bozeman def. Great Falls, sf
Third round
Lewistown def. Missoula Big Sky, lo
Butte def. Great Falls, lo
Third place
Butte def. Lewistown 26-24, 25-20
Consolation championship
Billings West def. Bozeman 25-17, 25-17