Bravettes, Wolfpack ranked, ready for crosstown volleyball
The gymnasium at Glacier High School will be loud and energized this afternoon for the first crosstown volleyball battle of the fall season.
Second-ranked Flathead makes the trip north to tangle with No. 4 Glacier.
The Bravettes are 4-0 in Western AA play and 8-2 overall, while Glacier, fresh off a Thursday sweep of Missoula Sentinel, is 3-1 and 8-3.
Play begins at 2 p.m.
It’s also homecoming weekend for the Wolfpack.
“I do love the crosstown match,” Glacier coach Christy Harkins said.
“No matter what end you’re on. Even when you lose, it’s a good atmosphere for the girls. It’s been good volleyball every time we’ve played.”
Flathead won both meetings last season, 3-2 and 3-1. The two schools split in 2010.
The Bravettes hold a slight edge in the intense series, now in its sixth season, 6-4.
The second crosstown battle of the season will take place Oct. 4 at Flathead.
The fact both teams are ranked should make for an exciting, spirited battle this time around.
“That’s really neat to have such (good) volleyball in the valley right now,” Harkins said.
“It’s awesome for both schools.”
The two are on top, or near the top, of Western AA statistics.
Flathead’s Cassie Krueger is No. 1 in attack efficiency (.327 percent) with 46 kills, 11 errors in 107 attempts.
Glacier’s Tiffany Marks is second (.289) with 39 kills, 15 errors in 83 attempts.
Glacier’s Cassi Hashley is second in blocks, averaging 1.3 per set. She has 13 total (seven solo and six assisted).
Sarah Risenhoover of Flathead is third, averaging 1.2 per set. She has 12 total (two solo and 10 assisted).
Glacier’s Kailea Vaudt is third in digs, averaging 3.7 per set. Flathead’s Emma Andrews is sixth, 3.2.
In passing, serve receive, Glacier’s Jessica Stenberg is No. 1 and Vaudt No. 2.
Flathead has the top two servers in Emily Russell and Andrews. Russell has 14 aces and Andrews eight.
On the team front, statewide, Flathead is second in kills per set, 11.4, while Glacier is fourth, 11.1.
The Bravettes and Wolfpack are 1-2 in aces with 36 and 30, respectively.