Wolfpack 4th at AA state volleyball
BOZEMAN — Western AA conference champion Glacier was forced to settle for a fourth-place finish at the Class AA state volleyball tournament after it was knocked out by Helena Friday at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.
Glacier won the first set 26-24 but Helena stormed back to take the next three 26-24, 25-18, 25-17.
“Helena played great,” Glacier coach Christy Harkins said. “They were able to move the ball around the floor a lot, they played great defense. They outhustled us and outworked us and that’s what you’ve got to do when you’re at the end of the tournament.”
Glacier trailed the fourth 14-8 before winning six straight points to knot it at 14. Ties ensued at 15 and 16 before Helena closed it out with a 9-1 run. A Glacier hitting error brought up match point and Helena’s Maddie Richtmeyer and Regan Fruh combined to block Tessa Krueger at the net to end it.
Glacier’s Katie Wiley tallied a match-high 17 kills and Cassi Hashley added 11 kills to the Glacier attack, which outhit Helena 49-42. Fruh led the Bengals with 13 kills and eight blocks.
The loss ended a historic season for Glacier, which went 12-0 in conference play for the first time in school history.
“I’m really proud of these girls,” Harkins said.
“Obviously it wasn’t the ending we were looking for, but there’s only one team that can end on a victory so that’s OK. I think battling back from the pretty terrible Thursday that we had and to have a decent day today where we competed pretty hard, I was very proud of them.”
Hashley, one of three seniors on Glacier’s roster, said she’s proud of what her team accomplished.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better season,” she said.
“My teammates are amazing. I love every single one of them. I’ll never forget this season. It didn’t turn out as we had hoped, but I guess that’s just the way it goes.”
Helena will play Billings Skyview today in the loser-out semifinal. The winner will take on Billings Senior in the championship match.
Glacier advanced to Friday evening’s match with Helena by beating Bozeman 25-13, 25-21, 15-25, 25-12 in the afternoon.
The first set was even at 12 when the Wolfpack rattled off 12 consecutive points. Kayla Russell served four aces during the run and a double-block by Krueger and Hashley brought up set point. Russell hit her next serve long but Glacier closed it out one point later on a Bozeman service error.
Glacier road that momentum to a 12-3 start in the second set and dominated the fourth after Bozeman won the third.
Wiley and Hashley led the Wolfpack with 12 and 11 kills, respectively, and Glacier outhit Bozeman 42-25.
Glacier def. Helena, 24-26, 26-24, 25-18, 25-17
Kills - Glacier 49 (Katie Wiley 17, Cassi Hashley 11), Helena 42 (Regan Fruh 13, Alicia Norling 10). Assists - Glacier 43 (Hannah Liss 41), Helena 34 (Maddie Richtmeyer 34). Aces - Glacier 10 (Shelbi Kusler 3), Helena 5 (Savanah Swanson 7). Blocks - Glacier 8 (Hashley 4), Helena 15 (Fruh 8, Jenna Starke 5). Digs - Glacier 76 (Kayla Russell 24), Helena 78 (Norling 20, Laura Jo Fiorita 17).
Glacier def. Bozeman, 25-13, 25-21, 15-25, 25-12.
Kills - Glacier 42 (Katie Wiley 12, Cassi Hashley 11), Bozeman 25 (Caitlin Lonergan 13, Tiffany Shearman 8). Assists - Glacier 42 (Hannah Liss 39), Bozeman 24 (Kayla Verzuh 18). Aces - Glacier 11 (Kayla Russell 5), Bozeman 6 (Hailee Olson 2, Lonergan 2). Blocks - Glacier 15 (Hashley 8, Brielle Bumgarner 5), Bozeman 12 (Lonergan 5, Maddi Studer 4). Digs - Glacier 54 (Liss 13, Russell 13), Bozeman 43 (Maggie Green 7, Andee Morton 7).