Glacier stops Big Sky in Western AA volleyball
MISSOULA — It took just three quick sets for the Glacier Wolfpack to take down Missoula Big Sky for a Western AA road volleyball victory on Thursday.
The scores: 25-16 25-13 25-12.
Led by Ali Williams’ school-record 10 aces, the Wolfpack won the closest set — the first of the night — by nine points and didn’t let the Eagles reach 15 in either of the final two sets.
“It was a very business-like work effort,” Glacier coach Christy Harkins said.
“I think we were able to keep the ball off the floor for the most part, not a lot of blocks, but our digging effort was solid today.”
Hailee Bennett led the Wolfpack with 11 digs while teammate Hannah Liss totaled all of Glacier’s 28 assists. Katie Wiley had a match-high 12 kills, but it was Williams’ record that stole the spotlight in a runaway match.
“We’ve been working on aggressive serving, so it’s nice to see that pay off a little bit with Ali’s performance.” Harkins said.
The Wolfpack is back on the court on Tuesday, heading to Idaho for a 5:30 p.m. matchup against Post Falls before taking on Lakeland at 7:30.
Glacier def. Big Sky 25-16 25-13 25-12
Kills — Glacier 38 (Katie Wiley 12), Big Sky 12 (Anna Gregg 6 Kyley Snow) Assist — Glacier 28 (Hannah Liss 28), Big Sky 11 (Carley Hart 9). Digs — Glacier 33 (Hailee Bennett 11), Big Sky 26 (Macey Newberry 10). Blocks Glacier 2 (Brielle Bumgarner 2) Big Sky 4 (Anna Gregg 3) Aces — Glacier 19 (Ali Williams 10), Big Sky 4 (Carley Hart 3).
Loyola 3, Polson 0
POLSON — Missoula Loyola trailed in the first two sets, but battled back to take both and wound up sweeping Polson in a nonleague matchup. The scores: 25-23, 25-18, 25-21.
Polson led 23-18 in the first set before Loyola roared back.
Polson missed 12 serves on the night, six coming in the second set.
Polson plays at Stevensville on Saturday.
Loyola def. Polson 25-23, 25-18, 25-21
Kills — Loyola 23 (Siera Tiede 12), Polson 23 (Haley Fyant 6); Blocks — Loyola 5 (Tiede 3), Polson 2 (Nichole Lake 1, Taylor Rost 1); Assists — Loyola 22 (Sadie Crippen 11), Polson 18 (Jaiden Toth 18); Digs — Loyola 55 (Olivia Round 15), Polson 73 (Libby Clay 16, Toth 16); Aces — Loyola 6 (NA), Polson 3 (Taylor Brackey 2).
Bigfork 3, Eureka 0
BIGFORK — Marissa Hiza led a balanced hitting attack with 10 kills to help Bigfork slip by Eureka in District 7B play, 25-20, 27-25, 26-24.
Abbie Fraley and Lana Berg had eight kills each for Bigfork (6-3, 3-1).
Amanda Peterson had 20 kills for Eureka (5-6, 2-2) and Elliott Peterson followed with seven.
Elliott Peterson had a match-high four blocks.
Bigfork hosts Plains on Saturday while Eureka travels to Thompson Falls.
Bigfork def. Eureka 25-20, 27-25, 26-24
Kills — Bigfork 29 (Marissa Hiza 10, Abbie Fraley 8, Lana Berg 8), Eureka 23 (Amanda Peterson 10, Elliott Peterson 7); Blocks — Bigfork 4 (Berg 2), Eureka 4 (E. Peterson 4); Assists — Bigfork 22 (Kalia Wicklund 22), Eureka 20 (Charity Parsons 10, Courtney Lemer 7); Digs — Bigfork 62 (Fraley 14, Kayla Caselegno 12, Berg 10), Eureka 88 (Lemer 19, A. Peterson 16); Aces — Bigfork 7 (Riley Coleman 3), Eureka 10 (Parsons 4)
Stillwater Christian 3, Flathead JV 0
Sarah Paolini had 17 kills, a block, 13 digs and two aces to help Stillwater Christian School down the Flathead JV, 25-22-25-28, 25-17 at FHS.
Courtney Beaver led Stillwater in aces with three.
Stillwater plays Flathead Valley Home School tonight at Swan River School.
Stillwater def. Flathead JV
25-23, 25-18, 25-21
Kills — Stillwater 29 (Sarah Paolini 17), Flathead NA; Blocks — Stillwater 2 (Paolini 1, Alisa Venman 1), Flathead JV NA; Assists — Stillwater NA, Flathead JV NA; Digs — Stillwater 48 (Paolini 13), Flathead JV NA; Aces — Stillwater 8 (Courtney Beaver 3), Flathead JV NA.