Volleyball roundup: Hellgate edges Flathead
The Daily Inter Lake
MISSOULA — The Flathead Bravettes took their Western AA matchup with Missoula Hellgate down to the wire but eventually lost in five nerve-racking sets, as the Knights won at 15-11 in the tie-breaker for the home victory.
The Bravettes (7-9 overall, 4-4 Western AA) opened the match with a 25-22 victory in the first set before being humbled 25-14 in the second.
They would regroup in the third set, winning by the same score as their first-set victory, but the Knights hampered any type of Flathead momentum, denying the Bravettes a conference victory by winning the fourth set 25-17.
“It could have gone either way,” Flathead coach Leon Wilcox said.
“Both teams played really hard. Defensively, in the back court, both teams scrapped. It was a hard-fought match.”
Xio Lopp’s strong offensive showing led the Bravettes on the court. She totaled a team-high 11 kills while leading the match in assists with 21.
Although Flathead had a strong defensive showing from Abbie O’Brien’s 21 digs, Hellgate (9-8, 5-4) had plenty of blocks to answer the Bravettes attack.
Flathead did get a solid performance at the serving line from Jourdon Schultz. Schultz finished with a match-high four aces.
The Bravettes will try to rebound on Thursday when they host Glacier for the season’s second installment of the crosstown rivalry. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Hellgate def. Flathead,
22-25, 25-14, 22-25, 25-17, 15-11
Kills – Flathead 43 (Xio Lopp 11), Hellgate 48 (Mari Lundin 12, Rachel Martens 12). Blocks – Flathead 8 (Tiana Johnson 2), Hellgate 24 (RaeAnn Turner 8, Martens 7). Digs – Flathead 70 (Abbie O’Brien 21), Hellgate 78 (Becca Jones 30). Assists – Flathead 38 (Lopp 21), Hellgate 37 (Emily Jones 17, Paula Woerlein 15). Aces – Flathead 7 (Jourdan Shultz 4), Hellgate 6 (Lundin 2).
Libby 3,
Thompson Falls 2
THOMPSON FALLS — The Libby Loggers volleyball team edged Thompson Falls 15-9 in the decisive tie-breaking set to earn a nonconference road victory on Tuesday night.
The Loggers (6-2 overall, 2-2 Northwest A) registered 56 kills in the contest with Hailley Moe tallying a match-high 19.
Moe also finished with a team-high four blocks, and Mahalah Wedel added to the Loggers’ defensive effort with 27 of Libby’s 82 digs.
Although Thompson Falls scored eight aces, Libby held the advantage from the serving line with 12 aces of their own.
The Loggers will look to ride the momentum from the thrilling victory into Thrusday night’s Northwest A home matchup against first-place Columbia Falls scheduled for 7 p.m.
Libby def. Thompson Falls,
25-21, 20-25, 25-23, 21-25, 15-9.
Kills – Libby 56 (Hailley Moe 19), Tho. Falls 42 (Shey Hannum 15). Blocks – Libby 7 (Moe 4), Tho. Falls 15 (Autrey Hannum 9). Digs – Libby 82 (Mahalah Wedel 27), Tho. Falls 56 (Logan Beckman 15, Megan McKenzie 14). Assists – Libby 60 (Ashley Walker), Tho. Falls 38 (Beckman 36). Aces – Libby 12 (Three tied with 3), Tho. Falls 8 (n/a).
Polson 3, Frenchtown 1
After dropping the opening set, the Polson Lady Pirates rattled off three straight victories to win their Northwest A road matchup against Frenchtown on Tuesday.
The Broncs (5-3 overall, 3-2 Northwest A) opened up the match emphatically, taking the first set 25-16.
From there it was all Polson (4-4 overall, 2-3 Northwest A). The Lady Pirates never dropped another set, allowing Frenchtown to reach 20 points once in the final three sets.
Jaiden Toth was too much for Frenchtown to handle. Toth finished with 27 assists, 23 digs and eight of Polson’s 13 aces.
Polson had 35 kills while stifling Frenchtown defensively with 76 digs.
The Lady Pirates host Whitefish on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Polson def. Frenchtown
16-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-20
Kills – Polson 35 (Haley Fyant 8), Frenchtown 26 (Morgan Ray 13). Blocks – Polson 3 (Chadelle Smith 2), Frenchtown 10 (Ray 5). Digs – Polson 76 (Jaiden Toth 23), Frenchtown 63 (Lacey Hochhalter 14). Assists – Polson 29 (Toth 27), Frenchtown 33 (Hochhalter 12). Aces – Polson 13 (Toth 8), Frenchtown 4 (Four with 1).