Glacier clinches Western AA volleyball title; bye to state

Glacier volleyball coach Christy Harkins called it a challenging day, but also a very good one.

Helena High gave the Wolfpack all it could handle, pushing the Western AA match to five sets. But second-ranked Glacier managed to pull it out, winning 25-20, 19-25, 22-25, 25-16, 15-13 on Saturday afternoon at Glacier High School.

It was just the second time the Wolfpack have gone five sets this season.

The victory clinched the conference championship for the Wolfpack (21-1 overall, 10-0 league) for a second straight season and a third time overall. Glacier has now won 22 straight Western AA matches over the last two years.

Glacier also earned an automatic bye to the state tournament next month in Bozeman. Glacier has advanced to state six times.

“Helena threw a lot of pressure at us and we got better at it,” Harkins said.

“We handled it better than when we started the game.”

Helena won the second and third sets.

“We were down three points in game five at one point,” Harkins said.

“It was nice to come back.

“We had our backs against the wall a little bit,” she said.

“Katie Wiley (senior outside hitter) did an excellent job all the way around in crunch time. In sets four and five when we needed her to step up she did.”

Glacier wraps up regular-season play at Missoula Hellgate on Tuesday and Thursday at home with Missoula Big Sky.

Glacier def. Helena High

25-20, 19-25, 22-25, 25-16, 15-13

Kills — Helena 49 (Jenna Starke 21), Glacier 59 (Brielle Bumgarner 17); Blocks — Helena 4 (Starke 3), Glacier 7 (Bumgarner 4); Assists — Helena 41 (Madison Richtmeyer 39), Glacier 54 (Hannah Liss 48); Digs — Helena 45 (Kendra Woodland 12); Glacier 77 (Hailee Bennett 16); Aces — Helena 10 (Richtmeyer 3), Glacier 15 (Kayla Russell 7).