State Volleyball: Upset-minded Bravettes fall in close match with Billings Senior

BOZEMAN — Billings Senior is the unquestioned king of Class AA volleyball.

Three-time defending state champions. The only undefeated team in conference play this year. Stacked with talent up and down the roster.

And Flathead went point-for-point with the Broncs.

But it’s not easy dethroning the king.

The Bravettes (16-8) went to extra points in the second and fourth sets but came up short each time, falling to Senior 22-25, 27-25, 25-16, 29-27 on Thursday night at the Class AA State Volleyball Tournament.

“That was a battle,” Flathead coach Courtney Baker said.

“We just came out on the wrong side of it tonight.”

After winning the first set, the Bravettes had set point in the second at 25-24 before allowing the Broncs to score three straight. A late run helped Senior break a 16-16 deadlock in the third set, and in the final set the two teams were within two points of each other from 11-10 on.

“I think we played awesome,” Baker said.

“It was eye-opening for us and I think it was eye-opening for them a little bit.”

Flathead put down 49 kills in the match, getting 20 from Tiana Johnson. Senior Xio Lopp had 36 assists, three blocks and 15 digs in a losing effort.

The Bravettes advanced to the match with Senior by defeating Billings Skyview in the first round, 20-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-20.

“Having that time (11 days) off, I think it took some time to get back in the rhythm of competing,” Baker said after the win.

After dropping the opening set, Flathead rarely ceded the lead in the final three.

Johnson again led the Bravettes with 14 kills and had a match-high six blocks. Alyssa Wisher chipped in 11 kills and three of the Bravettes’ 10 team blocks.

Flathead will be eliminated with any loss the rest of the way at the double-elimination tournament, and gets back on the court today at 2 p.m. against either Billings West or Helena. If the Bravettes win, they will likely play Western AA rival Missoula Sentinel at 8 p.m. in an elimination match.

“We still have a lot of tournament left,” Baker said.

“The fact that we just played with the only undefeated team in Class AA and played that well proves that we can come back from this.”

Class AA

First Round

Flathead def. Billings Skyview 20-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-20

Kills—Flathead 49 (Tiana Johnson 14), Skyview 48 (Jedera Liddell 14). Assists—Flathead 39 (Xio Lopp 36), Skyview 41 (Ashley Jones 40). Blocks—Flathead 10 (Johnson 6), Skyview 6 (Jacey Reiter 4). Digs—Flathead 101 (Jourdan Schultz 29), Skyview 63 (Makara Herman 29). Aces—Flathead 5 (Abbi Chavez 2), Skyview 5 (Kailey Thomson 2).

Missoula Sentinel def. Billings West

25-19, 23-25, 25-15, 25-18

Bozeman def. Helena

15-25, 25-14, 25-12, 25-20

Billings Senior def. Missoula Hellgate

25-18, 25-21, 25-11

Second Round

Billings Senior def. Flathead 22-25, 27-25, 25-16, 29-27

Kills—Senior 53 (Aubrie Steiner 16), Flathead 49 (Tiana Johnson 20). Assists—Senior 52 (Brianna Bromgard 26), Flathead 40 (Xio Lopp 36). Blocks—Senior 9 (Sydney Norwood 5), Flathead 6 (Xio Lopp 3). Digs—Senior 82 (Shyanne Gilcrist 22), Flathead 87 (Lizzie Sherwood 20). Aces—Senior 6 (Aubrie Steiner 2). Flathead 9 (Jourdan Schulz 3, Sherwood 3).

Bozeman def. Sentinel 25-21, 18-25, 25-19, 27-29, 15-10