Bigfork, Florence 2-0 at Western B volleyball
ANACONDA — The Bigfork girls pulled off a pair of five-set upsets to advance to the undefeated semifinal at the Western B divisional volleyball tournament on Thursday.
The Valkyries, who entered the tournament as the third seed from District 7B, defeated host Anaconda 25-15, 14-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12 in the first round, then beat 7B champion Libby 23-25, 25-19, 11-25, 25-21, 16-14 in the second round to move to the semifinals.
The wins guarantee at least a third place finish for the Vals, who will play 6B champion Florence for a spot in the finals and a berth in the state tournament at 6 p.m. today.
Libby and Eureka each won first round matches before falling to loser-out play with narrow losses in the second round.
Libby beat Deer Lodge in three sets, 25-11, 26-24, 25-22 before falling to Bigfork. Eureka beat Ronan 21-25, 25-21, 25-28, 25-18, 15-10 in the first round and fell to Florence in five sets in the second round 25-19, 23-25, 25-19, 20-25, 15-8.
The top two teams from the Western divisional advance to the state tournament.
First Round
Florence def.
Thompson Falls, 25-14, 16-25, 27-25, 25-21
Kills - T. Falls 33 (Madi Wheeler 11). Blocks - T. Falls 2 (Sierra Sorlie 1, Wheeler 1). Digs - T. Falls 30 (Sorlie 10, Wheeler 10, Ember Schwindt 10). Assists - T. Falls 28 (Haley Wilson 25). Aces - T. Falls 6 (Schwindt 3, Megan McKenzie 3).
Eureka def.
Ronan, 21-25, 25-21, 25-28, 25-18, 15-10
Kills - Eureka 47 (Kaylee Kronsperger 18), Ronan 27 (Lee Camel 14). Blocks - Eureka 6 (Liz Pacella 2, Jessica Wilson 2, Ronan 9. Digs - Eureka 85 (Kassi Peterson 20), Ronan 104 (Sadie Wirz 28, Camel 28). Assists - Eureka 41 (Pacella 41), Ronan 16 (Shaina Snyder 7). Aces - Eureka 10 (Peterson 4), Ronan 7.
Libby def. Deer Lodge, 25-11, 26-24, 25-22
Kills - Libby 37 (Mehki Sykes 14), Deer Lodge 18 (Darcy Walker 5, Kerstin Cooper 5). Blocks - Libby 5 (Brooklyn Rainer 2), Deer Lodge 6 (Ariel Clark 2). Digs - Libby 35 (Jayden Winslow 10), Deer Lodge 49 (Cooper, 13). Assists - Libby 33 (Alli Collins), Deer Lodge 13 (Kamryn Scully 11). Aces - Libby 17 (Winslow 6), Deer Lodge 4 (Elizabeth Barton 2, Alyssa Lamb 2).
Bigfork def.
Anaconda, 25-15, 14-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12.
Kills - Bigfork 58 (Abby Ellison 28), Anaconda 47 (Michaela Cortright 15). Blocks - Bigfork 3 (Brooke Fraley 2), Anaconda 4.5 (Arieona Mattson 2). Digs - Bigfork 81 (Fraley 21), Anaconda 83 (Libby Jorgensen 42). Assists - Bigfork 53 (Kalia Wicklund 52), Anaconda 38 (Felicity Kulaski 37). Aces - Bigfork 12 (Julia Saunders 3, Wicklund, 3), Anaconda 6 (Johannah Forsberg 3).
Second Round
Florence def.
Eureka, 25-19, 23-25, 25-19, 20-25, 15-8
Kills - Florence 50 (Autumn Round 18), Eureka 44 (Kaylee Kronsperger 19). Blocks - Florence 11 (Megan Kowalski 4), Eureka 8 (Jessica Wilson 3). Digs - Florence 31 (Hunter Doty-DiBrito 6, Brooklyn Little 6), Eureka 43 (Kassi Peterson 17). Assists - Florence 50 (Shay Waldbillig 47), Eureka 43 (Liz Pacella 42). Aces - Florence 6 (Shannon Byrne 4), Eureka 6 (Erynn Their 2, Kronsperger 2).
Bigfork def.
Libby 23-25, 25-19, 11-25, 25-21, 16-14
Late match, no stats