Florence hands Bigfork first loss at Western B divisional volleyball
ANACONDA — Florence advanced to the championship match of the Western B divisional volleyball tournament by downing Bigfork 25-21, 25-18, 25-23 in semifinal play Friday evening.
Florence will now play the winner of today’s 11 a.m. loser-out match between Bigfork and Thompson Falls. The title match is set for 1 p.m.
Earlier Friday, Thompson Falls rallied to defeat Libby 17-25, 27-25, 25-12, 25-18 in a loser-out match. It was a second straight tough loss for Libby (14-5 overall), who fell to Bigfork in five sets late Thursday evening. The Vikings won that marathon battle 23-25, 25-19, 11-25, 25-21, 16-14.
Libby, who came in as the top seed from 7B, opened with a 25-11, 26-24, 25-22 first-round win over Deer Lodge.
“It was heartbreaking,” Libby coach Cindy Ostrem-Johnston said of the Thompson Falls match.
“We came out and blocked strong.”
That gave Libby the win in the first set.
The Loggers, however, trailed 11-2 in the second set and never recovered after that.
“We had so much brilliance out there, were playing great but we couldn’t sustain it throughout the match,” Ostrem-Johnston said.
“Kind of mentally broke down.
“Great group of girls,” Ostrem-Johnston quickly added.
“No seniors ... I hope they comeback hungry and ready to achieve their goals next season.”
Libby showed great balance at the net in both losses.
Versus Thompson Falls, Brooklyn Rainer had 13 kills, Jayden Winslow 11 and Mehki Sykes 10.
Sykes and Emily Mossburg had six and five blocks, respectively.
Winslow had 16 kills and Sykes 15 in the Bigfork battle.
Mossburg, Rainer and Sykes and six blocks each.
Western B Volleyball Tournament
Friday
Anaconda HS
Semifinal
Florence def.
Bigfork 25-21, 25-18, 25-23
Kills — Florence 26 (Megan Kowalski 16), Bigfork NA. Blocks — Florence 3 (Autumn Round 3), Bigfork NA. Digs — Florence 24 (Shay Waldbillig 13), Bigfork NA. Assists — Florence 33 (Waldbillig 33), Bigfork NA. Aces — Florence 3 (Kowalski 3), Bigfork NA.
Loser Out
Friday
Thompson Falls def. Ronan,25-17, 25-7, 25-10
Kills - Thompson Falls 35 (Sierra Sorlie 8, Madison Wheeler 8, Ember Schwindt 8, Lexy Van Elswyk 8). Blocks - Thompson Falls 15 (Van Elswyk 4). Digs - Thompson Falls 38 (Schwindt 17). Assists - Thompson Falls 31 (Haley Wilson 31). Aces - Thompson Falls 9 (Wheeler 4).
Anaconda def.
Deer Lodge 25-20, 25-21, 25-21
Kills — Deer Lodge 35 (Darcy Walker 15), Anaconda 37 (Kelsie Oxnam 13). Blocks — Deer Lodge 8 (Kerstin Cooper 3, Alyssa Lamb 3), Anaconda 2.5 (Sydnie Peterson 1.5). Digs — Deer Lodge 79 (Alyssa Lamb 23), Anaconda 82 (Libby Jorgensen 31). Assists — Deer Lodge 30 (Kamryn Scully 25), Anaconda 31 (Felicity Kulaski 29). Aces — Deer Lodge 2 (Walker 1, Lamb 1), Anaconda 3 (three with one).
Thompson Falls
def. Libby 17-25, 27-25, 25-12, 25-18
Kills — Libby 42 (Brooklyn Rainer 13, Jayden Winslow 11, Mehki Sykes 10), Thompson Falls 36 (Ember Schwindt 14); Blocks — Libby 7 (Sykes 6, Emily Mossburg 5), Thompson Falls 8 (Haley Wilson 3, Lexy VanElswyk 3); Assists — Libby 40 (Allie Collins 39), Thompson Falls 31 (Wilson 31); Digs — Libby 62 (Winslow 18, Emma Gruber 16), Thompson Falls 31 (Madison Wheeler 11, Megan McKenzie 11); Aces — Libby 8 (Collins 2, Winslow 2, Haylee Cannon 2), Thompson Falls 6 (Wheeler 2, Bailey Pardee 2, Sierra Sorlie 2).
Fourth Place
Thompson Falls def. Eureka,
25-21, 25-21, 25-12
Kills - Thompson Falls 35 (Ember Schwindt 14), Eureka 27 (Kaylee Kronsperger 14). Blocks - Thompson Falls 11 (Schwindt 9), Eureka 4 (Kassi Peterson 3). Digs - Thompson Falls 37 (Sierra Sorlie 12), Eureka 36 (Rylee Morgan 12). Assists - Thompson Falls 30 (Haley Wilson 30), Eureka 23 (Liz Pacella 23). Aces - Thompson Falls 4 (four with one), Eureka 5 (Erynn Their 2).
Late Thursday
Bigfork def.
Libby 23-25, 25-19, 11-25, 25-21, 16-14
Kills — Libby 50 (Winslow 16, Sykes 15), Bigfork NA; Blocks — Libby 12 (Mossburg 6, Rainer 6, Sykes 6), Bigfork NA; Assists — Libby 41 (Collins 38), Bigfork NA; Digs — Libby 72 (Collins 18, Gruber 17, Winslow 15), Bigfork NA; Aces — Libby 14 (Winslow 4, L