VOLLEYBALL: Glacier sweeps crosstown

Glacier overpowered Flathead in a loud home gym to win the final crosstown volleyball match of the season in three sets, 25-8, 25-19, 25-23 on Thursday evening.

The Wolfpack used its strength up front to push past the young Bravettes, scoring 41 kills in the match.

The advantage was apparent from the start, when Glacier pulled out to a 16-3 lead in the first set, surrendering three of Flathead’s first four points on service errors. The Bravettes made a mini run with an ace and a pair of hitting errors from the Wolfpack to get to seven points, but Glacier closed the set on a 9-1 run to take a 1-0 lead.

The teams opened the second set with some sloppy play, committing six errors in the first 15 points. Flathead pulled out to a short lead for the first time since the scoring the first point, trading points with the Wolfpack early while building a 14-13 advantage.

Glacier scored five straight points to take control and closed out the set with a 25-19 win despite a run of service errors that threatened to derail its momentum.

“We started out strong, kind of let down a little bit, but were able to battle back there at the end so I’m pretty proud of them,” Glacier coach Christy Harkins said.

“I thought we passed the ball pretty well today, played pretty solid defense and were really good at the net.”

The Wolfpack controlled the third set early, taking a 9-3 lead. With Glacier ahead 19-13, Flathead began a rally that narrowed the score to 20-18. With the Bravettes facing match point, Flathead senior Tiana Johnson nearly forced extra points, scoring a pair of kills that cut the Wolfpack lead to 24-23. Her next chance, however, went long ending the match.

“Overall, that third match was probably one of our best sets of the year,” Bravettes coach Courtney Baker said.

“I saw a lot of good things ... They settled down. An atmosphere like this, this was loud, for a freshman and two sophomores it was a good run.”

Senior outside hitter Nikki Krueger led Glacier with 12 kills and Brietta Russell had a team-high 13 digs and three aces.

Johnson led Flathead with eight kills and three blocks.

“Tiana Johnson really stepped up,” Baker said. “She was swinging really hard, playing very confident. My setter Sierra Wilhelm (13 assists) was being mentally pretty strong that match.”

Glacier gets the next week off before heading to the state tournament in Bozeman on Nov. 10-12. Flathead will play a series of play-in matches to determine if it is able to make the eight-team field.

“We get a week off,” Harkins said. “There’s a few more things to work on, clearly, but it was a good competitive match. To be able to get that before we head off is good.”

“Going into the playoffs this week, I’m excited we get (Glacier) and (Missoula) Sentinel, the top two teams in our conference,” Baker said. “I think it’s only going to make us better.”

Glacier def. Flathead 25-8, 25-19, 25-23

Kills — Flathead 14 (Tiana Johnson 8), Glacier 41 (Nikki Krueger 12). Assists — Flathead 13 (Sierra Wilhelm 13), Glacier 33 (Ashley Montini 33). Blocks — Flathead 5 (Johnson 3), Glacier 9 (Kali Gulick 5). Digs — Flathead 37 (Julia Burden 8, Kristin Wade 8), Glacier 37 (Brietta Russell 13). Aces — Flathead 5 (Sierra Wilhelm 4), Glacier 10 (Russell 3, McKenna Johnson 3).