VOLLEYBALL: Glacier takes down Helena in five

Glacier squeezed out the fifth game 15-13 to earn a razor-tight win against Helena High on Saturday afternoon in a Western AA conference volleyball showdown.

The Wolfpack (6-5 overall, 1-1 Western AA) rebounded from a four-game loss to Helena Capital on Friday by edging the Bengals 25-13, 23-25, 27-25, 22-25, 15-13.

“To be able to bounce back was very good,” Glacier coach Christy Harkins said. “Those games were all tight. It was fun volleyball and we’re pretty happy to come out on the winning end of that. We feel pretty lucky.”

Glacier was terrific at the net, holding a vicious Helena attack to just 39 kills and recording 13 blocks, led by six from Kali Gulick. The Pack also put down 51 kills, paced by Nikki Krueger’s 20.

“We were much more aggressive at the net today, much more consistent,” Harkins said. “And our blockers did a nice job with them, they have some great hitters.”

McKenna Johnson had 29 assists to lead Glacier and Brietta Russell added 19 digs. The Wolfpack also had 12 aces, three each for Anna Schrade, Abi Fiske and Johnson.

Taelyr Krantz led the Bengals with 15 kills. Helena had 93 digs, 23 from Kaci Lloyd.

Glacier def. Helena 25-13, 23-25, 27-25, 22-25, 15-13

Kills — Helena 39 (Taelyr Krantz 15), Glacier 51 (Nikki Krueger 20). Blocks — Helena 6 (Alexis Danz 3), Glacier 13 (Kali Gulick 8). Digs — Helena 93 (Kaci Lloyd 23), Glacier 49 (Brietta Russell 19). Assists — Helena 36 (Kendra Kloker 18), Glacier 46 (McKenna Johnson 29). Aces — Helena 9 (Lloyd 4), Glacier 12 (Anna Schrade 3, Abi Fiske 3, Johnson 3).

Helena Capital 3, Flathead 0

Tiana Johnson led Flathead in kills, blocks, digs and aces but it was not enough as the Bravettes lost 25-20, 25-19, 25-18 to Helena Capital in Western AA conference action.

Flathead (1-8, 0-2 Western AA) managed 24 kills in the match, paced by Johnson’s 10. The senior added a block, seven digs and three aces.

Katie Culver led Capital with 10 kills and McKenna Pocha tallied four aces.

Helena Capital def. Flathead 25-20, 25-19, 25-18

Kills — Capital 36 (Katie Culver 10), Flathead 24 (Tiana Johnson 10). Blocks — Capital 0, Flathead 2 (Johnson, Taylor Henley). Digs — Capital 39 (Sarah Ashley 12), Flathead 28 (Johnson 7, Abbi Chavez 6). Assists — Capital 33 (Celina Sanchez 28), Flathead 15 (Sierra Wilhelm 8, Bailey Nunn 7). Aces — Capital 11 (McKenna Pocha 4), Flathead 7 (Johnson 3).

Anaconda Quad

ANACONDA — Libby and Bigfork cruised to a pair of victories.

Libby beat the host school 25-22, 25-23, 25-15 and rolled over St. Ignatius 25-14, 25-8, 25-12.

Brooklyn Rainer, 19 total, and Mehki Sykes, 16, were the kill leaders on the day for Libby (6-1).

The Loggers had a banner effort at the service line with 26 aces for the two matches. Emily Mossburg totaled seven.

Libby coach Cindy Ostrem-Johnston said her team took care of business, playing its third match in two days.

The Loggers trailed by nine points in the first set with Anaconda, but regrouped nicely to finish strong.

Bigfork dropped St. Ignatius 25-15, 25-12, 25-12 and Anaconda 25-17, 25-19, 25-21.

Abbie Fraley had 25 kills on the day while Brooke Fraley had three blocks in the Anaconda match.

Libby def. Anaconda 25-22, 25-23, 25-15

Kills — Libby 40 (Brooklyn Rainer 13, Mehki Sykes 9), Anaconda NA; Blocks — Libby 6 (Emily Mossburg 3), Anaconda NA; Assists — Libby 33 (Alli Collins 17), Anaconda NA; Digs — Libby 35 (Emma Gruber 15, Jayden Winslow 13), Anaconda NA; Aces — Libby 12 (Winslow 3, Mossburg 3), Anaconda NA.

Libby def. St. Ignatius 25-14, 25-8, 25-12

Kills — Libby 22 (Sykes 7, Rainer 6), St. Ignatius NA; Blocks — Libby 6 (Sykes 4, Mossburg 4), St. Ignatius NA; Assists — Libby 20 (Collins 12), St. Ignatius NA; Digs — Libby 19 (Gruber 5), St. Ignatius NA; Aces — Libby 14 (Mossburg 4), St. Ignatius NA.

Bigfork def. St. Ignatius 25-15, 25-12, 25-12

Kills—Bigfork 23 (Abbie Fraley 7), St. Ignatius NA; Assists—Bigfork 21 (Talia Wicklund 20), St. Ignatius NA; Digs—Bigfork 39 (Abby Ellison 13), St. Ignatius NA; Aces—Bigfork 10 (Fraley), St. Ignatius NA; Blocks—Bigfork 1 (Wilson Vogt), St. Ignatius NA.

Bigfork def. Anaconda 25-17, 25-19, 25-21

Kills—Bigfork 32 (Fraley 18), Anaconda NA; Assists—Bigfork 31 (Wicklund 31), Anaconda NA; Digs—Bigfork 55 (Jaclyn Saunders 13), Anaconda NA; Blocks—Bigfork 5 (Brooke Fraley 3), Anaconda NA; Aces—Bigfork 8 (Ellison 3), Anaconda NA.

Florence Quad

FLORENCE — Eureka and Troy split action versus Florence and Missoula Loyola.

Florence defeated Eureka 25-18, 23-25, 25-15, 25-18, but the Lions defeated Missoula Loyola 25-5, 25-12, 25-11.

Florence also took care of Troy 25-14, 25-14, 25-9, but the Trojans beat Missoula Loyola (scores not available).

Kassi Peterson had 13 kills for Eureka in each outing.

Sami Rohrich was the kill leader for Troy with four versus Florence and 14 against Loyola. Sarah Pierce also had 14 for Troy in the Loyola match.

Florence def. Eureka, 25-18, 23-25, 25-15, 25-18

Kills – Florence 46 (Hudsyn Doty 11), Eureka 26 (Kassi Peterson 13). Blocks – Florence 7 (Courtney Coleman 4), Eureka 0. Digs – Florence 47 (Hunter Doty 25), Eureka 44 (Kaylee Kronsperger 12, Peterson 12). Assists – Florence 38 (Shay Waldbillig 37), Eureka 26 (Liz Pacella 26). Aces – Florence 10 (Megan Kowalski 4), Eureka 7 (three with two).

Eureka def. Missoula Loyola, 25-5, 25-12, 25-11

Kills – Eureka 31 (Peterson 13). Blocks – Eureka 0. Digs – Eureka 25 (Kronsperger 8). Assists – Eureka 27 (Pacella 27). Aces – Eureka 21 (Erynn Their 8).

Florence def. Troy, 25-14, 25-14, 25-9

Kills – Florence 26 (Hudsyn Doty 8, Kowalski 8), Troy 7 (Sami Rohrich 4). Blocks – Florence 1 (Kowalski), Troy 2 (Alyssa Lewis 2). Digs – Florence 22 (Hunter Doty 9), Troy 19 (Kaitlyn Downey 13). Assists – Florence 21 (Waldbillig 21), Troy 6 (Allie Brown 5). Aces – Florence 20 (Hunter Doty 7), Troy 3 (Lewis 2).

Troy def. Missoula Loyola, scores not available

Kills – Troy 47 (Sami Rohrich 14, Sarah Pierce 14). Blocks – Troy 5 (Lewis 3). Digs – Troy 44 (Downey 30). Assists – Troy 38 (Brown 35). Aces – Troy 13 (Lewis 6).