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Volleyball

Hellgate stops Flathead; Libby, Columbia Falls roll

The Daily Inter Lake

MISSOULA — Flathead pulled out a win in the opening set, but Missoula Hellgate prevailed in the next three for a hard-fought 21-25, 25-18, 25-20, 27-25 Western AA volleyball victory on Saturday.

Flathead falls to 3-6 overall, 0-2 in league play.

“Inconsistency,” Flathead coach Nicole Fairclough said of the Bravettes.

“We’re trying to find our rhythm as a team.”

Hellgate dominated net play with 48 kills and eight blocks. Flathead had 28 kills, 11 by Julia Burden, and 5.5 blocks, six by Madde Boles.

“Hellgate had some big hitters tonight,” Fairclough said.

“They played us really well.”

Bailey Nunn led Flathead in assists (21) and aces (three).

Sierra Wilhelm had 17 digs for the Bravettes.

“She played the back row very well,” Fairclough said of Wilhelm.

“She dug and played some good defense.

“Bailey set all the hitters really well,” Fairclough added.

“She served really tough. That helped us out, kept us in every game.”

Flathead is back in action Thursday for the first crosstown match of the season at Glacier.

Missoula Hellgate

def. Flathead, 21-25, 25-18, 25-20, 27-25

Flathead — Kills 28 (Julia Burden 11). Blocks 5.5 (Madde Boles 6). Digs 52 (Sierra Wilhelm 17). Assists 21 (Bailey Nunn 21). Aces 8 (Nunn 3).

Hellgate — Kills 48 (Kate Koenig 17). Blocks 8 (Kylie Lunday 7). Digs 62 (Liza Littig 20). Assists 48 (Sydney McDaniel 44). Aces 10 (Koenig 5).

Libby 3, Ronan 0

RONAN — Libby stayed perfect on the season by blowing by Ronan 25-18, 25-19, 25-10 for a Class A Northwest Conference victory.

Libby had 37 kills, nine by Mehki Sykes, to just eight for Ronan.

Alli Collins topped the Loggers (8-0 and 6-0) in assists (33) and aces (four).

Libby has a nonconference match on Tuesday at Eureka.

Libby def. Ronan 25-18, 25-19, 25-10

Libby — Kills 37 (Mehki Sykes 9). Blocks 4 (Emily Mossberg 2). Digs 31 (Jayden Winslow 7). Assists 33 (Alli Collins 31). Aces 10 (Collins 4).

Ronan — Kills 8 (Louetta Conko-Camel 2, Marissa Mock 2). Blocks 1 (Madeline McCrea, Regan Clairmont). Digs 45 (Conko-Camel 9). Assists 8 (Tiana Ulutoa 7). Aces 4 (Conko-Camel 2).

Columbia Falls 3,

Browning 0

COLUMBIA FALLS — Ryley Kehr totaled 10 kills and Trista Cowan wound up with seven to pace Columbia Falls to a 26-24, 25-18, 25-18 Class A Northwest Conference victory over Browning.

Columbia Falls had 27 kills to 12 for Browning.

Hannah Schweikert had 24 assists and four aces for Columbia Falls. Both were team highs.

“We made a few changes,” Columbia Falls coach Jolandie Brooks said.

“The girls are still getting used to their rotations. For the girls to come out and take care of business in three, I was real proud of them.”

Columbia Falls (5-4 and 3-3) plays at Whitefish on Tuesday.

Columbia Falls def.

Browning 26-24, 25-18, 25-18

Browning — Kills 12 (A. McEvers 4). Blocks 8 (D. SkunkCap 2). Digs 27 (R. Jordan 8). Assists 10 (O. Hall 10). Aces 6 (Hall 3).

Columbia Falls — Kills 27 (Ryley Kehr 10, Trista Cowan 7). Blocks 3 (Kehr 1, Stella Bistodeau 1). Digs 57 (Angellica Street 24, Tallia Sova 11). Assists 25 (Hannah Schweikert 24). Aces 11 (Schweikert 4).

Bigfork 3, Troy 0

TROY —Abby Ellison had 15 kills and Jaime Berg two blocks to help Bigfork blank Troy 25-23, 25-16, 25-15 in a Class B matchup.

Bigfork def. Troy, 25-23, 25-16, 25-15

Bigfork — Kills 31 (Abby Ellison 15). Blocks 2 (Jaime Berg 2). Digs 69 (Brooke Fraley 17). Assists 21 (Aubrey Halverson 20). Aces 6 (Six with 1).

Troy — No stats available

Friday

Hamilton def. Bigfork, 25-23, 25-15, 25-13

Bigfork — Kills 12 (Abby Ellison 7). Blocks 3 (Brooke Fraley, Jaime Berg, Reese Nissen 1). Digs 33 (Ellison 8, Fraley 8). Assists 11 (Aubrey Halverson 11). Aces 9 (Ellison 2, Halverson 2, Berg 2, Lydia Shelley 2).

Hamilton — Kills 34 (Caitlin Dillon 8). Blocks 2 (Hayley Hudgins 1). Digs 28 (Brooke Huxtable 9). Assists 34 (Dillon 19).