Glacier rolls FHS in 4 sets
The Glacier Wolfpack celebrate a game-winning ace in the first game against Flathead on Thursday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier middle hitter Aubrie Rademacher tips the ball over Flathead defenders Julia Burden (21) and Hannah O'Dell (11) during the second game at Glacier Thursday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)
After failing to close out a deciding third set, Glacier shut the door on a possible comeback in the fourth of its crosstown volleyball match against Flathead, running off 13 of the first 15 points in the final set to win the match 25-22, 25-17, 22-25, 25-16 on Thursday evening at Glacier High School.
The Wolfpack (3-1 Western AA, 8-4 overall) survived on a series of late runs to take the first two sets, falling behind 20-17 in the first before rallying and scoring the final five points of the frame. Glacier pulled away with six straight points midway through the second set and finished off the Bravettes with the final four points to take a 2-0 lead.
Flathead (0-3, 3-7) learned its lesson in the third set, building a strong lead of its own. The Bravettes, who built modest leads in the first two sets before seeing long rallies wipe them away, built a three-point lead early and maintained it for most of the set.
Glacier put together a four-point swing to tie the match at 18, but Flathead earned it right back. The Bravettes rode the momentum of a late roof block and an ace to turn the tables on Glacier, winning the final four points of the third to keep the match alive.
“That opportunity to win, letting it slip away in Game 3, coming back in Game 4, we had a chance to win, we need to go do this. That was probably the most important thing we talked about,” Glacier coach Christy Harkins said.
Errors cost Flathead in the final set, however, with a series of long hits allowing Glacier to string together eight straight points to take a 10-1 lead. Three straight kills from Anna Schrade pushed the lead to 13-2 and while the Bravettes were able to chip into the lead, they weren’t able to turn the tides, with Kali Gulick closing out the match on a kill.
“I thought we played with a lot of energy,” Harkins said. “I thought we did some really good things offensively. I was proud of our defensive effort as well.”
Schrade finished with a match-high 22 kills and Gulick had seven blocks in the win.
Julia Buden had 13 kills and Maddie Boles five blocks for Flathead. Sierra Wilhelm finished with a match-high 13 digs.
“They battled but we’re still working on finding our rhythm for a full match,” Flathead coach Nicole Fairclough said. “It’s tough to start a game down 10-1, but I felt like they battled. They didn’t give up. They’re still going out and they’re still swinging. I’m proud of them tonight, it just didn’t end in our favor.”
Flathead is back in action Saturday hosting Missoula Sentinel.
Glacier plays at Missoula Hellgate on Tuesday.
Glacier def. Flathead 25-22, 25-17, 22-25, 25-16
Kills — Flathead 32 (Julia Burden 13), Glacier 55 (Anna Schrade 22). Assists — Flathead 31 (Bailey Nunn 31), Glacier 51 (Ashley Montini 49). Digs — Flathead 49 (Sierra Wilhelm 13), Glacier 33 (Katy Halland 7, McKenna Johnson 7). Blocks — Flathead 10 (Maddie Boles 5), Glacier 11 (Kali Gulick 7). Aces — Flathead 9 (no leader), Glacier 9 (Ashley Montini 6).