Glacier tops Flathead in thriller
From left, Glacier's Sidney Gulick (1), Alyssa AuClaire (11), Aubrie Rademacher (8), Kynzie Mohl (10) and Kaylee Fritz (5) celebrate after a point against Flathead during crosstown volleyball at Glacier High School on Thursday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Flathead's Kaitlyn Kalenga (11) spikes past Glacier's Aubrie Rademacher (8) and Kynzie Mohl (10) during crosstown volleyball at Glacier High School on Thursday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
The first two sets might have belonged to the Flathead Bravettes but the Glacier Wolfpack fought hard for the rest.
Glacier beat Flathead 25-27, 22-25, 25-20, 25-23, 15-12 at Glacier High School on Thursday.
“I was very proud of them for battling back,” Glacier coach Christy Harkins said. “Even from the first set where it was 25-27 it was well matched. I had confidence that we could come back and they did a great job with it.”
The victory puts Glacier solidly in third place in Western AA at 4-1 in league play and 5-6 overall.
“In my mind im trying to stay out of the 4-5 playoff game,” Harkins said. “We are working hard to keep ourselves moving up in the conference standings.”
Harkins had a tough time singling out any one player that was a difference-maker for the Wolfpack.
“Anytime you have to play that long you have to rely on your setter [Kaylee Fritz],” Harkins said.
“She’s out there for every point in the match and she did a great job.”
She added: “Kacey Hill (defensive specialist) did a great job.”
Flathead is 3-2 in Western AA and 7-4 overall.
Kills — Flathead 44 (Julia Burden 21), Glacier 50 (Sidney Gulick 12, Aubrey Rademacher 12); Assists — Flathead 45 (Mayson Moore 39), Glacier 43 (Kaylee Fritz 43); Blocks — Flathead 15 (Kalenga 8, Kenna Johnson 6), Glacier 7 (Kynzie Mohl 7); Digs — 56 (Maddie Lindbom 16, Burden 12), Glacier 74 (Gulick 13); Aces — Flathead 15 (Burden 5), Glacier 14 (Fritz 5).
Whitefish 3, Ronan 1
WHITEFISH — In Western A play, the Whitefish Bulldogs took out the Ronan Maidens in four sets.
“The girls played well tonight,” Whitefish coach Addy Connelly said. “They were scrappy and came back together after a loss in the second game. Our hitters became more consistent and our defense read the ball better than we have all season.”
Scores were 25-16, 20-25, 25-21-25-13.
Luci Ridgeway served five aces and Kaiah Moore had 19 digs.
Whitefish: Aces — 7 (Luci Ridgeway 5); Kills — 39 (Ridgeway 11, Kaiah Moore 10); Assists — 31 (Jenny Patten 16, Mikenna Ells 14); Blocks — 7 (Jadi Walburn 4); Digs — 58 (Moore 19, Jasmine Matern 11, Ridgeway 11).
Scoring information for Ronan was not available.
Polson 3, Libby 2
POLSON — Polson hosted Libby and defeated their guest in five sets, 25-10, 10-25, 25-23, 18-25, 17-15.
Libby won the fourth set to force the extra frame.
Polson’s Ara Mercer netted 26 of the team’s 80 digs.
Kills — Libby 25 (McKenzie Proffitt 9), Polson 47 (Maggie Todd 18, Misty Tenas 11); Assists — Libby 34 (Kylee Quinn 30), Polson 39 (Lena Pawloski 18, Berkley Ellis 16); Aces — Libby 12 (Sheyla Gallagher 4, Quinn 4), Polson 10 (Pawloski 2, Hallie Moss 2, Grace Quinones 2); Blocks —Libby 8 (Proffitt 6), Polson 8 (Tenas 4, Quinones 2); Digs — Libby 49 (Ashlyn Monigold 25), Polson 80 (Ara Mercer 26, Kobbey Smith 25).