Flathead spikers second at Western AA divisional

The Flathead Bravettes matched up well with the Missoula Sentinel Spartans in the Western AA divisional championship game, but fell in four games Saturday, 15-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-19.

Flathead earns the second seed out of the West going into the state tournament this week in Bozeman and has a lot to be confident about.

“We’re very optimistic going into this next week for sure,” Flathead coach Emily Russell said.

Friday night, the Bravettes secured their first trip to state since 2018 with an upset win over the Helena High Bengals.

Some of that momentum carried over to Saturday’s title game against Sentinel, where Flathead started off strong with a 25-15 win in the first set. After going up 6-5, the Bravettes never trailed and Sentinel only got as close as three points.

In the second set, Flathead drew even with Sentinel, 23-23, after trailing 19-12 but the Spartans got the last two kills they needed to win.

The third set wasn’t as close — Sentinel won 25-16 after taking control early. In the fourth set it was Flathead that came out swinging, literally, and got off to a 4-1 lead early. The Bravettes got as close as three points late but the Spartans scored the last three points needed to secure the divisional title.

Savanna Sterck and Maddy Moy put in standout performances for the Bravettes — Moy with eight kills and two blocks and Sterck with 11 kills and nine digs. Akilah Kubi had three blocks and Sienna Sterck had three service aces.

The All-Class State tournament starts Thursday in Bozeman at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.

“It’ll be a good experience for the girls,” Russell said. “I’m looking forward to next week... I’m very proud of my girls.”

Western AA volleyball

Championship

Missoula Sentinel def. Flathead

15-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-19

Kills — Flathead 38 (Savanna Sterck 11, Maddy Moy 8), Sentinel 42 (Quincy Frohlich 13). Assists — Flathead 31 (Kylie Munsinger 15), Sentinel 39 (Paige Sawyer 30). Blocks — Flathead 10 (Akilah Kubi 3, Moy 2), Sentinel 11 (Madison Handley 3). Digs — Flathead 41 (Kennedy Moore 10, Cyan Mooney 9, Savanna Sterck 9), Sentinel (82 (Raia Chase 24). Aces 9 (Sienna Sterck 3), Sentinel 2 (no leader).

Consolation final

Glacier 3, Butte 1

After a disappointing loss to Butte on Thursday, the Glacier Wolfpack bounced back to win two matches Saturday and earn a third-place finish at the Western AA divisional, earning a trip to the state tournament.

“I’m super proud of our kids battling back after losing in the first round and then showing up this morning really aggressive and confident and doing a great job out there,” Glacier coach Christy Harkins said.

After beating Hellgate Friday, Glacier went to work against Helena High Saturday morning in the consolation semifinal. The Wolfpack swept the Bengals and Sidney Gulick had 18 kills and two service aces. Ella Farrell made four blocks.

“They’re a very good team,” Harkins said of Helena. “They’re very well coached, and so it was great for our girls to come out and get a good win over them.”

In the consolation semifinal, Glacier got its revenge against Butte in four games, with Gulick again as a big factor — she had 16 kills, 22 digs, and three blocks. Sarah Downs and Farrell also made three blocks. Haven Speer totaled 37 assists.

Harkins was impressed by her team’s resilience in the tournament — going from a tough first-round loss to winning multiple matches in one day — and essentially fighting their way into State.

“You’re going to have to play a lot of games in a day potentially at State and so we were working on that,” Harkins said. “I was proud of them to regroup and have them come back and get another one this afternoon. It was great.”

Glacier def. Butte 17-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-21

Kills — Glacier 39 (Sidney Gulick 16), Butte 34 (Brooke McGrath 14). Assists — Glacier 37 (Haven Speer 37), Butte 27 (Olivia Quinn 15, Katie Keller 11). Blocks — Glacier 8 (Gulick 3, Sarah Downs 3, Ella Farrell 3), Butte 11 (Laura Rosenleaf 3, Ashley Olson 3). Digs — Glacier 68 (Gulick 22), Butte 51 (Jordyn Bolton 13, McGrath 10). Aces — Glacier 8 (Maddie Frazier 3), Butte 51 (Bolton 2, McGrath 2).

Consolation semifinal

Glacier def. Helena 27-25, 25-17, 25-22

Kills — Glacier 43 (Sidney Gulick 18), Helena 32 (Lauren Heuiser 13, Alex Bullock 9). Assists — Glacier 40 (Haven Speer 36), Helena 32 (Katelyn Onespot-Danforth 20, Kim Feller 11). Blocks — Glacier 7 (Ella Farrell 4), Helena 6 (Heuiser 3, Feller 2). Digs — Glacier 46 (Maddie Frazier 20), Helena 47 (Morin Blaise 11, Onespot-Danforth 10, Feller 10). Aces — Glacier 4 (Gulick 2), Helena 7 (Sydney Mattfeldt 2).

Butte def. Helena Capital 25-22, 25-21, 25-18

Kills — Capital 22 (Rachael Stacey 7), Butte 26 (Mollee Conlan 10). Assists — Capital 21 (Kayla Almquist 18), Butte 19 (Katie Keller 14). Blocks — Capital 4 (Tey’ana Lintner 3), Butte 8 (Conlan 7). Digs — Capital 38 (Kennedy Pocha 12), Butte 42 (Jordyn Bolton 10, Keller 8). Aces — Capital 7 (Almquist 3), Butte 9 (Joscelyn Cleveland 3, Keller 3).