Flathead overcomes 2-set deficit, fire alarms for landmark win
Flathead's Savanna Sterck (23) goes up for a kill against Glacier's Sarah Downs (9) and Madeline Davis (22) at Glacier High School on Thursday, Sept. 30. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Flathead's Alliyah Stevens (25) goes up for a kill against Glacier's Sarah Downs (9) and Haven Speer (3) at Glacier High School on Thursday, Sept. 30. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Flathead's Kylie Munsinger (4) sets for a teammate against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Sept. 30. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Sammie Labrum (7) goes up for a kill against Flathead's Kennedy Moore (9) at Glacier High School on Thursday, Sept. 30. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Flathead's Maddy Moy (18) goes up for a kill against Glacier's Sarah Downs (9) and Haven Speer (3) at Glacier High School on Thursday, Sept. 30. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Sarah Downs (9) goes up for a kill against Flathead's Maddy Moy (18) and Savanna Sterck (25) at Glacier High School on Thursday, Sept. 30. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Flathead's Kennedy Moore (9) sets for a teammate against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Sept. 30. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Haven Speer (3) sets for a teammate against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Sept. 30. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Flathead's Sienna Sterck (22) goes up for a kill against Glacier's Haven Speer (3) at Glacier High School on Thursday, Sept. 30. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Sidney Gulick (2) goes for a kill against Flathead's Savanna Sterck (23) and Akilah Kubi (19) at Glacier High School on Thursday, Sept. 30. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
It was a long time coming — the Flathead Bravettes won their first crosstown volleyball game since 2018 on Thursday, rallying to beat host Glacier in five sets, despite a fire alarm’s best efforts.
Flathead swept the season series in 2018 but Glacier has owned it for the last two seasons.
“It’s kind of a blur, but I felt like the team just came out with the fire we knew we had and left it all out there, knowing that last week we also played in a five-set match,” Flathead’s second-year coach Emily Russell said. “It just comes down to taking care of business those last three sets. That’s all that matters.”
Glacier led by two sets, one a comeback after going down 23-17 (they won 26-24), but Flathead came out swinging in the third and took it all the way to the house.
Russell talked up her hitters before the game and they didn’t disappoint. Sisters Savanna and Sienna Sterck had 17 and nine kills respectively. Savanna’s total is even more impressive if you take Glacier’s relentless blocking into consideration.
“Sienna’s a little more crafty but Savanna’s the one with the power behind the ball,” Russell said. “They did a great job tonight.”
Savanna Sterck also added 14 digs and four aces. Maddy Moy had three blocks, Kylie Munsinger added 28 assists and libero Cyan Mooney had 18 digs.
Glacier (7-6 overall, 5-2 Western AA) has a big hitter of their own in senior Sidney Gulick, who had 22 of the Wolfpack’s 47 kills and three service aces. Maddie Frazier added 26 digs and Haven Speer all of Glacier’s 41 assists. Sarah Downs and Ella Farrell each recorded two blocks.
Flathead led by as much as five in the fourth set, which they won 25-20 despite losing setter Kennedy Moore to an ankle injury halfway through. The Bravettes were rolling.
“They took care of the ball, passing was great,” Russell said. “And the setters, even with Ken (Kennedy Moore) going down, we still found a way to win.”
Moore finished with 14 assists.
The fourth set was also notable for an unusual occurrence: Glacier High’s fire alarm went off three times, delaying play for several minutes each time. There was no fire, just a heat sensor acting up. And it seemed like each time play started up, the alarms began beeping and flashing again.
Eventually it was determined there was no danger to anyone in the building and both teams agreed to continue the game.
Flathead (8-5, 6-1) won that set, and the next. The Flathead student section rushed the court. They haven’t been able to do that at a crosstown volleyball game in a while. It surely was sweeter to do it in Glacier’s gym. Russell was thrilled.
“My whole team did a great job,” Russell said. “We did what we came here to do — win.”
Flathead def. Glacier 21-25, 24-26, 25-20, 15-10
Kills — Flathead 46 (Savanna Sterck 17, Sienna Sterck 9), Glacier 47 (Sidney Gulick 22). Assists — Flathead 33 (Kylie Munsinger 28, Kennedy Moore 14), Glacier 41 (Haven Speer 41). Digs — Flathead 85 (Cyan Mooney 18, Savanna Sterck 14), Glacier 75 (Maddie Frazier 26). Blocks — Flathead 9 (Maddy Moy 3), Glacier 6 (Sarah Downs 2, Ella Farrell 2). Aces — Flathead 6 (Savanna Sterck 4, Mooney 2), Glacier 4 (Gulick 3).
