Flathead survives, Glacier bows out of Divisionals

MISSOULA — Flathead moved on but Glacier bowed out Friday, in loser-out action at the Western AA Divisional volleyball tournament, at the Missoula Big Sky gym.

Flathead beat Butte in four sets to advance to the 9 a.m. Saturday loser-out match against Missoula Sentinel. The Spartans fell to No. 6 seed Missoula Hellgate late Friday.

Missoula Big Sky ousted Glacier in four sets.

Flathead 3, Butte 1

A strong service game and 13 kills from Sienna Sterck lifted the Bravettes, who prevailed 26-24, 25-21, 25-22, 25-17.

Olive Lyngholm added nine kills, 23 digs and also had two of her team’s 13 aces. Cyan Mooney had five aces, and Georgia Wilson added four to go with 30 assists.

“We just played really hard,” Flathead coach Emily Russell said. “It was nothing new to play early in the morning – we’ve been practicing in the mornings a lot. We started a little slow, but we were able to come back and win the first set after being down six or so.

“We just battled hard and are ready to battle tomorrow.”

In addition to her kills, Sterck had 11 digs.

Flathead improved to 8-18, while Butte ended its year 2-24.

All of Saturday’s matches are at the Big Sky gym. The consolation match is at 2 p.m. and the championship is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Big Sky def. Glacier 3-1

The Eagles withstood 12 kills from Glacier’s Sarah Downs to eliminate the Wolfpack 16-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-21.

Haven Speer had 22 assists for the Pack, which came in as the No. 3 seed and ended up 9-17. Senior Maddie Frazier had 26 digs and two aces, and Leila Major had two blocks at the net.

The Eagles improved to 6-20 on their home floor.

“Proud of these girls and this season,” first-year Glacier coach Courtney Baker said. “They fought to third place and went out with a lot of heart. It was an honor to coach them. Maddie Frazier gave her heart for this team and she will be missed.”