Volleyball: Glacier tips Flathead in semis

BUTTE — Crosstown III was a battle, with Glacier needing five sets — and 18 kills from Sarah Downs — to subdue Flathead in the semifinals of the Western AA volleyball tournament Friday.

Kenedee Moore had 20 digs and Ella Farrell had 12 kills and four blocks for Glacier in a match that had plenty of action at the net: Three Bravettes had at least 13 kills.

In the end the Wolfpack (19-7) prevailed 19-25, 25-16, 22-25, 25-22, 15-10 at the Civic Center, earning a spot in Saturday’s championship and one of four berths into next week’s State AA tournament in Bozeman.

Flathead (10-16) can do the same with a win over Helena Capital (6-20) Saturday at 10:30 a.m. The third-fourth match is set for noon. 

Glacier and Helena (18-8) meet for the championship at 1:30 p.m.

“I’m so proud of the grit the girls showed today,” Glacier coach Christy Harkins said. “Flathead didn’t ever give up and we had to fight hard for every point we earned today.

“Our captains, Sarah Downs and Haven Speer, were the glue that kept our team together. Kenedee Moore and Ella Farrell came up with some key plays today."

Olive Lyngholm had 17 kills and 18 digs for Flathead, while Sienna Sterck had 14 kills and 23 digs. The Bravettes shook off a 5-0 Glacier run in a fourth set that featured three lead changes and eight ties, to force the fifth.

Glacier won the critical third set with a 6-0 run while Kenedee Moore was serving — it rallied the Wolfpack into a 24-20 lead.

In the fifth set Glacier took a 10-5 lead and brought home its third win in three matches with Flathead.

“The girls battled so hard,” Flathead coach Emily Russell said. “That was a great match from start to finish. I’m very proud of my team. We’re excited for tomorrow.”

Glacier def. Flathead 19-25, 25-16, 25-22, 22-25, 15-10

Kills — Flathead 55 (Olive Lyngholm 17, Sienna Sterck 14, Emma Eve 13), Glacier 52 (Sarah Downs 18, Ella Farrell 12, Leila Major 7). Assists — Flathead 40 (Anna Bain 38), Glacier 48 (Haven Speer 39). Digs — Flathead 75 (Sterck 23, Lyngholm 18, Kendall Kratofil 17), Glacier 79 (Kenedee Moore 20). Blocks — Flathead 3.5 (Zia Georgeff 1.5), Glacier 8 (Ella Farrell 4). Aces — Flathead 4 (no leader), Glacier 2 (no leader).

Western AA

Butte Civic Center

Thursday

Glacier def Hellgate 25-9, 25-18, 25-20

Flathead def. Butte 25-19, 25-22, 25-16

Missoula Sentinel def. Helena Capital 25-14, 25-11, 25-21

Helena def. Missoula Big Sky 25-23, 25-13, 25-14 

Friday

Game 5: Butte def. Hellgate 25-15, 25-21, 25-15, loser out

Game 6: Capital def. Big Sky 25-18, 25-18, 25-22, loser out

Game 7: Glacier def. Flathead 19-25, 25-16, 25-22, 22-25, 15-10, semifinal

Game 8: Helena def. Sentinel 3-2, semifinal

Saturday

Game 9: Butte (7-19) vs. Sentinel (15-11), 9 a.m., loser out

Game 10: Capital (6-20) vs. Flathead (10-16), 10:30, loser out

Game 11: Winner 9 vs. Winner 10, noon, third-fourth

Game 12: Glacier (19-7) vs. Helena (18-8), Championship, 1:30 p.m.

Western A

Polson

Thursday

Game 1: Frenchtown def. Polson 3-1

Game 2: Hamilton def. Columbia Falls 3-1

Game 3: Whitefish def. Corvallis 3-1

Game 4: Dillon def. Bigfork 3-0

Game 5: Frenchtown def. Hamilton 3-0, quarterfinal

Game 6: Whitefish def,. Dillon 3-2, quarterfinal

Friday

Game 7: Polson def.. Columbia Falls 3-0, loser out

Game 8: Bigfork def. Corvallis 3-1, lo

Game 9: Polson def. Dillon 3-1, lo

Game 10: Hamilton def. Bigfork 3-1, lo

Game 11: Frenchtown def. Whitefish 3-1, semifinal

Game 12: Hamilton def. Polson 3-0, loser fourth

Saturday

Game 13: Hamilton vs. Whitefish, 10 a.m., loser third

Game 14: Hamilton vs. Winner 13, noon, championship

Game 15: If necessary, 2 p.m.