Ready at the Net

Volleyball season has officially begun for the Glacier Wolfpack and Flathead Bravettes, and both teams are having to rebuild a bit, each with just 2-3 seniors.

Glacier is coming off a Western AA Divisional title that was helped greatly by nine seniors that graduated. Flathead made the semis of that divisional and ended up 10-17; some big hitters graduated from the Bravettes as well. 

Glacier 

Among the players lost to graduation was Haven Speer, the Western AA Player of the Year on a team that went 20-9 with two losses coming at the State AA tournament.  

Back is senior libero Kenedee Moore, senior right side hitter Jaidyn Pevey and junior middle hitter Mali Carroll, who came on at divisionals. 

“Mali (pronounced MOLLY) is a great blocker and has played a lot of volleyball,” Glacier coach Christy Harkins said, also noting that Pevey had a success this past spring in the high jump.  

“Those are the kids that got varsity time last year. After that our starting lineup is in flux right now, because we have so many young players that are talented and earning their time.” 

Five seniors are on the roster, including outside hitter Sydnie Ryan and defensive specialists Nakiah Persinger and Olivia Anderson.  

The Wolfpack lost its opening home matches to Great Falls High and Great Falls CMR on Saturday, winning a game in each match. The Eastern AA seems to still have the power, after a 14-2 performance the first weekend. 

But Harkins likes what the Pack has built; it’s just a case of adjusting to a season that includes no divisional tournament — instead the top six Western AA teams will have a series of play-in matches for State. 

“With the seventh and eighth team not even getting a playoff match, that puts a lot of intensity on conference matches,” Harkins said. “The goal is obviously to be near the top of the conference, to get that berth into state.” 

Flathead 

After a state tournament berth in 2021 (and a win there), the Bravettes fell back in the league standings last fall and then return just three with a lot of varsity experience: Senior libero Kendall Kratofil, sophomore setter Anna Bain and senior middle blocker Emma Eve.  

Coach Emily Russell’s crew did manage one of those Western AA wins last weekend, however: The Bravettes beat Great Falls High in five games. 

Tailyr Reese is the third senior for Flathead, and Russell mentioned juniors outside hitters Addy Smith, Addison Thornsberry, Emy O’Dell and Vellah Boles.  

Hannah Cantrell is a setter, fellow junior Katie Manning is a defensive specialist and juniors Olivia Neva and Bristol Lenz are right-side hitters. 

“We're young, but promising,” Russell said. “We battled hard against Great Falls and CMR. Both matches we played really, really tough. It’s nice to have an opening weekend at home, but to also battle those teams provides some positive takeaways.” 

Both the Pack and Bravettes have a Crossover Tournament this weekend in Helena. They’ll play the three Billings schools and Belgrade on Saturday. 

    Glacier's Kenedee Moore (4) passes to a teammate against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Sept. 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)