The Lady Falcons of Florence had a couple of hiccups but came away with the No. 1 seed heading into the Western B Divisional in Ronan this week. Although they have not dropped a match all season, the usually unflappable Falcons had some minor problems in their game against Loyola and again against St. Ignatius. But this experienced team rallied in both instances and came through to win first, the match against Loyola; and then against St. Ignatius for the top seed.
Florence, St. Ignatius, Deer Lodge and Loyola will join the top four teams from District 7B at the Western B Divisional. Eureka is the No. 1 seed from 7B. Joining the Lions are Thompson Falls, Troy and Bigfork.
The Lady Falcons had a couple of different players step up on Saturday. Florence won the first game against Loyola but then uncharacteristically started dropping balls and missing digs in the second game and fell to Loyola. Florence’s woes continued for a bit in the third game before the team settled down and played solid volleyball. Courtney Byrne and Makenzie Bauck found their range at the net. Melody Maki served up five solid points to tip the momentum back to the Lady Falcons. Byrne had 15 kills in the match, many of which were set up by Bauck.
Florence def. Loyola, 25-12, 13-25, 25-16, 25-17.
Kills – Florence 41 (Courtney Byrne 15), Loyola 19 (Sierre Tiede 9). Blocks – Florence 17 (Melody Maki 6), Loyola 10 (Tiede 3). Digs – Florence 102 (Karli Cotton 33), Loyola 40 (Olivia Round 11). Assists – Florence 39 (Makenzie Bauck 23), Loyola 18 (Emily McCue 13). Aces – Florence 14 (Casey Mann 5), Loyola 5 (Kari Tirrell 2).
Hayley Cole had three blocks against St. Ignatius and Karli Cotton picked up 41 digs in the win. Although Florence won the first two games of the match, Mission came back to win the third game before Florence won the fourth and final game. Cotton also had three aces in the match. Florence def. St. Ignatius, 25-17, 25-8, 19-25, 25-17.
Kills – Florence 43 (Courtney Byrne 14), St. Ignatius 29 (Sara Nerby, Stephanie Lewandowski 14). Blocks – Florence 10 (Hayley Cole 3), St. Ignatius 8 (Loren Erickson, Nerby 4). Digs – Florence 88 (Karli Cotton 41), St. Ignatius 68 (Erickson 20). Assists – Florence 39 (Makenzie Bauck 24), St. Ignatius 24 (Erickson 23). Aces – Florence 9 (Cotton 3), St. Ignatius 6 (Erickson, Lewandowski, Emyli Gillingham 2).
Victor and Darby were at the District 9 C tournament that was held at Valley Christian in Missoula. Drummond took the championship and Philipsburg finished second.
Darby opened against Valley Christian. After shaking off their initial nerves, the Lady Tigers came back to win the third game of the match and gave the Lady Eagles a run for their money in the fourth and final game of the match. Brianna Massey and Keely Ehmann each had eight kills in the match.
Valley Christian def. Darby, 25-13, 25-15, 18-25, 25-22.
Kills – Darby 28 (Brianna Massey, Keely Ehmann 8), Valley Christian 28 (Kaylee Velin 13). Blocks – Darby 5 (Jessica Campbell 4), Valley Christian 10 (Brielynna Lange, Velin 5). Digs – Darby 25 (Ehmann 6), Valley Christian 65 (Kaileigh Moser 20). Assists – Darby 22 (Sydney Bergren 14), Valley Christian 27 (Taylor Kelly 25). Aces – Darby 4 (Lacey Dolcater 3), Valley Christian 15 (Velin, Kelly 4).
The loss put Darby into the loser out round where they met up with Alberton. Behind the play of Massey and Sydney Bergren, the Lady Tigers swept the Panthers in three games.
Darby def. Alberton, 25-18, 25-18, 25-12.
Kills – Darby 23 (Sydney Bergren 6, Brianna Massey 6). Blocks – Darby 0. Digs – Darby 19 (Massey 7). Assists – Darby 18 (Keely Ehmann 9). Aces – Darby 13 (Bergren 4, Jessica Campbell 4).
Next up for the Lady Tigers were the Prospectors of Granite County. Darby scrapped and fought their way through five games but was unable to take the final game and the match. Ehmann had 12 kills and Bergren slapped down five aces.
Philipsburg def. Darby, 25-15, 22-25, 25-17, 23-25, 15-7.
Kills – Philipsburg 45 (Anna Pence 20), Darby 37 (Keely Ehmann 12). Blocks – Philipsburg 3 (Pence 2), Darby 3 (Brianna Massey 2). Digs – Philipsburg 23 (Kylie Connors 4, Nikki Shattuck 4), Darby 39 (Massey 10). Assists – Philipsburg 35 (Liz Graham 33), Darby 26 (Sydney Bergren 11). Aces – Philipsburg 21 (Graham 6), Darby 15 (Bergren 5).
Victor opened against Philipsburg who defeated them in three games. Courtney Dillard had two blocks and Skye Mitcham had six digs for the Lady Pirates.
Philipsburg def. Victor, 25-8, 25-7, 25-14.
Kills – Philipsburg 18 (Nikki Shattuck 8), Victor 10 (Adrienne Cox 4). Blocks – Philipsburg 0, Victor 2 (Courtney Dillard 2). Digs – Philipsburg 6, Victor 29 (Skye Mitcham 6). Assists – Philipsburg 11 (Elizabeth Graham 10), Victor 8 (Lianna Burdett 6). Aces – Philipsburg 11 (Sara Maini), Victor 4 (four with 1).
Victor then had to battle Lincoln in loser out action. The match was close and Victor won the second game but the Lady Pirates were unable to take down the Lynx. Dillard and Charlton each had seven kills. Charlton also had 8 aces.
Lincoln def. Victor, 25-18, 25-27, 25-21, 25-12.
Kills – Victor 22 (Courtney Dillard 7, Desiree Charlton 7), Lincoln 22 (Katie Menard 8). Blocks – Victor 3 (Adrienne Cox 2), Lincoln 1 (Menard). Digs – Victor 62 (Skye Mitcham 16), Lincoln 30 (Sarah Eisenzimer 10). Assists – Victor 16 (Lianna Burdett 10), Lincoln 15 (Shelby Maughan 11). Aces – Victor 15 (Charlton 8), Lincoln 23 (Abby Erickson 6, Eisenzimer 6, Maughan 6).