After sitting out for a week due to medical reasons, Sarah Hopcroft came back with a bang for the Western B Divisional. She opened with a huge kill against St. Ignatius and continued to lead the Lady Falcons throughout the tournament. Florence won all four of their matches in three sets each.
“I told them they were made for greatness,” said coach Christy Duchein. “But we have to be smart and play smart.”
The biggest test for the Lady Falcons came Friday night in the undefeated game against Thompson Falls. The Bluehawks had just upset Deer Lodge and were energized. Although Florence won quite handily in the first game, Thompson Falls gained steam throughout the match and pushed Florence for every point.
“Sandra Kazmierczak is a great coach,” said Duchein. “They changed up some things later in the game and we had to adjust.”
The Lady Falcons did adjust but not until Thompson Falls tied up the third game at 13 all and then 14 all. Then Hopcroft stepped up and served seven straight points. She had a little help at the net when Jacklyn Balfourd and Emma Stensrud put up some blocks to stop the Bluehawks. The momentum gave Florence the win and the trip to state.
“We are going to state,” said Duchein. “But it shouldn’t be an expectation, we’ve earned it.”
Florence finished second in last year’s state tournament and they are looking to have a better outcome this year said senior Shannon Byrne. “But we go in to play, one point at a time.”
Florence will play Joliet, the No. 3 seed from the south at 12pm on Thursday at the Brick Breeden Field House in Bozeman.
Championship
Florence def. Deer Lodge 25-11, 25-16, 25-10
Deer Lodge – Kills 11 (Sophia Barton 4), Blocks 4, Digs 23 (Barton 6), Assists 11 (Kamryn Scully 11), Aces 0.
Florence – Kills 31 (Sarah Hopcroft 11), Blocks 11 (Rilee Mangun 5), Digs 28 (Jacklyn Balfourd 6, Halle Christopherson 6), Assists – Christopherson 29), Aces 8 (Byrne 3)
Game 1
Florence def. St Ignatius 25-10, 25-14, 25-16
Florence – Kills 23 (Sarah Hopcroft 7, Shannon Byrne 6), Blocks 15 (Rilee Mangun 4, Jacklyn Balfourd 4), Digs – 48 (Hopcroft 9, Sarah Berard 9, Jacklyn Balfourd 8), Assists 8 (Halle Christopherson 5), Aces 10 (Byrne 3, Hopcroft 3).
St. Ignatius – Kills 9 (Sydney Brander 5), Blocks 5, (Afton Brander 2), Digs 58 (Caitlyn Sorrell 15, River Gonzalez 15), Assists 11 (Hunter Eichert 9), Aces 2 (Triste Adams 1, Addison Arlint 1).
Game 2
Florence def. Bigfork 25-6, 25-13, 25-15
Florence – Kills 43 (Sarah Hopcroft 15), Blocks 7 (Emma Stensrude 3), Digs 94 (Byrne 29), Assists 4 (Shannon Byrne 2), Aces 5.
Bigfork – Kills 5 (Brooke Fraley 5), Blocks 3 (Aubrey Halverson 2), Digs 35 (Saunders 15), Assists 3, Aces 3 (Jaclyn Saunders 2).
Undefeated Game
Florence def.Thompson Falls 25-10, 25-17, 25-19
Thompson Falls – Kills (Scarlet Schwingt 4), Blocks 2, Digs 38 (Maya Stiles 13), Assists 9 (Riley Wilson 8), Aces 2.
Florence – Kills 32 (Shannon Byrne 11), Blocks 9 (Jacklyn Balfourd 4), Digs 40 (Hopcroft 13), Assists 31 (Halle Christopherson 30), Aces 8 (Sarah Hopcroft 4).
