The Florence Falcons have moved through the season picking up win after win after win. But this year they are also working on a game plan they hope will lead to success at the divisional tournaments this weekend in Eureka and on to the state tournament in Bozeman. They recently played at the Missoula Invitational where they took on several AA schools and won! They topped Glacier, Helena High and Helena Capitol.
“It was a good test” said Florence coach Christy Duchien. “We figured out what we needed to do to win against some really good teams.”
The Lady Falcons carried that on to this week when they met up with Eureka, the top team from the north and also undefeated in conference play. Their first game was close early on with Florence showing some uncustomary lapses. But then they started spreading the defense and backing each other up and went on to win, 26-16. Shannon Byrne finished the game with a big kill. In the second game, Eureka came out playing a more aggressive game and built up a small lead. But a block by Rilee Mangun slowed the Lions down. She scored an ace a little bit later in the game when the ball dribbled over the net and dropped straight down. But Eureka came bask to take the win, 25-27. In the third game, the score was tied through most of the game. Florence stepped up their offense and went on to win, 25-19. The win seemed to take the wind out of Eureka’s sails and Florence went on to win the fourth game, 25-14, and the match.
Florence will play Thompson Falls at 2 pm on Thursday in Eureka in the Western B Divisional.
Florence def. Eureka, 25-16, 25-27, 25-19, 25-14
Eureka: Kills 40 (Kassi Peterson 23). Blocks 6 (Peterson 3). Digs 30 (Rylee Morgan 12). Assists 40 (Liz Pacella 40). Aces 3 (Erynn Their 2).
Florence: Kills 34 (Sarah Hopcroft 13). Blocks 8 (Hopcroft 2, Rilee Mangun 2). Digs 40 (Hudsyn DiBrito 13). Assists 31 (Shay Waldbillig 31). Aces 14 (Mangun 5).