The Florence Lady Falcons have a lock on first place in the 6B conference but that doesn’t mean they are infallible. Thursday night against the Mission Bulldogs, the scrappy Mission team took an early lead in the first game while Florence was uncharacteristically making mistakes. The Lady Falcons were missing one player due to injuries and were rotating other starters in and out but soon found a bit of rhythm and won the first game, 25-22
It looked as if Florence had settled into their routine in the second game and although the game was close, they won it, 25-19. But the third game was Mission’s game. They won, 18-25. It was the first time all season Florence had lost a game in conference play.
Coach Christy Duchein of Florence said the match was interesting and that “you never know what to expect. We know we have a target on our backs and that we have to expect these kinds of games.”
Duchein said with some players out, they were playing younger players but she felt those younger players really stepped up. Freshman Kasidy Yeoman had 12 assists and that took some of the pressure off the regular setter, Halle Christophersen.
Florence went on to win the fourth game, 25-16. Shannon Byrne, Emma Stensrud and Jackie Balford but up a strong defense at the net and held the Bulldogs in check.
Florence def. Mission 25-22, 25-19, 18-25, 25-16
Florence – Kills 31(Shannon Byrne , Blocks 5 (Emma Stensrud 3), Digs 66 (Byrne 22), Assists 28 (Christopherson 12, Yeoman 12), Aces – 5 (Taylah Lawson 3)
Mission – Kills 26 (Brander 14), Blocks 10 (Brander 4), Digs 73 (Sorrell 22), Assists 24 (Eichert 24), Aces 11 (Adams, Garland, Thomas 2 each).
Florence will host the Western B Divisional which begins on November 1, Thursday. Florence will play the winner of the Mission/Troy game at 11am.