The Lady Trojans volleyball team scrapped and clawed all weekend, but went home early from the Divisional tournament, ousted by just a few sets.

The first match pitted Troy against Mission, which the Lady Trojans won handily in four games. 

That propelled Troy to another matchup with Eureka, a team that has had time to become very familiar with the Lady Trojans. Troy lost in four.

“We had a good, team talk about what it’s going to take to win,” said head coach Sandra Beal. 

It must have taken hold with the team. Troy’s next match faced them off with a testy Deer Lodge team. 

Junior outside hitter Kellie Lundin exploded for eight kills, 16 digs and three aces. Troy won the match 3-2; 25-22, 25-15, 16-25, 15-25, 15-11. 

The Wardens outkilled the Lady Trojans 43-32, out-blocked them 10-2 and out-assisted them 34-29.

Troy just played a more complete game and prospered by moving to the next round.

Unfortunately, the next round came against another familiar opponent. Thompson Falls, the team that had finished second in Troy’s conference, came out swinging and sunk the Lady Trojans.

The Lady Bluehawks won 3-2; 25-19, 25-27, 23-25, 25-17, 15-3.

Besides the clinching fifth game, Troy played very well against the talented Lady Bluehawks.

“It was the best I’ve seen the girls play all year,” Beal said. “Except that last game. The girls kind of froze up in the fifth.”

Jordan Williams led the team with 17 kills, Michaela Curry had 16 digs, Holli Higgins had 37 assists and Alanah True-Silva had five aces.

The loss to the Lady Bluehawks capped Troy’s season, as they finished fourth in the tournament, behind Florence, Thompson Falls and Eureka. The final record was 12-11.

“The girls played with really good intensity and they played with heart,” Beal said. “That’s what it takes to win games.”

“The time just flew by. It helped that we had four really strong seniors in our corner.”

Troy graduates six seniors and will return Katie and Kellie Lundin, Taylor Brown and Megan Hight for next year.