Flathead rallied back from a frazzled first set loss to top Missoula Sentinel in four sets 18-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-21 at home on Tuesday, picking up their first conference win of the season.

Despite what their coach called a night of miscommunication and short circuits, the Bravettes (4-3 overall, 1-0 Western AA) found their form in the last three sets.

Jessica Simmons had 10 kills, 13 digs and a match-high 18 assists to help lead Flathead. Lizzie Sherwood had a team-high 12 kills and Jordyn Clare had seven blocks. Jourdan Schultz led the Bravettes with 15 digs and three aces.

“It was good to win our first conference match of season,” Flathead coach Leon Wilcox said.

“But it wasn’t smooth. We had issues missing a lot of serves. We were forgetting assignments. We looked a little short circuited.”

Flathead had 15 serving errors in the match, which prevented the team from ever taking full control.

“It makes it tough to get on a roll and get some momentum going,” Wilcox said. “It’s a mental thing. It seems like we weren’t quite completely there.

“But they played hard. Playing hard is what kept us in the match.”

Flathead def. Sentinel 18-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-21

Kills — Sentinel 33 (Lexi Delridge 8, Shelby Towe 8), Flathead 44 (Lizzie Sherwood 12, Jessica Simmons 10). Assists — Sentinel 28 (Tian Harrington 16), Flathead 34 (Simmons 18, Xio Lopp 14). Blocks — Sentinel 10 (Tizzy Weida 4), Flathead 11 (Jordyn Clare 7). Digs — Sentinel 73 (Lauren Cady 27), Flathead 60 (Jourdan Schultz 15, Simmons 13). Aces — Sentinel 5 (Harrington 2), Flathead 10 (Schultz 3).

Libby 3, Troy 0

LIBBY — Libby stayed on its serving onslaught, recording 27 aces against Class B Troy in a nonconference match to earn a straight sets victory 25-7, 25-11, 25-12.

Ashley Walker had a team-high seven aces and Hailley Moe and Staci Regh each had eight kills to lead the Loggers. Libby never allowed more than 12 points in a game on the way to the quick win.

“I was pleased with our balanced attack,” Libby coach Cindy Ostrem-Johnston said. “We served, passed and stayed aggressive and focused.”

Libby def. Troy 25-7, 25-11, 25-12

Kills — Troy (Olivia Thomas 4), Libby 27 (Hailley Moe 6, Staci Regh 6). Assists — Troy n/a, Libby 23 (Hannah England 20). Blocks — Troy n/a, Libby 1 (Regh, Moe). Digs — Troy (Kaitlyn Downey 5), Libby 16 (Mahalah Wedel 7). Aces — Troy (Dakota Hake 1, Tana Thil 1), Libby 27 (Ashley Walker 7, Wedel 5)

Stillwater Christian 3, Eureka 1

EUREKA — Sarah Paolini was powerful for the Cougars, recording 25 kills and leading Stillwater Christian to a nonconference victory in four sets 25-23, 20-25, 25-20, 25-22.

Paolini was the catalyst for the Cougars, who needed to battle with a Eureka defense that was picking up nearly everything that came its way. The Lions had 93 digs in the match, led by Evynn Anderson’s 31. Anderson also had four aces.

Amanda Peterson had 13 kills and 23 digs to lead the Lions and Elliot Peterson had 10 kills and three blocks. Courtney Beaver had seven blocks and Sophie George had 18 digs for Stillwater Christian.

“It was a battle,” Eureka coach Rhonda Hammond said. “Both teams played amazing. It was a fun game.”

Stillwater Christian def. Eureka 25-23, 20-25, 25-20, 25-22

Kills — Stillwater 38 (Sarah Paolini 25), Eureka 43 (Amanda Peterson 13, Elliot Peterson 10). Assists — Stillwater 34 (Dori Smith 31), Eureka 35 (Courtney Lemer 22). Blocks — Stillwater 16 (Courtney Beaver 7), Eureka 6 (E. Peterson 3). Digs — Stillwater 72 (Sophie George 18), Eureka 93 (Evynn Anderson 31, Amanda Peterson 23). Aces — Stillwater 9 (Paolini 3, Smith 3), Eureka 10 (Anderson 4, Kaylee Kronsperger 3).