At Florence, visiting Mission pushed the host Lady Falcons hard in the first set in their opening match last Thursday.

Thereafter, the Lady Bulldogs captured the third set against one of the premier Class B programs in the state. Sydney Brander hammered spikes in the mid-teens as well as snuffed a quartet of blocks.

Mission almost doubled up Florence at the service line for aces, while Hunter Eichert ran the offense and Caitlyn Sorrell anchored the defense with a category-leading 22 digs.

Mission will have already faced 7B Thompson Falls in a play-in match on Tuesday. If the Lady Bulldogs succeed in advancing, they will face Florence again in an opening round match at the Western B Divisional Tournament.

Florence over Mission 3-1

Mission (1-7, 7-10)

Florence def. Mission 25-22, 25-19, 18-25, 25-16

Kills – M26 (Sydney Brander 14), F31 (Shannon Byrne 12). Aces – M11 (Tristan Adams 2, Olivia Garland 2, Keana Thomas 2), F6 (Teylah Lawson 3). Assists – M26 (Hunter Eichert 26), F28 (Halle Christopherson 12, Kasidy Yeoman 12). Blocks – M10 (S.Brander 4), F5 (Emma Stensrud 3). Digs – M73 (Caitlyn Sorrell 22), F66 (S.Byrne 22). (Th25Oct18)

— John Heglie contributed to this article.