Bravettes sweep: Flathead uses net presence to down Glacier
JON ALLEN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 months, 2 weeks AGO
Flathead's Makenna Aldrich (4) goes to the net for a kill against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Avaieh Thomas (4) goes to the net for a kill against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead's Cheyenne Heino (14) passes to a teammate against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Chloe Farrell (21) hits a return in match against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead's Olivia Neva (22) goes to the net for a kill against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Chloe Farrell (21) hits a return in match against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead's Reagan Castillo (1) goes to the net for a kill against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier celebrates after a point against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead celebrates after a point against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Madi Stevens (10) passes to a teammate against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead's Addison Thornsberry (6) goes to the net for a kill against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Makenna Aldrich was a force at the net as the Flathead Bravettes swept crosstown rival Glacier at the Wolf Den Thursday evening in Western AA volleyball.
The Bravettes (3-11 overall, 3-4 in Western AA games) edged out the Wolfpack (2-12, 1-6) in the first set 26-24, before pulling away in sets two (25-18) and three (25-16).
“We definitely played as a team, we started really strong and we were able to keep that energy the entire match,” Bravettes coach Emily Russell said.
At the net, Flathead saw Aldrich controlled the action picking up a team-high 10 kills. Teammates Bristol Lenz and Olivia Neva showed their presence with three blocks each.
“I had energy, I had some good kills,” Aldrich said. “As a team we all really came together well and we finally just kind of clicked.”
Despite the loss Glacier coach Jaimie Nelson was proud of her team’s performance, noting that the scoreboard didn’t represent how well her team played.
“Even though we took the loss, that is the most that I have seen them work as a team,” Nelson said. “It’s been a hard season, but they are starting to see what they can do through that and that is fun to watch. We just got to string some more things together.”
The Wolfpack amassed 36 kills, with Allie Krueger leading the way with 12. Grace Lingle added seven. Avaieh Thomas led the team with two aces.
Another bright spot for Glacier was freshman Audrey Mitchell.
“The thing that we all love about Audrey is that when she makes a mistake, you don’t know it on her face,” Nelson said. “She is going to go right back and she is going to try it again and that is so unique for a freshman or any volleyball player.”
The Wolfpack battled back from a 24-20 deficit to tie set one at 24 before Reagan Castillo’s kill closed out the set for Flathead.
A Stella Bayard ace in the second set put Glacier ahead 7-3 before the Bravettes found their footing again. The set stayed even until Katie Manning went on a five-point service run highlighted by an emphatic kill from Aldrich.
In the third set, Flathead came out hot and didn’t look back. Anna Bain picked up a pair of aces to put the Bravettes up 10-5.
Krueger had a kill as the Wolfpack closed the deficit to 12-9, but Aldrich picked up three straight finishes to put the Bravettes ahead 17-11.
Aldrich finished off the night in a similar fashion, sending the ball into the middle of the Wolfpack players to give the Bravettes the win.
“I told my setter right before that ‘I’m going to take this one home, set me this ball,’ and that is what she did, it just felt so great,” Aldrich said.
Flathead defeats Glacier 26-24, 25-18, 25-16
Kills — Flathead 24 (Makenna Aldrich 10), Glacier 36 (Allie Krueger 12, Grace Lingle 7). Assists — Flathead 24 (Cheyenne Heino 15, Anna Bain 7), Glacier 17 (Madi Stevens 17). Digs — Flathead 43 (Reagan Castillo 10), Glacier 23 (Addison Thrawmer 5, Addison Malchi 5). Aces — Flathead 10 (Anna Bain 4), Glacier 7 (Avaieh Thomas 2). Blocks — Flathead 6 (Bristol Lenz 3, Olivia Neva 3), Glacier 0.
Glacier's Avaieh Thomas (4) goes to the net for a kill against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead's Cheyenne Heino (14) passes to a teammate against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Chloe Farrell (21) hits a return in match against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead's Olivia Neva (22) goes to the net for a kill against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Chloe Farrell (21) hits a return in match against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead's Reagan Castillo (1) goes to the net for a kill against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier celebrates after a point against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead celebrates after a point against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Madi Stevens (10) passes to a teammate against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead's Addison Thornsberry (6) goes to the net for a kill against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Oct. 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
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