Ronan battles but falls to Whitefish in four sets

Despite a standout effort from Sierra Blood, the Ronan volleyball team came up short in a hard-fought four-set match against Whitefish on Thursday. 

Blood powered the Maidens’ attack with 22 kills and 16 digs, keeping Ronan in contention throughout. After dropping the first two sets 26-24 and 25-14, the Maidens rallied in the third. Strong setting from Sarah Templer, who tallied 27 assists, and steady defensive play from Aubrey Krell, who led the team with 17 digs, helped Ronan grind out a 25-20 win to extend the match. 

The momentum, however, swung back to Whitefish in the fourth set. The Bulldogs pulled away for a 25-14 win to seal the match. Ronan finished with 35 kills overall and showed balance on defense with 76 total digs. Olivia Cheff contributed at the net with 2.5 blocks, while Templer and Hallie Samsel each added an ace.