Volleyball team aces division oppenents; Wildkats, Maidens

by FAITH MOLDAN

Bigfork Eagle

The Bigfork High School Valkyries notched two division wins last week, as they plow through the heart of their schedule.

Bigfork topped the Columbia Falls Wildkats on the Kats' home turf 25-13, 25-19, 25-14 before going down to the wire at home against the Ronan Maidens. The Vals beat the Maidens in five games 25-23, 25-19, 19-25, 23-25, 15-6 to move their mark to 2-2 in the Northwest A division.

"They played awesome," Bigfork coach Kelsey Jensen said of the Vals. "They were communicating well on and off the floor."

Jensen credited the Vals' defense as helping them beat the Kats.

"Our positioning was the best it's ever been," she said.

Alyssa Fierro led the Vals in kills in the Columbia Falls match. She tallied 15, while Avery Vogel had eight. Fierro also notched three blocks and led the team with three aces as well. Vogel led the Vals in digs with 10. Bigfork out-hit the Kats 34-18. Ashlee Gordon had just over half of the Vals' set assists, another area the Vals did better than Columbia Falls, with 16.

While the Vals seemingly dominated the Wildkats with teamwork, good communication and passing, they stumbled after winning the first two games against Ronan.

The Vals, who were playing again with previously injured junior setter Rachel Luckow, came back in game one against the Maidens for a slim 25-23 victory and jumped out to a 7-3 lead in game two before Ronan snuck up and tied the game at 13 apiece. Bigfork charged ahead and won 25-19 against the hard-hitting and serving Maidens.

"Ronan's a great team with great defense," Jensen said. "They'll keep hitting at you."

Game three was nearly all Maidens. They led early in game one by four points. The Vals shortened that lead and tied the game at 13 just as the Maidens did the previous game. Ronan took its cue from Bigfork, and finished the game strong and steadily pulling away for the 19-25 win.

Throughout the match, Jensen stressed defense to the Vals, who have had a hard time as of late filling holes on the floor that are tipping-targets for their opponents.

The Vals kept things close with the Maidens early in game four, but bad passing and some hitting errors gave Ronan a 6-13 lead. Bigfork ended the Maidens' scoring run with a kill from Jill Hamilton. Her hit was partially blocked but fell to give the Vals a sideout. The teams traded sideouts after that, allowing the Vals to lead 19-18 before the score was tied 19-19 after a service error by Fierro.

Bigfork went down one player a couple plays later, as Gordon, a senior setter, went down with an injury after hustling for the ball. Gordon recorded 15 assists in the match. Claire Wilken tallied seven for the Vals, who got the sideout after the injury timeout with a kill from Roxy Thurman. Her kill made the score 20-22. It was not enough though, and the Maidens pulled out the 23-25 win.

It looked as if the Maidens would roll with the momentum they had gained from the previous two games in game five. Ronan led by just a few points at the beginning, but Bigfork's "seven-footer" Fierro received some help from her teammates while at the service line.

Thurman recorded a tip and Emily Hardman powered her hit thru the hands of the Maidens to tie the game at four apiece. Fierro took it from there, recording two aces which were followed by a Ronan lift. She led the Vals with nine aces, 17 kills and four blocks. The Maidens got the ball back on the next play, but Thurman quickly regained control for the Vals with another tip.

The Vals and Maidens again traded sideouts, as the score was 9-6 after a Hamilton kill. Hamilton and Thurman each recorded eight kills against the Maidens. On a roll, Thurman served three aces on the Vals' way to the 15-6 win.

Bigfork gets another shot at the Whitefish Lady Bulldogs tonight, Sept. 27 and get its first look at the Polson Lady Pirates Sept. 29. The Vals are hoping to have both Luckow and Gordon back from injuries, but if they're not able to play Jensen said Bigfork's JV setter Wilken and outside hitter Vogel would set for the Vals. Vogel was a setter last season.

"We're trying to take care of ourselves," Jensen said. "We're excited for this week."

Today's matchup begins at 4:15 p.m. with the freshman match and Saturday's start time is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Bigfork def. Columbia Falls 25-13, 25-19, 25-14

Kills — Bigfork 34 (Alyssa Fierro 15, Avery Vogel 8), Columbia Falls 18 (Auttem Osborne 6, Alyssa Ladenburg 4), Assists — Bigfork 30 (Ashlee Gordon 16, Claire Wilken 11), Columbia Falls 14 (Sarah Marcille 14); Blocks — Bigfork 3 (Fierro 3), Columbia Falls 3 (No leader); Digs — Bigfork 38 (Vogel 10, Roxy Thurman 7), Columbia Falls 30 (Staci Pence 6, Osborne 5); Aces — Bigfork 8 (Fierro 3, Thurman 2, Wilken 2), Columbia Falls 6 (Marcille 4).

Bigfork def. Ronan 25-23, 25-19, 19-25, 23-25, 15-6.

Kills - Ronan 32 (Ashlee Cheff 12), Bigfork 39 (Alyssa Fierro 17). Blocks - Ronan 4 (Allison Crenshaw 4), Bigfork 4 (Fierro 4). Digs - Ronan 61 (Carli Starkel), Bigfork 40 (Avery Vogel 9). Assists - Ronan (Kaylee Larson 10), Bigfork 32 (Ashlee Gordon 15). Aces - Ronan 6 (Cheff 2), Bigfork 19 (Fierro 9).