Valkyries finish third at districts

The Valkyries went into Saturday’s District 7B Volleyball Tournament in Eureka as the No. 3 seed, and that’s exactly how they came out of it.

Bigfork faced No. 2 Thompson Falls in the first round and lost in four sets.

“The Vals played tentative against Thompson Falls,” said head Bigfork volleyball coach Tracy Wicklund. “I take responsibility for not getting them ready to play to their potential. Thompson Falls has had our number over the last five times we’ve played, and I think we play not to lose when we play them. If given the chance to meet them in divisionals, the Vals will be playing with a chip on their shoulder and come out more aggressive.” 

The Lady Bluehawks won the first set 25-16 and the second set was won by the Valkyries 25-20. Thompson Falls bounced back to scoop up wins in the next two sets — 25-18 and 25-11.

“It was just kind of flat all around,” said Bigfork setter Taylor Peck. “It was another one that could’ve gone either way. We just can’t seem to work it out to beat Thompson Falls even though we’re right there with them.”

Peck, a senior, led her team in set assists with 14. Fellow senior Melissa VanDerveer was the kills leader with 11 and made one of the team’s two blocks. Libero Kianna Wicklund was responsible for 13 of the Vals’ 51 digs. Junior Shelby Scoggins accounted for three of the team’s seven aces.

The loss pitted Bigfork against No. 4 seeded Troy for the second and final game of the tournament, which was just used for seeding as the eliminated team — Plains — was determined in a play-in game Tuesday.

“I felt the Troy game was much like Thompson Falls,” Wicklund said. “I think the tournament was an excellent opportunity for our young players to feel that intensity of a playoff-style atmosphere. It was good experience, and we learned a few things about the team that will help us prepare for this week’s divisional tournament.”

The game against Troy may have had similarities in style, but the result was different for Bigfork this time. There were four sets played, but in the end the Valkyries were victorious in the match, which was played about an hour after their first match ended.

“We all pulled it together. We wanted to get a win and not go out a seed lower than we went in,” Peck said.

Bigfork won the first set 26-24, but then lost the second 27-25. Two tight matches followed — 25-23, 27-25 — both of which Bigfork won.

“We didn’t have a really good game,” Peck said. “Everything was just kind of flat and we just didn’t play real well, but we got the win.”

Sophomore Tessa Robertson was the Valkyries’ kills leader with 15. VanDerveer was again a force at the net for Bigfork with four of the team’s seven blocks and she also accounted for 10 kills. Peck made 21 of the team’s 27 set assists, Wicklund had 15 of Bigfork’s 46 digs and five Valkyries each put in two aces.

Bigfork was not the only team to finish in the same seed as it did during the regular season. In fact, each of the 7B teams placed the same as they were ranked by record going into districts. Eureka (Lincoln County) finished first, Thompson Falls placed second, and following Bigfork was Troy in fourth place.

Divisionals

The four teams from District 7B will enter into this weekend’s Western B Divisional Tournament, which will also be held at Eureka’s Lincoln County High School, based on those seedings. There they will take on the top four teams from District 6B and battle for the West’s two spots at the Class B State Volleyball Tournament.

“I’m excited for divisionals,” Peck said. “Everyone is so equal in both conferences that it could be anyone’s conference. The only teams that we haven’t beat are Thompson Falls and Florence, and they’re on the other side of the bracket so I think we have a pretty good shot.”

Bigfork’s first game of the tournament is at noon Thursday against No. 2 Missoula Loyola.

“This week’s practice will be intense from the standpoint of focusing on each point and playing to our strength,” Wicklund said. “We have a few things to shore up that if executed, will give us a great opportunity for success at divisionals. We play second-seeded Loyola on Thursday to open the tournament, and I think the girls played their best game of the year during a win at Loyola earlier this year. It really will come down to execution and controlling emotions. It’ll be a tough tournament as there are several strong teams, and I count the Vals as one of the best. I believe we can be very successful if we play our game.”

Wicklund’s players know that now is the time to shine as well.

“We need to play to the best of our abilities and play as a team,” Peck said. “When we all mesh, there really is no one that can beat us. But we all need to get into that zone and play together.”

Other first-round match-ups include Eureka vs. No. 4 Mission (St. Ignatius) at 10 a.m. Thursday, Thompson Falls vs. No. 3 Deer Lodge (Powell County) at 2 p.m. Thursday and Troy vs. No. 1 Florence at 4 p.m. Thursday.

If the Vals win their first-round game they will play the winner of the Eureka-Mission game at 6 p.m. Thursday. If the Vals lose their first game they play the loser of the Eureka-Mission game at 10 a.m. on Friday.

“I think all the seniors don’t want to relive that disappointment from last year (when the Vals unexpectedly lost out at districts) so there’s going to be more urgency in that sense,” Peck said. “But at the same time, we know we have to keep calm and just get it done, and not go into our panic mode.”

The other things the Valkyries will need to do is bank on their strengths and stay confident in them.

“I like that this year we have more of a set line-up instead of subbing so that everyone can settle into their role more,” Peck said. “We also have multiple options that we can switch into if we need to. We’ll be pretty solid I think.”