Lady spikers overcome by Loggers

By DAVID ERICKSON

Whitefish Pilot

The Lady Bulldog spikers could not end Libby’s undefeated streak on Saturday, but they kept the Northwestern A Conference matchup interesting.

Whitefish won one game but lost the four-game matchup by scores of 25-18, 28-26, 23-25, 25-17. Libby, 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the conference, is the only team to beat Whitefish this season.

“Libby has a great program, and they’ve got a lot of different weapons,” said head Bulldog coach Jackie Fuller. “I thought we played all right, but we’ve got to make sure we step up next time.”

Brielle Menegazzi had 12 kills and two blocks, while Hailey Farmin finished with 21 of 28 total assists for Whitefish. Ashley Ferda had 22 digs, and McCara Cullen had three aces.

“I was proud of the girls, they kept fighting,” Fuller said.

Whitefish can walk away from the match knowing it is possible to beat the Lady Loggers, as the Bulldogs claimed victory in the third game, although it was extremely close at 23-25. The Lady Bulldogs let a lead in the second game slip away, losing another close one, 28-26.

“They were picking up things that we were not, and they were winning the long rallies, which is something we have to do in the future,” Fuller said.

The Laddy Loggers had 56 kills to Whitefish’s 30.

Fuller said she expects another good battle when Libby comes to town on Oct. 2.

“When we play them, we know it’s going to be two solid teams going after each other,” she said.

Kills — Whitefish 30, Brielle Menegazzi 12; Libby 56, Laice Dedrick 14, Jackie Mee 14, Brooke Hageness 10; Blocks — Whitefish 5, Menagazzi 2; Libby 3, Crysta Quinn 2; Assists — Whitefish 28, Hailey Farmin 21,; Libby 50. Shelby Barton 46; Digs — Whitefish 65, Ashley Ferda 22; Libby 50, Megan Wedel 17, Hageness 13, Dedrick 10; Aces — Whitefish 7, McCara Cullen 3; Libby 13, Hageness 4, Barton 3.

Whitefish def. Eureka

The Whitefish Lady spikers quickly and efficiently dispatched the Eureka Lions last Thursday in nonconference volleyball action at Whitefish High School.

Led by senior outside-hitter Brielle Menegazzi, the Bulldogs won by scores of 25-10, 25-14, 25-13. The Lions couldn’t find a way to stop Menagazzi, who finished the night with nine kills.

“I was really happy with the girls’ intensity,” Fuller said. “We had a great home crowd. Eureka has some great athletes, and they gave us a good challenge.”

The Bulldogs had 22 total kills to Eureka’s 10. Kate Klundt had three of Whitefish’s six total blocks.

Briann Linnell led Eureka with five kills and two blocks.

The win lifted Whitefish to 4-0 overall. After the Libby match on Saturday, they fell to 4-1.

Kills — Eureka 10, Briann Linnell 5; Whitefish 22, Brielle Menegazzi 9; Blocks — Eureka 4, Linnell 2; Whitefish 6, Kate Klundt 3; Assists — Eureka 9, Megan Hannay 5; Whitefish 22, Hailey Farmin 13; Digs — Eureka 19, Melanie Finch 6; Whitefish 23, Ashley Ferda 6; Aces — Whitefish 4, Ashley Gullo 3; Whitefish 12, Farmin 3.