Volleyball fights for five-set win over Plains

Bigfork volleyball has two more wins under their belts, defeating Plains at home on Saturday, and Eureka on the road Thursday.

The match against Plains was the first time in the season Bigfork has played all five sets, losing the first and fourth sets.

It was a rough start to the match coming off their three set victory over Eureka, which head coach Melody Struass said was an excellent game for the Valkyries, and really showed their skill and improvement.

“We had a slow start,” Strauss said of the match against Plains, “Even after your best game you still have more to work on,” she said.

The Vals rallied against Plains and won the second and third sets 25-19, and 25-14, but let Plains come back at the end of the fourth set to pass the Valkyries and force a tie-breaking set, which Bigfork clinched 15-8.

Though it was a win, senior Riley Coleman thought they could have played better.

“I felt that we struggled,” she said. “I thought that we could win every match we played.”

But Strauss was still pleased to see the girls come back, and seal the deal.

“I’m happy with the way they played tonight,” she said.

Bigfork hosts Loyola-Sacred Heart at home on Thursday starting at 4 p.m. 

“It should be an exciting match if we play like we did in Eureka,” Strauss said.

They travel to Stillwater Christian on Saturday with the first game at 4:15 p.m.

Bigfork 3, Plains 2

Bigfork def. Plains, 23-25, 25-19, 25-14, 22-25, 15-8.

Kills – Plains 28 (Leah Thompson 10), Bigfork 35 (Marissa Hiza 13). Blocks – Plains 9 (Thompson 5), Bigfork 11 (Lana Berg 5). Digs – Plains 9 (Kimberly Earhart 2, Hailey Phillips 2, Thompson 2), Bigfork 47 (Marissa Hiza 11). Assists – Plains 25 (Earhart 20), Bigfork 32 (Kalia Wicklund). Aces – Plains 14 (Hailey Coe 9) Bigfork 19 (Kalia Wicklund 6).

Bigfork 3, Eureka 0

Bigfork def. Eureka 25-20, 27-25, 26-24

    Kills — Bigfork 29 (Marissa Hiza 10, Abbie Fraley 8, Lana Berg 8), Eureka 23 (Amanda Peterson 10, Elliott Peterson 7); Blocks — Bigfork 4 (Berg 2), Eureka 4 (E. Peterson 4); Assists — Bigfork 22 (Kalia Wicklund 22), Eureka 20 (Charity Parsons 10, Courtney Lemer 7); Digs — Bigfork 62 (Fraley 14, Kayla Caselegno 12, Berg 10), Eureka 88 (Lemer 19, A. Peterson 16); Aces — Bigfork 7 (Riley Coleman 3), Eureka 10 (Parsons 4)